Aloha Monkeys, Came across a really nice video... and thought I would share it ... in the spirit of this Holiday Season... But also in the spirit of Survival Fitness... It's a pretty amazing story of what the "Magic" of this wonderful Season can do... Even in War... How about we all commit to taking just a moment to show some kindness to someone who may cross your path this Holiday Season... And remember... Mental Survival Fitness... never forget who you are / what you hold dear / believe in and never ever lose yourself and your soul because of what's going on around you... Hope you enjoy it... Take Care and God Bless, Bear Sainsbury's OFFICIAL Christmas 2014 Ad (This is a British company.) Presenting the new Sainsbury’s Christmas advert. Made in partnership with The Royal British Legion. Inspired by real events from 100 years ago. This year’s Christmas ad 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. The chocolate bar featured in the ad is on sale now at Sainsbury’s. All profits (50p per bar) will go to The Royal British Legion and will benefit our armed forces and their families, past and present. Here's the link to a little background of this story...
The reason for that is the countries involved were christians, no way that would happen in any modern conflict imho.
That some combatants in the WWI 'Christmas Truce' on the Western Front involved 'christian countries', was perhaps less a matter of the principal religious faith tradition of each country, than personal decisions made by individuals and informal groups of soldiery to fraternise with their enemies temporarily. It was as much, in my view, a matter of some soldiers on both sides in parts of that theatre, recognising the humanity of each other than what religious beliefs they may have held. The truce was not an event that was officially sanctioned by any of the nations involved, indeed fraternisation was discouraged with threats of punishment. It should be noted that no "Christmas Truce' could be agreed to between the Orthodox Russians and the Catholic/Protestant Germans on the Eastern Front...a consequence of different dates for Christmas celebration (Julian vs Gregorian calendars). It could be argued that Christian beliefs mitigated against a truce on the Eastern Front, instead of aided it. However, there is evidence of at least one truce between the Russians and Germans occuring during WWI: but for purely pragmatic reasons: to destroy a common enemy...Wolves! Wolves are no respecters of religion...they will eat Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Christians (atheists also), with equal relish! Russian Wolves - View Article - NYTimes.com Further evidence against the (only) Christians do truces argument, is the short (8hr), temporary, unofficial truce between the Australians and Turks at Gallipoli in May 1915. I invite you to watch both of the following video clips Compass – Embracing the Enemy (2005) clip 1 on ASO - Australia's audio and visual heritage online Note that the speech quoted by the narrator in clip#1 was originally spoken by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk of his country's former foes. Compass – Embracing the Enemy (2005) clip 2 on ASO - Australia's audio and visual heritage online Christians and 'christian' nations fought against each other during WW2, with no battlefield truce similar to the Christmas truce of 1914 occuring. Christian Ukrainian Orthodox combatants and Christian Russian Orthodox combatants fraternising in the disputed areas in the Ukraine in a contemporary Christmas day truce??? Not very likely.
In my research for the preceding post, I chanced upon an anecdote about WW2 combatants on opposing sides, and a civilian family who, between them, kept the peace between themselves for a few hours. It strikes me, that when one is cold, hungry and weary, one recognises the misery shared by others, and will extend sometimes humanity to others, when one sees the other as human, rather than one's mortal enemy. About World War 2: A Small Christmas Truce I am sure that you will enjoy Herman nearly as much as the participants did!
