'xcuse me, I've got something in my eye...

[tomm2thumbs]

the story behind the ad

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This year’s Christmas ad project from Sainsbury’s – 'Christmas is for sharing'. Made in partnership with The Royal British Legion, it commemorates the extraordinary events of Christmas Day, 1914, when the guns fell silent and two armies met in no-man’s land, sharing gifts – and even playing football together. Proceeds from the sale of the chocolate bar featured in the ad will go to The Royal British Legion and will benefit UK armed forces and their families, past and present.

[RKP5637]

1. K&R!!! n/t

[jtuck004]

2. My wife is 60 like me, but she said this was the first time she had ever heard about that incident.

Strikes me that if we taught cooperation and showed the possibilities with scenes like the above in school, instead of hate and division, we might be better off.

[hedgehog]

3. This movie about the incident always breaks my heart

Joyeux Noel

[nilram]

4. I just learned it wasn't just one incident.

It occurred all up and down the front. And, there were lots of places along the front where there was a tacit agreement to not kill people.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-spirit-of-the-1914-christmas-truce-1419006906 (tho honestly my eyes glazed over where the author discussed the reasons for such truces, but I found the history fascinating.)

[hedda_foil]

6. Yesterday, heard that the troops across the 3 mi front line wouldn't fight each other afterwards.

The top brass, comfortably ensconced in luxurious villas and chateaux, were furious, but the troops who had crossed the line that Christmas refused to resume killing each other. They knew that the guys on the other side were just like them instead of the monsters that army propaganda had made them out to be. The generals had to move the entire front line away from the front and replace them with troops who had not participated. And they made fraternizing with the enemy a court martial level offense.

I can't recall which show on which it was discussed, but it was n WCPT Chicago, and the interview subject was the author of a new book on the event. I think the book's title is The Christmas Truce.

[FairWinds]

5. The film, Joyeux Noel, is indeed excellent . .

Our local library showed it last week.
Veterans For Peace has organized a number of events in commemoration.
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/our-work/remembering-christmas-truce/
And I wrote an essay on the subject . .
It was actually a mutiny, not a truce.
http://lasvegas.informermg.com/2014/12/18/another-christmas-truce/
Veterans For Peace supports soldiers who will not, or cannot, kill