Friday, November 28, 2014

Christmas Day Truce 1914

In our series "Christmas with a Difference" December 1914 stands out above all others.
It was then that troops in trenches only a few meters apart mutually agreed to call a cease-fire.
It began with sounds of the carol 'Silent Night' wafting over from the German lines to the British soldiers. They then joined in the chorus in English. Next, a small Christmas Tree appeared over the parapet. Then voices began to speak.
"You no shoot. Me no shoot."
Next heads began to appear followed by soldiers cautiously making their way over 'No Man's Land'
In a matter of minutes hundreds of men had gathered, shaking hands, offering small gifts of chocolate and cigarettes and enjoying comradeship.
Then, spontaneously, they all agreed that the war should end and that they should all go home.
It would have happened had not the "Top Brass", a couple of days later, commanded everyone to get back to their respective positions and commence the killing all over again.
So much for the truce of 1914. Nevertheless, for few short days, it proved that 'Peace on Earth, Good will among Men' could be a reality if the 'Caesars and King Herod's of this world were kept out of the story!

Jubilate.

Ian

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Season's Greetings from Ferguson

We know the story well. A black teenager shot by a white police officer. Twelve shots fired at an unarmed man. The protests that rocked the town of Ferguson four months ago with stores looted and buildings burned. The uneasy three months calm awaiting the decision of a grand jury. The verdict to acquit the officer of any criminal charge and, last night, another orgy of plunder, rage and burning..
Yet what struck me most forcibly in the midst of all this mayhem were the photo shots of the great Christmas banner outside the city court house.
"SEASONS GREETINGS" was all but obscured in the smoke and flares of the riot and street battle in Ferguson.
And I guess in the end that is what it came down to.
Christmas Greetings, "Peace on Earth, Goodwill to all Men." obscured in a fog of tear gas, the message of brotherly love lost in the din of war.
Pauline is putting up her own decorations today which will include a miniature stable of Bethlehem. We are going to once again celebrate "Unto us a Child is born;unto us a Son is given" and make sure that NOTHING obscures the Wilson's Christmas Banner.

Jubilate.

Ian

Monday, November 24, 2014

"All I want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth."


"All I want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth" . Back in the fifties this song was top of the Christmas Pops in England.
You would have to dig deep in the archives to come up with it today.
After a strange survey in England last week, having your front teeth becomes suddenly relevant.
Three years of research concluded that upper-middle class people had seven more of their own teeth at 70 than their poorer working class counterparts.
After losing my own front teeth in a youthful escapade I found that Santa Claus could not produce a set ( as much as I wished).
Later I went to Mexico for a couple of implants.
However, in the midst of this festive season while you are enjoying your Christmas fare, think about the less fortunate souls in the survey in England, who, having a turkey on the table, may be having trouble in chewing it.
Robbie Burns captured this thought well when he wrote his famous grace:
       "SOME HAE MEAT AND CANNOT EAT.
        AND SOME CAN EAT BUT HAE NAE MEAT.
        BUT WE HAE MEAT AND WE CAN EAT
        AND SAE THE LORD BE THANKET."

Jubilate

Ian