Last Christmas Truce vet dies




The last known veteran of the 1914 Christmas Truce passed away in Scotland Nov. 21. Alfred Anderson was 18 years old on Dec. 24, 1914, when German soliders started decorating the area around their trenches. Soon, British and German troops were shouting yuletide greetings across no man's land. Then something even more remarkable happened - soldiers from each side exchanged gifts of whiskey, cigars and sausages. According to some accounts, German and British soldiers played a soccer game. Soon, an impromptu peace began breaking out, with enemies meeting to signs psalms, and helping to bury each other's dead.

Naturally, the high commands from both sides were appalled that their soldiers weren't playing fair. From that point on, artillery bombardments were ordered on each Christmas eve, lest more goodwill should break out.

The Christmas Truce has been celebrated in song by a Wisconsin folksinger John McCutcheon, who sang "Christmas in the Trenches:":

My name is Francis Tolliver, I come from Liverpool.
Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school.
To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany to here
I fought for King and country I love dear.
'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung,
The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung
Our families back in England were toasting us that day
Their brave and glorious lads so far away.

I was lying with my messmate on the cold and rocky ground
When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound
Says I, ``Now listen up, me boys!'' each soldier strained to hear
As one young German voice sang out so clear.
``He's singing bloody well, you know!'' my partner says to me
Soon, one by one, each German voice joined in harmony
The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds rolled no more
As Christmas brought us respite from the war
As soon as they were finished and a reverent pause was spent
``God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen'' struck up some lads from Kent
The next they sang was ``Stille Nacht.'' ``Tis `Silent Night','' says I
And in two tongues one song filled up that sky
``There's someone coming toward us!'' the front line sentry cried
All sights were fixed on one long figure trudging from their side
His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shown on that plain so bright
As he, bravely, strode unarmed into the night
Soon one by one on either side walked into No Man's Land
With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand
We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well
And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell
We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home
These sons and fathers far away from families of their own
Young Sanders played his squeezebox and they had a violin
This curious and unlikely band of men

Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more
With sad farewells we each prepared to settle back to war
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wonderous night
``Whose family have I fixed within my sights?''
'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost, so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
Had been crumbled and were gone forevermore

My name is Francis Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell
Each Christmas come since World War I, I've learned its lessons well
That the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame
And on each end of the rifle we're the same
Speaking when he marked his 106th birthday in 2002, Mr Anderson said: "We lived for each day during the war. At 106, I do much the same again."
1.12.05 13:48


Tough question


If we had a real White House press corps, you'd hear this question: "Does the U.S. have any plan to try Saddam Hussein for his complicity in the 9/11 attacks?"

If not, why not?

Heh.
2.12.05 14:59


Bullet proof greed


The war has been very, very good to David H. Brooks. He's the CEO of DHB Industries, the Westbury, NY maker of bullet proof vests worn by the US Military in Iraq.

In 2001, before the war, Brooks scraped by on $525,000 compensation. Last year, he earned $70 million, and cashed in company stock worth $186 million. It would be one thing if Brooks's vests were actually bullet proof, but the military says they're not. Last May, the U.S. Marines recalled more than 5,000 DHB armored vests after questions were raised about their effectiveness. By that time, Brooks had pocketed over $250 million in war windfalls.

Fortunately for Brooks, Bush's millionaire tax cut initiatives meant he could afford to drop $10 million on his daughter's bat mitzvah. The bullet-proof greedhead rented New York City's Rainbow Room, and hired an all star cast of A list entertainers, including Stevie Nicks, 50 Center, Don Henley, Tom Petty, and Aerosmith. Kenny G was also called, so B list entertainers would have a crack at entertaining 300 over-privileged 13-year-old girls.

Comments one disgusted vet:
“I guess it just goes to show the state of affairs and the state of mind of this tired, old (of mind) veteran that when this story came up it didn’t even make me blink. So some rich guy somewhere who made tons of money selling defective bulletproof vests to the military has a filthy rich party for his daughter’s Bat Mitzvah. ‘Oh, wow, someone wants to endanger my life for a few bucks?’ Sounds like the entire war. So the soldiers get paid poorly, on occasion shell out there own few bucks to buy gear, lose a year of their life, lose their sanity, lose their limbs, lose their lives, and a very few, very select group closely connected to our government get very, very rich. OK, if that’s what the American people want. If that’s what they voted for.”
Not me.
2.12.05 18:44


Wingnuts roasting on an open mic


Ah yes, it's that magical season once again. Time for egg nog and rum, Aunt Ester's fruitcake, and Bill O'Reilly's annual message of the true meaning of Christmas:
Every company in America should be on its knees thanking Jesus for being born. Without Christmas, most American businesses would be far less profitable. More than enough reason for business to be screaming “Merry Christmas.”
It was not so long ago that Christians and secularists alike were saddened by the commercialization of Christmas. But that was before the Gospel According to St. Bill, whose vision is closer to that of the Grinch than Bob Crachit. Christ's message of peace and goodwill, tolerance and love is tossed out with last's years Christmas cards. In its place, we get this from St. Bill:
Then the business community says we don't want to offend anybody, so we're not going to say "Merry Christmas." We're going to say "Happy Holidays, all right? That offends millions of Christians, see? Eighty-five percent of the country calls itself Christian. Fifteen percent of the country -- you figure these people could do the math if they're CEOs. Eighty-five percent Christian; they are into Christmas, OK? That's their big day. Fifteen percent aren't. Now of those 15 percent, maybe 1 percent are totally insane. They're nuts. They're the ones who are offended. So what it comes down to is that these CEOs and big companies -- big companies, like Wal-Mart, Sears, KMart -- will not say "Merry Christmas" in their stores or advertising to cater to 1 percent of Americans who are insane.
Pot, meet kettle.
3.12.05 14:45


Opening up a can of whupp-ass for Jesus


This doesn't sound like random selection to me:
LAWRENCE - A professor whose planned course on creationism and intelligent design was canceled after he sent e-mails deriding Christian conservatives was hospitalized Monday after what appeared to be a roadside beating.

University of Kansas religious studies professor Paul Mirecki said that the two men who beat him made references to the class that was to be offered for the first time this spring.

Originally called "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies," the course was canceled last week at Mirecki's request.

The class was added after the Kansas State Board of Education decided to include more criticism of evolution in science standards for elementary and secondary students.
How embarrassing for Kansas.
6.12.05 22:01


It's the Dukester's Birthday!


Randall "Duke" Cunningham turns 64 today!
When I get older, losing my job
Many years from now
Will you still be paying me for my vote,
with wads of cash and a big fancy boat?
When I confess to grand bribery,
Will you shut the door?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
when I'm sixty-four?
Heh.
8.12.05 14:17


Ann Coulter in the news


Eva Braun's love child was booed off the stage at the University of Connecticut last night, and that can only mean one thing: my hit counter is over 200, and it's only 10 am!
8.12.05 15:38


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