The Taste of Blood

[wnylib]

119. Too often, the average citizen goes to war

for the goals and ambitions of the leadership and upper classes of nations. The best illustration of this was Xmas in the first year of WWI. You may be familiar with the story.

Men in the trenches on both sides were there because they were sent to war by their leaders. There was so little purpose to the fighting that their hearts were not in it. They did not hate the enemy. In some places where the enemy positions were near each other but far from fighting down the lines, Germans, French, and Brits started trading items with each other to make themselves more comfortable. Friendships across enemy lines started developing.

When Xmas Eve arrived these people of similar European cultures and a shared religion began singing Xmas carols in their own languages to each other. They traded cigarettes, drinks, and eventually a Xmas truce developed. They crossed no man's land into each other's camps, shared family pictures, names, and foods. In some places they organized soccer games.

Lower ranking officers permitted the shared celebrations and participated. Higher level officers objected but had llittle control once it got started.

I can imagine those guys, if left up to them, resolving the conflicts with a few boxing or wrestling matches and accepting the outcome.

But there was too much st stake for the national and military leaders, and the weapons dealers and manufacturers to let it end in peace so soon.

Day after Xmas, they were ordered to resume places and fighting. They reluctantly did and Europe suffered more years of war, disease, destruction, maiming, and death
.
How great it would be if opposing armies just said, "What.the hell are we doing?" and refused to fight.