1914 Christmas and World War I

In 1983, Paul McCartney released the LP “Pipes of Peace.”  The title song was about a special moment on Christmas Day 1914 when German and U.K. troops shared some wine and even played a little soccer in the battlefield.

The Dallas Morning News‘ Christmas Day editorial recalled that moment from years ago:

One hundred years ago today, something of a battlefield miracle occurred amid one of the world’s bloodiest conflicts. Soldiers on both sides of the Great War’s front lines let down their guard and allowed faith in the goodness of their fellow man to prevail over hatred and distrust. Warring soldiers put down their weapons, emerged from their trenches and sang “Silent Night” together.

It began with a simple call by Pope Benedict XV on Dec. 7, 1914, “that the guns may fall silent at least upon the night the angels sang.”

The pope’s words were deemed by many to have resonated throughout the cold trenches of Flanders, where Germans and Britons were locked in mortal struggle.

It was as if both sides grasped the hypocrisy of Christians killing fellow Christians on a day devoted to the peaceful message of Christ’s birth. No account from the witnesses recalls anyone articulating such thoughts. Yet all seemed to grasp the opportunity presented by this special day. 

Those who were present in Flanders described an unusual silence that morning as the smoke cleared from incessant artillery and machine-gun fire. British troops heard the faint sound of a German band playing familiar Christmas tunes. One side broke out in a carol, answered by one from the other side. Back and forth, growing louder and more boisterous with each exchange.

Then came a German’s voice: “We good. We no shoot,” recounted British soldiers Frank and Maurice Wray, of the London Rifle Brigade. Soldiers from both sides cautiously approached one another across a no-man’s land, unsure whether this might be a setup for a surprise attack.  

What each encountered was nothing more than a few lonely soldiers, anxious to set aside the fighting and celebrate Christmas with their fellow man. Some chatted. Others exchanged small gifts of food, cigarettes, beer or mementos. They sang more songs. A few tried to improvise a soccer match.  

Up and down the front lines, word spread of the unofficial Christmas truce. An estimated 100,000 troops joined in.

Of course, the world knows about the awful fighting and millions of deaths that followed. But, for today at least, let’s focus on the message of hope that emerged from a battlefield far away and long ago.

“So Christmas, the celebration of love, made sure that the hated enemies turned into friends for a short time,” German Lt. Kurt Zehmisch wrote in his diary that day. “This Christmas will remain unforgettable.”

As any war veteran can tell, war is always hell.  However, World War I was especially hellish.

First, most leaders thought that the war would be quick.  It’s not the first time that we’ve seen that.  Everyone should check the books The Guns of August and All Quiet on the Western Front.  

Second, the machine gun and airplane brought unseen damage to the battlefield.  This was not your dad’s war if I can use that expression.  The old infantry rules did not apply.  (My friend Barry Jacobsen wrote a great post on World War I entitled “If World War I was a bar fight.”)

Third, chemicals were used against troops.

The war eventually ended in 1918, but part II started twenty years later.  It was even more deadly the second time around.

Merry Christmas to all of the AT staff and readers.

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1917: We remember Father Flanagan and Boys Town

It's one of my favorite stories, and movies, too.   

On this day in 1917, Father Edward J. Flanagan, a 31-year-old Irish priest, opened the doors to what we would later call "Boys Town".

Years later, the story was made into a movie.  What a great movie it was!

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The Gettysburg Address ‐‐ Just 272 words

(My new American Thinker post)

We used to memorize things back in our Catholic school days.   

As a kid in Cuba, my late great Uncle Joaquin, a judge, law professor and the biggest fan of Lincoln in the planet, used to impress us with his memorization of The Gettysburg Address. He would recite every line and tell us what it all meant to him.

President Lincoln delivered the greatest American speech on this day in 1863:

“Using just 272 words, Lincoln articulated the meaning of the Civil War for a public that had grown weary of the conflict.

For some time, Lincoln had been planning to make a public statement on the significance of the war and the struggle against slavery.

In early November, he received an invitation to speak at the dedication of part of the Gettysburg battlefield, which was being transformed into a cemetery for the soldiers who had died in battle there from July 1 to July 3, 1863.”

The speech was very quick, very quick by modern standard. He spoke for a few minutes but the impact was huge.     

Here is the Gettysburg Address:

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.

We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground.

The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Looking back, this address was shorter than most but significant like few ever said. It explained the whole reason for preserving the Union. It explained a big part of what it means to be an American. It should live in our hearts and minds as we celebrate the 153rd anniversary of this day.

And of course, I remember my late great Uncle getting all inspired to recite the speech.

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October 1983: Quite a month for President Reagan

We remember President Ronald Reagan as a rather consequential president. Let’s remember the events of this week in 1983.

First, a terror bombing in Beirut killed over a hundred U.S. Marines.   

President Reagan was getting ready for reelection and talking about the economic recovery underway. However, he had to deal with a major terrorist attack in Beirut when a suicide bomber drove a truck filled with 2,000 pounds of explosives into a U.S. Marine base at the international airport:   

The explosion killed 220 Marines, 18 sailors and three soldiers. 

A few minutes after that bomb went off, a second bomber drove into the basement of the nearby French paratroopers’ barracks, killing 58 more people.  

Four months after the bombing, American forces left Lebanon without retaliating.

It was a terrible story and one of the early signs of terrorism. Many criticized President Reagan for not retaliating, but I am not exactly sure what response could have followed this attack.

A few days later, President Reagan invaded Grenada. It turned out to be a major victory against Fidel Castro that prevented the USSR from having another strategic piece of real estate.   

Grenada was a small island where some U.S. citizens were attending medical school. Most people had never heard of Grenada or the Cuban efforts to turn the island into a communist beachhead, an important runway for Soviet MiGs.

However, the Reagan administration had their eye on Grenada for some time. They knew the strategic importance of Grenada and its proximity to the Panama Canal.    

We learned a lot that week about President Reagan and how foreign policy can force itself on the agenda. In Beirut, we were introduced to the type of terrorism that we saw eventually on 9/11. In Grenada, we saw President Reagan as the competent leader of the free world, or a man unwilling to let the USSR gain a strategic foothold over here.

It was quite a week for President Reagan and the U.S.

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Grenada 1983: A victory for the good guys and a big defeat for Cuba’s Castro

Back on this day in 1983, President Reagan invaded Grenada.  It turned out to be a major victory against Fidel Castro and prevented the USSR from having another strategic piece of real estate over here.

Grenada was a small island where some U.S. citizens were attending medical school. Most people had never heard of Grenada or the Cuban efforts to turn the island into a communist beachhead, an important runway for Soviet MiGs. 

However, the Reagan administration had their eye on Grenada for some time. They knew the strategic importance of Grenada and its proximity to the Panama Canal.     

We also learned on this week in 1983 how foreign policy can force itself on the agenda.  

In Grenada, we saw President Reagan as the competent leader of the free world, or a man unwilling to let the USSR gain a strategic foothold over here. 

It was quite a week for leadership, President Reagan and the U.S. 

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President Reagan and Grenada 1983

Back in October 1983, I was in Mexico City visiting some clients.

On the day of the Grenada invasion, I attended a scheduled lunch at a local chamber of commerce. There were several Mexican businessmen and politicians at my table.  

We quickly started talking about the news of the day; President Reagan's decision to invade Grenada.

Grenada was a small island where US citizens were attending medical school. Most people had never heard of Grenada or the Cuban efforts to turn the island into a communist beachhead, an important runway for Soviet MIGs.

However, the Reagan administration had their eye on Grenada for some time. They knew the strategic importance of Grenada and its proximity to The Panama Canal. 

As I sat down to have lunch, I found their reactions to be surprising, especially given Mexico's criticism of US support of the UK in the Falklands the year before.

I prepared myself for a lot of criticism of President Reagan and "Yankee imperialists." To my pleasant surprise, I heard the exact opposite:

1) One politician directly said: "Carter would have never done this! He would have been afraid";

2) A businessman said: "This is why I love Reagan....the man is "un lider", i.e. a leader;

My favorite one came from one prominent Mexican politician who gave me the thumbs up and said: Reagan 1, Castro 0!

After the lunch meeting, I walked back to my office trying to understand their reactions.

I came to one conclusion: People like to see US leadership and determination. They want a strong president because a weak US president is such a lousy alternative.

Thank you President Reagan for pushing Fidel Castro back and giving communism a major defeat!

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October 23, 1983: Beirut and many Marines dead

US presidents can not control what happens in other countries.  Nevertheless, they have to react to them or get that "famous 3 am phone call" about this crisis or that.

On this day in 1983, President Reagan was getting ready for reelection and talking about the economic recovery underway.   However, he woke up learning of a major terrorist attack in Beirut:  The explosion killed 220 Marines, 18 sailors and three soldiers!

It was a terrible day for President Reagan and the nation.  It was also one of the early signs of terrorism.

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1983 World Series: Scott McGregor beat Phillies 5-0

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The Orioles played in their second World Series in 5 years.   They lost to the Pirates in 1979 but beat the Phillies in 1983.    Scott McGregor pitched beautifully and Eddie Murray hit a couple of home runs.    

Great win for the O's.

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1983: Remembering the day that the USSR shot down a Korean plane full of civilians

It was a shocker but it did happen many years ago:

"On September 1, 1983, Korean Airlines (KAL) flight 007 was on the last leg of a flight from New York City to Seoul, with a stopover in Anchorage, Alaska. 

As it approached its final destination, the plane began to veer far off its normal course. 

In just a short time, the plane flew into Russian airspace and crossed over the Kamchatka Peninsula, where some top-secret Soviet military installations were known to be located. 

The Soviets sent two fighters to intercept the plane. 

According to tapes of the conversations between the fighter pilots and Soviet ground control, the fighters quickly located the KAL flight and tried to make contact with the passenger jet. Failing to receive a response, one of the fighters fired a heat-seeking missile. 

KAL 007 was hit and plummeted into the Sea of Japan. All 269 people on board were killed."

The KAL 007 incident was a brutal attack.  It may have also been the beginning of the collapse of the USSR.  Gorbachev came in 2 years later and realized quickly that the USSR needed a lot more than "perestroika". 

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July 1983 and the pine tar incident at Yankee Stadium

Who remembers that July 1983 afternoon in the old Yankee Stadium when George Brett’s game-winning run ran into a pine tar argument?

We didn’t have the internet, and most people still read the sports pages to get the latest news.

Back in July 1983, I was working in Mexico and on the phone with a colleague from New York City.  As we finished our business call, he teased me by saying to catch the sports highlights about the Yankees-Royals game that afternoon.  He had watched the game in the office on local TV.

So I made it a point to catch the sports news and couldn’t believe what I was watching.  This is how the legendary Murray Chass reported it in The New York Times:

Baseball games often end with home runs, but until today the team that hit the home run always won.  At Yankee Stadium today, the team that hit the home run lost.  If that unusual development produced a sticky situation, blame it on pine tar.  With two out in the ninth inning, George Brett of the Kansas City Royals hit a two-run home run against Rich Gossage that for several minutes gave the Royals a 5‚4 lead over the Yankees.  But Brett was called out by the umpires for using an illegal bat — one with an excessive amount of pine tar.  The ruling, after a protest by Billy Martin, the Yankees’ manager, enabled the Yankees to wind up with a 4‚3 victory.

What followed was one of the greatest arguments in baseball history.  Brett ran from the dugout and nearly (but thankfully didn’t) killed the umpire.  Benches emptied, and there were arguments all around home plate.  Last, but not least, the umpires ruled by placing the bat across home plate and determining that there was too much pine tar.

The league reversed the umpires, and the two teams returned to New York to literally play the rest of the game.  K.C. won.

The “pine tar” game was the last chapter in the Yankees-Royals rivalry.  It started with very intense postseason series that saw New York beat Kansas City in 1976, 1977, and 1978.  K.C. finally beat N.Y. in 1980, and most of the players were still around when the “pine tar game” happened in 1983.  And as they say, these two teams did not like each other.

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather hear about pine tar than all of these political messages in sports.

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“Shane” the 3rd best Western ever?

Had a little time and watched “Shane”, a movie that I had seen bits and pieces of many times before.    

It was great.    

Shane is played by Alan Ladd.  He meets Joe Starrett (Van Heflin) and his wife, Marian (Jean Arthur) who are small farmers in Wyoming.    He learns that there is a campaign of intimidation against the farmers.    

What a great movie.    The rest is up to you.    Watch it!  

“Shane” is # 3  in the American Film Institute’s Top 10 Westerns.     By the way, # 2 is “High noon”, another one of my favorites.

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1983: Reagan and “the evil empire”

Let’s remember one of President Reagan’s greatest moments.   

It happened during a speech on this week in 1983.  He spoke at a convention of the National Association of Evangelicals in Florida and drew a sharp contrast between freedom and communism.   

President Reagan had done it before in a 1982 speech at the British House of Commons.

This is what he said:   

And this brings me to my final point today. During my first press conference as president, in answer to a direct question, I pointed out that, as good Marxist-Leninists, the Soviet leaders have openly and publicly declared that the only morality they recognize is that which will further their cause, which is world revolution. I think I should point out I was only quoting Lenin, their guiding spirit, who said in 1920 that they repudiate all morality that proceeds from supernatural ideas–that’s their name for religion–or ideas that are outside class conceptions. Morality is entirely subordinate to the interests of class war. And everything is moral that is necessary for the annihilation of the old exploiting social order and for uniting the proletariat. 

President Reagan was known as “the great communicator”.    This is because he spoke from the heart, as he did in 1983! 

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"The evil empire" many years later

It was one of President Reagan’s greatest moments.   

It happened during a speech on this day in 1983.  He spoke at a convention of the National Association of Evangelicals in Florida.   He drew a sharp contrast between freedom and communism.   

President Reagan had done it before in a 1982 speech at the British House of Commons.

This is what he said:   

And this brings me to my final point today. During my first press conference as president, in answer to a direct question, I pointed out that, as good Marxist-Leninists, the Soviet leaders have openly and publicly declared that the only morality they recognize is that which will further their cause, which is world revolution. I think I should point out I was only quoting Lenin, their guiding spirit, who said in 1920 that they repudiate all morality that proceeds from supernatural ideas–that’s their name for religion–or ideas that are outside class conceptions. Morality is entirely subordinate to the interests of class war. And everything is moral that is necessary for the annihilation of the old exploiting social order and for uniting the proletariat.

President Reagan was known as “the great communicator”.    This is because he spoke from the heart, as he did on this day in 1983!  

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1983: Brooks Robinson and Juan Marichal elected to the Hall of Fame

Brooks Robinson and Juan Marichal were elected to The Hall of Fame on this day in 1983.     

Robinson broke into the majors with the Orioles in 1955.   He played his last game in 1977.   Along the way, he won 17 Gold Gloves for his work as a third baseman.   He was a great clutch hitter, a very tough out when the game was on the line:   .267 career average, 268 HR & 1,357 RBI, 2,484 hits in 2, 986 games.    He hit .303 in the post season with 22 RBI in 39 games.   Robinson was the 1964 AL MVP and 1970 World Series MVP. 

Marichal pitched his first game in 1960 and played until 1975.   He pitched primarily with the Giants but did finish his career with Boston.    Marichal's numbers were spectacular:  243 wins, 244 complete games, 52 shutouts, and a 2.89 ERA.   He did not win the Cy Young Award in large part because he was competing with Koufax so many times.

Two of my favorite players!

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