(Chuck Muth) – It was Christmas Eve during World War I, and soldiers from opposing sides – the British and the Germans – were freezing their butts off in muddy trenches.
They were tired, hungry, and probably more than a little cranky. But something amazing happened. Instead of shooting at each other, they started singing Christmas carols.
One side would belt out a tune, and the other would answer back. Pretty soon, they were meeting in the middle of No Man’s Land, shaking hands, swapping snacks, and even playing soccer.
Imagine that: people who had been literally trying to kill each other earlier that same day putting down their weapons to share a moment of peace and humanity.
Now, if those guys could do it during a war, surely we Americans can manage it during a heated political season, right?
With President Trump set to take office again, the Left and the Right have been furiously firing rhetorical cannonballs at each other since the election. Social media feels like a battlefield, and family gatherings are landmines of awkward political debates.
It’s enough to make you want to crawl into your own trench and hide until it’s all over.
But maybe, just maybe, this Christmas can be different.
Let’s take a lesson from those brave soldiers in 1914. What if, instead of dunking on each other with memes and snarky comments, we tried something radical: kindness?
Picture this: Aunt Karen and Uncle Bob, sitting at the same dinner table, agreeing to a truce. She sets aside her #Resist mug, and he swaps his MAGA hat for a Santa hat.
They find common ground – like how overpriced eggnog has become or how neither of them knows what the heck a “metaverse” is.
Sure, it might feel awkward at first. You might think, “How can I be nice to someone who doesn’t agree with me about literally everything?”
But remember, this Christmas Truce isn’t about agreeing on politics.
It’s about remembering that, at the end of the day, we’re all human. We all have hopes, fears, families, and, most importantly, a deep love for Christmas cookies.
So this holiday season, let’s call a truce.
Set aside the Twitter battles and the cable news rants. Maybe even – gasp! – invite someone with a different viewpoint to have a cup of cocoa and a chat.
Who knows? If we can manage to be kind for one day, maybe it’ll spill over into January. And if it doesn’t? Well, at least we’ll have one peaceful day to look back on.
And remember: if guys in trenches could do it, so can we. Now pass the eggnog.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
P.S. A lot of unfortunate kids, who otherwise would have had a lousy Christmas this year, nevertheless got at least a little holiday joy thanks to our good friends Bob and Sandy Ellis.
PBS produced a terrific short video detailing the couple’s huge hearts. Take a minute to experience the true spirit of Christmas toady by clicking here.
FAMOUS LAST WORDS
“Sometimes, in the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations we forget that the true meaning of Christmas was given to us by the angelic host that holy night long ago. Christmas is the commemoration of the birth of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, whose message would truly be one of good tidings and great joy, peace and good will. During this glorious festival let us renew our determination to follow His example.” – Ronald Reagan, Christmas Day, 1983
Mr. Muth is president of Citizen Outreach, publisher of Nevada News & Views, and founder of CampaignDoctor.com. You can sign up for his conservative, Nevada-focused e-newsletter at MuthsTruths.com. His views are his own.