OMNI
CHRISTMAS FOR PEACE
ANTHOLOGY December 12, 2025
Compiled by Dick Bennett
What’s
at Stake. The abolition of war.
CONTENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
World
Beyond War. “Christmas Truces Past and
Future.” World
BEYOND War is a global network of volunteers, chapters, and affiliated
organizations advocating for the abolition of the institution of war.
Howard Thurman.
Jesus and the Disinherited.
PBS Christmas 1914 Truce on the Western Front, All Is Calm.
Suggested readings, films, music on Jesus, War, and Capitalism.
Jesus and Refugees.
Silent Night, the 1914 Truce.
OMNI Newsletters on Nonviolence
Vet Jim Hale’s Poem on WWI and VNWar.
Joyeux Noèl
Mike Masterson on Commercialized Christmas
TEXTS
Christmas Truces Past and FutureWorld BEYOND War Dec 10, 2025
We need more than fake ceasefires. Wars, occupations, and threatened wars need
truces around the world right now. Christmas has worked before. One way to get
inspired about the idea of a new Christmas truce is to learn and share a bit
about some past ones.
The fact is that most people are
much better people than their so-called leaders, if they could only stop
obeying.
Surprising popular truces have been
made at all times of year, such as June 1945 on an island in Okinawa.
Here are some resources about
Christmas truces, enough in fact to plan a great event in
your corner of the world in the coming weeks:
· Peace in Ukraine Needs Christmas
Ceasefire and Nuclear Neutrality, Quakers Suggest
· Children from Ramallah Friends
School Sing a Song to the World
· Script for Play of A Christmas
Truce Letter
· Belleau Wood Lyrics by Joe Henry
and Garth Brooks
· Christmas in the Trenches Lyrics by
John McCutcheon
· Children's Book by John McCutcheon
· The Christmas Truce of 1914 Seen
from 2014
· The Importance of the December 1914
Christmas Truce
· Article at Jacobin on the Christmas
Truce
· Eugene V. Debs on the Christmas
Truce
· Veterans For Peace Christmas Truce
Page
· Book: Christmas Truce: The Western
Front December 1914
· Book: Silent Night: The Remarkable
Christmas Truce of 1914
· Book: Johnny Breadless: A Pacifist
Fairy Tale
· Peace on Earth Ads in Washington DC
· U.S. Veterans Call for Holiday
Truce
· Faith Leaders and Organizations
Call for a Christmas Truce in Ukraine
· Archbishop of Canterbury and Pope
Francis call for end to war in Ukraine
· Video of King's Singers' Silent
Night
Any event can benefit from World BEYOND War's Speakers Bureau.
Thanks for all you do for peace.
Let's each inspire someone to
inspire others to work for the end of all war!
—World BEYOND War
World BEYOND War is a global network of volunteers, chapters, and
affiliated organizations advocating for the abolition of the institution of
war.
Donate to support our
people-powered movement for peace.
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Read Howard Thurman.
Howard Thurman - Books - An Introductory Reading
Guide. englewoodreview.org › howard-thurman-introductory-... Jul 23,
2020 — What is the most important book by Howard Thurman? Jesus and
the Disinherited .
Books by
Howard Thurman. Jesus and the Disinherited. by
Howard Thurman. Meditations of the Heart. by
Howard Thurman. With Head and Heart: The Autobiography... by Howard
Thurman. Howard Thurman: Essential Writings... by Howard Thurman. For the
Inward Journey. Disciplines of the Spirit. Deep Is
the Hunger. The Inward ...
Howard
Thurman book. Read 6 reviews from the world's largest community for readers.
Howard Thurman was a preacher, educator, poet, theologian and civil r...
Rating:
4.3 · 52 votes
EARLIER OMNI CHRISTMAS ANTHOLOGIES IN
REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER 2020 - 2013.
OMNI
CHRISTMAS, JESUS, AND
PEACEMAKING NEWSLETTER, DECEMBER 25, 2020.
https://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/2020/12/christmas-jesus-newsletter-2020.html
Compiled by Dick
Bennett for a Culture of Peace and Justice.
Contents
Christmas 2020
PBS Docu-Musical on Christmas 1914 Truce on Western Front
Collection of Writings on the Truce from Veterans for Peace
Dick’s selections on:
Jesus and War
Jesus and Capitalism
A
Spiritual Unity: Planetary Theology
TEXTS
Dec 20,
2020,10:43pm EST|1,070 views
PBS Airs And Streams Docu-Musical On
Christmas Truce Of 1914 On WWI Western Front.
Jane
Levere Contributor. [Exceptional drama and singing. A good opportunity to use your ARPBS
PASSPORT. –D]
The Western Front, Christmas,
1914. Out of the violence comes a silence, then a song. A German soldier steps
into No Man’s Land singing “Stille Nacht,” beginning an extraordinary night of
camaraderie, music and peace.
A remarkable true story told in
the words of the men who lived it, the new docu-musical All Is Calm: The
Christmas Truce of 1914 relives this moment, when Allied
and German soldiers laid down their arms to celebrate the holiday together
during World War I.
"All is Calm: The
Christmas Truce of 1914" is being presented by PBS stations nationwide
during ... [+]
DAN
NORMAN PHOTOGRAPHY
This production is now premiering
on PBS stations nationwide and is also available to stream at pbs.org and the PBS video app.
Created by Peter Rothstein,
founding artistic director of Theater Latte Da in Minneapolis, All Is
Calm is a hybrid of documentary theater, weaving a capella period
songs and firsthand quotes and letters from 30 World War I figures brought to
life by ten actors. Filmed on location at the Ritz Theater, home of Theater
Latté Da, the production features World War I patriotic tunes, trench songs,
medieval ballads and Christmas carols from England, Wales, France, Belgium and
Germany.
“For decades the Christmas Truce
was considered fiction, a romantic fable. I wanted to give legitimate voice to
this remarkable moment that had been denied its rightful place in history,”
said Rothstein.
He conducted research for two
years, in Germany, Belgium, France and England, to develop All is Calm,
revising it in 2014, when the centennial of the start of World War I was
celebrated. Sources of material for the production, Rothstein said in a
recent interview, included the poetry of Siegfried Sassoon and Francis
Ledwidge, diaries and correspondence of soldiers, and gravestones.
“The power of the telling (by the
performers) is that these are all first-hand accounts, real men telling a
story,” Rothstein said, calling the production a “nice holiday alternative to
‘The Christmas Carol.’”
He also said he has received
“countless letters” from World War II veterans and those currently in the
military, who say they are “incredibly moved” by All is Calm, as,
he said, are peace activists.
Since premiering in a live
broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio on December 21, 2007, All Is Calm has
enjoyed global success and critical acclaim, winning the 2019 Drama Desk Award
for unique theatrical experience for its off-Broadway run.
“As our world continues to reel
from unprecedented disruption and division, examples of our shared humanity are
more important than ever,” said Pat Harrison, president and CEO of the
Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provided original production
funding. “All Is Calm is a healing reminder that even in our
darkest times, there is more that brings us together than sets us apart.”
All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914
| PBS
www.pbs.org ›
show › all-calm-christmas-truce-1914
The Western Front, Christmas, 1914. Out of the violence a silence,
then a song. A German soldier steps into No Man's Land singing “Stille Nacht.”
All is Calm: The
Christmas Truce of 1914 | Episode 1 PBS
All is Calm: The
Christmas Truce of 1914 | Trailer | All is Calm ...
All is Calm: The
Christmas Truce of 1914 | Silent Night ... PBS
PBS Airs And
Streams Docu-Musical On Christmas Truce Of 1914 On WWI Western Front.
Playhouse on
Park’s ‘All is Calm’ a warm, moving portrayal of 1914 Christmas Truce
San Diego Opera
to host drive-in presentation of 'All Is Calm' at Fairgrounds
All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914
The Western Front, Christmas, 1914. Out of the violence a silence,
then a song. A German soldier steps into No Man's Land singing “Stille Nacht.”
Thus begins an ...
Video · Reviews ·
Theater
Latté Da · Production
People also ask (search title)
What
really happened in the Christmas truce of 1914?
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was the importance of the Christmas truce of 1914?
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All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 - The Broad Stage
All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce
of 1914 recounts an astounding moment in
history when Allied and German soldiers laid down their arms to celebrate
Christmas ...
All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 - Theater Latte Da
www.latteda.org ›
all-is-calm-2019The Western Front, Christmas, 1914. Out of the violence comes a
silence, then a song. A German soldier ...Nov 16, 2018
· Uploaded by Theater Latté Da
All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 Airing on PBS - Mpls ...
mspmag.com ›
arts-and-culture › all-is-calm-the-christ...
Nov 3, 2020 — A Twin Cities' Christmas tradition, All Is Calm recounts the momentary truce between Allied and German
soldiers as they celebrated Christmas in ...
VETERANS FOR
PEACE
REMEMBERING THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914 and
OTHER WARS
[A superlative collection of writings, films, songs, articles
on wars.
–Dick]
Every year, Veterans For Peace
celebrates the anniversary of the Christmas Truce. Once again, we urge our
leaders to follow the example set by the Christmas Truce soldiers who rejected
militarism and the glorification of war. We call on all leaders to honor all
those who have died in war by working for peace and the prevention of war.
Who
better than veterans who work for peace to tell the story of these soldiers'
celebration of peace in the midst of war? There is no better way to honor the
dead than to protect the living from the fear, terror and morale deprivation of
war. Our society needs to hear this story that peace is possible.
Here are
ways that you can be involved in the efforts to celebrate the Christmas Truce:
·
Check out our website for
some great resources!
·
Check out the Christmas Truce Podcast
·
Read and share Christmas in the Trenches
·
Check out and share
VFP-UK's amazing song on the Christmas Truce
·
Spread the message on social
media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) - be sure to
join in the conversation and tag VFP!
Christmas
in the Trenches by VFP’s Doug
Rawlings
No matter what war and no matter what role we played when in
uniform, we all know that we were supposed to have been a part of something
bigger — like ending war for all time or for defending Democracy or for (fill
in the blank). But when it comes down to the nitty gritty, it's you against
another you. Shooting into a mirror. Of course basic training and the bayonet
drill (Kill! Kill! Kill! Have No Mercy! Kill!) are supposed to kick that silly
"civilian" slop out of you so that you can become an effective killing
machine. Stop thinking. Stop caring. Just do your thing, survive, and get back
home.
Trouble
is that if you're lucky enough to get back to the world, "home" is no
longer what it was before. Well, maybe it was, but you certainly were not able
to engage with it like you had before the war. Sure, you'd play another role
now as serious citizen, loving partner, loving parent, loving grandparent. But,
seriously, how long will that last? You know something has been torn out of you
and shoved down your throat. You know what you are capable of doing to another
human being.
Deported
Veterans Truce of 2020 by Robert Vivar
How can the Christmas Truce of 1914 relate to the present
climate our deported veterans will live this Christmas of 2020? Who is the
enemy in 2020 that they are facing? As I reviewed the events of 1914, and the
present situation we are facing, a very strong word came to mind. Who is the
enemy? Perhaps hate, which is used as fear to create a fictitious enemy. As the
story of 1914 states, when British and German soldiers opened a dialogue, they
came to understand they were fighting for the same ideals: freedom. So then who
were the good guys and who were the bad guys? Seems like both were fighting
something neither understood! Greed, corruption, and unfounded hate.
Present
day deported veterans fight every day, not an unknown enemy but a very familiar
enemy within their own ranks. Those that one day they may have served next to!
Perhaps were even in battle with, protecting each other. Yes, I am talking
about the deportation machine with its hate wall. Not only physical, but within
the heart that separates those that were willing to die for what they were led
to believe was freedom, actually took their freedom, tearing them from their
families.
VFP
UK's Christmas Truce Song
A few
years ago, VFP UK and Tom Morello’s new Firebrand Records released “Christmas
Truce” a holiday single and video to promote the ideals behind that truce -
soldier-led resistance against war and militarism.
Written
by Firebrand Records co-founder, folk singer, and longtime anti-war activist Ryan
Harvey, “Christmas Truce” is performed by Belgian-born, London-based singer
Fenya, an active member of London’s Food Not Bombs. Accompanying the
song is a video shot with members of Veterans For Peace UK, featuring former
soldiers of conflicts stretching from the Second World War to the present
interventions and occupations in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan. Watch the amazing video!
Articles & Essays
·
Lessons from the Christmas Truce of
1914 by Gary G. Kohls, MD
·
The Great Truce by Margarita M. Asencio
Lopez
·
Significance of the 1914 Christmas
Truce by S. Brian Willson
·
Lessons from the Vietnam War: What
it means to be human by Becky Luening
·
The Christmas Truce - An Outburst
of Peace During War by Richard Czaplinski
·
A Truce From the Trenches by
Arnold "Skip" Oliver
Poetry
Read a selection of Christmas
Truce Poems below!
Books
·
Christmas Truce: The Western Front
December 1914 - by Malcolm Brown and Shirley Seaton
·
Silent Night, The Remarkable
Christmas Truce of 1914 - by Stanley Weintraub
·
Christmas in the Trenches -
A children's book
·
To Hear The Angels Sing -
by Myscha Butt
Music
·
Christmas in the Trenches -
John McCutcheon
·
Belleau Wood -
Garth Brooks
·
The Christmas Truce - Ryan
Harvey at VFP-UK
Podcast
·
One Good Deed Deserves Another
Speech
·
Christmas Truce Speech by Bill
Gilson: This speech was delivered by Bill Gilson, then President of
NYC Chapter 34, to Peace Action of Staten Island and The Humanist Society of
New York in 2014.
Films
·
Documentary: Days That Shook The World - Christmas Truce 1914
·
Joyeux Noel - Though
this film takes a few liberties, it conveys the spirit of the truce.
Check out the VFP website for
even more!
Christmas
Eve, 1914
by Jay Wenk
No big
shells swooshing over tonight, no
whining snipers’ shots dopplering away, no
shameless spluttering flares
illumine trenches bordering
no-humans’ land with
its dreaded corpse collection,
draped carelessly
here and there on the wire.
No gentle mustard billows creep over
this frozen field tonight.
The men wait, expecting
mutilation every moment.
Quiet, cold, wet.
Dark now, quiet enough now
to hear, across the endless mud,
a guitar, soft voices;
“Stille Nacht, Hieliger Nacht”.
Germans noting the calendar.
“ay”, Brits call across the field,
“we got Good King Wenceslaus Came Out
and plum pudding. Want some?”
“Nous avon Noel, Noel,
chandelles, le vin.
A bas la guerre”.
Dancing across eons,
singing, the oldest art, is
embraced in that field of curdled shame.
Read Jay's Entire Poem
The
Christmas Truce
by Kathryn Louise Sugg Willard
But the
nature of War is to fight,
And it did not stay far from that night.
The Christmas Truce soon became a memory.
100 years
hence, and we all now see
They had something special that we must find
For the world to share with all mankind.
Read Kathryn's Full Poem
The
Christmas Truce
by Charlotte Koons
At 18,
drafted into the Austrian Army
After having spent time in London
As an apprentice waiter, he
would tell a Christmas story
That I always thought was
just him spinning a charming fairy tale.
Only much later, did I learn
That he was part of that
1914 Christmas Truce
and was telling the truth
Read Charlotte's Full Poem
The Christmas Truce of 1914 -
A Poem by Richard Greve
It was
early in the war and early in their lives,
but they already knew that their oh-so-brave leaders
had sent them to the slaughter, with cheering crowds, no less.
Blind and dumb a continent goes mad with lust-for-war disease.
In the muddy holes they dug,
lice crawling under caps, and coughing from cold,
they stopped the madness for a few days respite,
to celebrate the prince of peace that their royal
leaders gave lipservice to on Sunday morning.
They sang some songs.
drank a soothing drug they shared
to find a little peace.
They played some ball (they were so young)
and went back to muddy holes to sleep
a final silent night.
It could not last,
their leaders, in their cozy beds, would make sure of that.
For four more years the slaughter reigned
and holes were dug in rows for them,
for their eternal sunless beds,
in the lonely fields of France that don't remember
or redeem. Read Richard Greve's Poem
JESUS, WAR, AND CAPITALISM
JESUS AND WAR
Christian pacifism – Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org › wiki ›
Christian_pacifism
As a result,
many of them were added to the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and threw off the belt
of military service.
— Disputation of Archelaus and Manes. How can ...
Origins · Ministry of Jesus · Early Church · Post-Reformation
Did
Jesus Teach Pacifism? |
Desiring God
www.desiringgod.org ›
articles › did-jesus-teach-pacifism
Jan 23, 2006
— The attacks of September 11 and the resulting war against terrorism have brought
to the front once again the question of the Christian view of ...
Was Jesus a Pacifist? – Providence providencemag.com › 2018/01
› was-jesus-a-pacifist Jan 18, 2018
— This article addressing whether Jesus was a
pacifist first appeared in ... In light of this, it is fair to ask: what does
this law teach about matters of violence and war? ... Against the
pacifistic insistence on the necessarily “Unloving ...
10 Anti-War
Bible Passages Everyone Should Know - The ... blog.chron.com › thepeacepastor › 2015/01 › 10-anti-... Jan 14, 2015 — Jesus is Lord (and Caesar is not)! Romans 1:4, etc… Rather than
being a stroll in the ole woods, the New Testament's claim that “Jesus is Lord” ...
Jesus the Anti-War Hippie? - Kuyperian Commentary kuyperian.com ›
jesus-the-anti-war-hippie
Mar 7, 2013
— The Bible teaches that war is a result of man's rebellion (Romans 3:10-18);
that war is not
something to be desired (1 Peter 3:8-12); and that ...
Rand Paul: Jesus Was Anti-War | Sojourners
sojo.net › articles
› rand-paul-jesus-was-anti-war
Jun 13, 2013 — Paul Rand quoted
scripture and used biblical principles as he made his case against excessive American
engagement overseas.
Posing questions to google:
People also ask (search Jesus and war)
What Jesus says about war? What
religions are against war? How many
wars are mentioned in the Bible? What
does the church say about war?
See OMNI ANTI-WAR, ANTI-IMPERIALISM,
PEACEMAKING NEWSLETTER #5. December 19, 2016. http://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/2016/12/anti-war-newsletter-5.html
JESUS AND
CAPITALISM
A Google search for Jesus and Capitalism provides a host of
publications and films arguing the harmony of the two. Here are a few in the negative.
Why Putting Christ Back in
Christmas Is Not Enough ... www.christianitytoday.com ›
history › december › putt...
Perhaps the
problem is not whether we remember “that Jesus is the reason for the season,” but that the story that “Christmas in America” tells
looks nothing like the ...
5 Reasons
Capitalism is not Christian » Mike Frost
mikefrost.net ›
... › 5 Reasons Capitalism is not Christian
Mar 4, 2020
— Or do I need to quote Christ telling us the Kingdom of God belongs to the poor, or his
condemnation of those who do not care “for the least of ...
Socialism is Practical
Christianity www.nyu.edu › projects ›
ollman › docs › practical_ch...
Listen to the words of Jesus and decide for yourselves whether Socialism is ... Capitalism, the system under which we
are now living, may be described as a way ...
OMNI US CAPITALISM
NEWSLETTER #22, April 2, 2015.
http://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/2015/04/us-capitalism-newsletter-22.html
Tissa
Balasuriya. Planetary Theology. Orbis
Books, 1984. Orbis belongs to the Maryknoll Sisters,
which is dedicated to recruiting and training people for overseas missionary
service. “Through Orbis Books Maryknoll
aims to foster the international dialogue that is essential to mission. “ This
book can bring liberal members of religious denominations and non-members
together. If you are short of time, go
directly to the final chapter, “Toward a Spirituality of Justice.”
Earlier Christmas Newsletters
Love and Peace Day, Christmas 2013 http://omnicenter.org/newsletters/2013/2013-12-25.pdf
Love and Peace Day, Birthday of Jesus
Newsletter December 25, 2015 http://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/2015/12/love-and-peacemaking-day-birth-of-jesus.html
Dan Jones,
Kairos: Joseph, Mary, and Jesus Refugees
Refugees
Joseph, Mary, and Jesus and Rescue of Refugees 2015
Opposing
War: Four Articles about WWI 1914
Christmas Truce from The War Crimes Times
Dick, Celebrate
Non-violent Heroes, Tear Down the Monuments to Wars and
Warriors
OMNI
Nonviolence Newsletters: #10 http://omnicenter.org/newsletters/2014/2014-06-12.pdf
END CHRISTMAS 2020 NEWSLETTER
OMNI
CHRISTMAS/LOVE AND
PEACEMAKING DAY NEWSLETTER, DECEMBER 25, 2015.
http://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/2015/12/love-and-peacemaking-day-birth-of-jesus.html
Compiled by Dick
Bennett for a Culture of Peace and Justice.
What’s
at stake:
The wars and killings continue but we can imagine a different world
because we have witnessed on earth those who possessed a vision of peace and
justice. December 25 celebrates the birthday of the
refugee founder of a compassionate, nonviolent Christianity.
Compilation
of the OMNI NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL DAYS
PROJECT (and Weeks, Months) ends with this newsletter, but the collection
2008-2015 remains available. http://omnicenter.org/dick-bennetts-peace-justice-and-ecology-newsletters/dicks-newsletters-2015/
Contents
Love and Peace Day, Birthday of Jesus Newsletter December 25, 2015
(The Date Is
Not the Issue)
Dan Jones,
Kairos: Joseph, Mary, and Jesus Refugees
Refugees
Joseph, Mary, and Jesus and Rescue of Refugees 2015
Opposing
War: Four Articles about WWI 1914
Christmas Truce from The War Crimes Times
Dick, Celebrate
Non-violent Heroes, Tear Down the Monuments to Wars and
Warriors
OMNI
Nonviolence Newsletters: #10 http://omnicenter.org/newsletters/2014/2014-06-12.pdf
(How December 25
Became Christmas - Biblical ...
www.biblicalarchaeology.org/.../how-december-25-became-christmas/
Andrew McGowan • 12/02/2015 ... Although Jesus' birth is celebrated every
year on December
25, Luke
and the other gospel writers offer no hint about the ... )
REFUGEE
JESUS AND REFUGEES 2015
Kairos, Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice, works
to strengthen and expand transformative movements for social change that can
draw on the power of religions and human rights.
Jesus the Refugee – Matthew 2:1-15
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born
in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where
is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at
its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he
was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief
priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to
be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by
the prophet:
“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of
Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.” ’
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and
learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them
to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you
have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ When
they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star
that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the
child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with
joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they
knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they
offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a
dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
The Escape to Egypt
Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord
appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother,
and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to
search for the child, to destroy him.’ Then Joseph got up, took the child and
his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of
Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the
prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.’
The Massacre of the Infants
When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the
wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and
around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he
had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through
the prophet Jeremiah:
‘A voice was heard in Ramah,
wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.’
JESUS
REFUGEE, Google Search, December 26, 2015
Blog: O'Malley: Jesus was a refugee
American Thinker - 1 day ago
Democratic presidential candidate Martin O'Malley invoked the
name of Jesus as he decried the
plan by the Obama administration to deport ...
What Jesus, Mary And Joseph Have In Common With Syrian
Refugees
Huffington Post - 2 days ago
Jesus the Refugee — World Relief
refugeecrisis.worldrelief.org/jesus-the-refugee/
THE STORY. War, violence,
death...a man and a woman had to make the decision to flee or to stay in the
midst of danger. This decision was not only for ...
Jesus the Refugee - One Man's Web
onemansweb.org
› Politics and Ethics › Australia and the Refugees
By this definition Jesus was a refugee. There is no question of
this, despite the fact that some Christians are clearly embarrassed by the
fact. Mary, Joseph and ...
Jesus was a Refugee | Mike Slaughter
mikeslaughter.com/blog/jesus-was-a-refugee
Jesus was a Refugee. When they had gone, an
angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the
child and his mother and escape to ...
O'Malley: Jesus was a refugee | TheHill
thehill.com/blogs/ballot.../264207-omalley-jesus-was-a-refugee
The Hill
3 days ago - “A Christmas Refugee Roundup sounds like
something [Donald Trump] would concoct,” O'Malley tweeted Thursday.
“Remember: Jesus was a ...
What the Bible Says About How to Treat Refugees ...
www.relevantmagazine.com/.../what-bible-says-about-how-treat...
Relevant
12 verses about loving
immigrants, refugees and displaced people. ... In reply Jesussaid: “A man was going
down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was ...
Franklin Graham: 'Jesus Was a Refugee' - Breitbart
www.breitbart.com/big.../franklin-graham-jesus-was-a-refugee/
Breitbart
Sep 10, 2015 - Franklin Graham writes the
“Lord Jesus Christ sympathizes
with theserefugees--have you ever thought
about the fact that He was a refugee?”
JESUS: REFUGEE or KING? - ANU Press
press.anu.edu.au/calvin/mobile.../ch28.htm...
Australian
National University
At Christmas time we sing
again and again that Jesus is king, but isn't the ... And so Mary, Joseph and Jesus had to flee to Egypt
and become refugees in a ..
WWI
1914 Christmas Truce: 4 Articles in The
War Crimes Times (Fall 2014) published by Veterans for Peace. http://omnicenter.org/newsletters/2013/2013-12-25.pdf This
number of TWCC discusses “the Christmas Truce of 1914, the Peace Movement’s
past and possible future, humanity in warriors, uselessness of war,” and at the
end reproduces Watterson’s “Calvin and Hobbes” cartoon, “How come we play war
and not peace?”
War Is Over If You Want It,“ Message from
John and Yoko—ImaginePeace.com
Christmas in the Trenches” by John
McCutcheon (1984).
Simon Rees, “The
Christmas Truce,” the context of WWI and Story of the Truce
(from FirstWorldWar.com)
David Swanson (WorldBeyondWar.com),
“First Hand Accounts from Soldiers Who
Were
There”
A
Reminder of Peacemakers
We may know some
nonviolence history, of Thoreau, Gandhi, King, of Desmond Tutu and the Dalai
Lama, but let’s not forget or let’s learn about Anderson Sa, the Brazilian
musician who teaches young people alternatives to violence, Bruno Hussar,
promoter of interfaith harmony in his “Oasis of Peace” village, and Riane
Eisler, who taught the partnership
over the dominator model in human affairs, as explained in her book The Chalice and the Blade. Monuments to wars and warriors are
plentiful and increasing (now a new one in Washington, D.C., planned for WWI),
but how many statues are there of Thich Nhat Hanh, Colman McCarthy, Oscar
Arias, Henry Salt, Albert Schweitzer, Astrid Lindgren, Jane Goodall, and on and
on.
US military men and women are lauded for
their “service.” Let us concentrate on
service to humanity without violence in preventing violence and wars (and now
warming) and build celebrations to them.
Read Michael True’s two volumes of 60 US peacemakers, Justice Seekers, Justice Makers (1985)
and To Construct Peace: 30 More Justice
Seekers, Peace Makers (1992), both international in scope but mainly about
stellar US peacemakers—Dorothy Day, Joan Baez, Jim Corbett, Penny Lernoux,
Maura Clarke, Noam Chomsky, Dolores Huerta, Denise Levertov, and more. So peacemakers
here’s our niche. We can match and
then hopefully replace the self-aggrandizing National Security State monuments with
nonviolent peace celebrations, another kind of SERVICE-- at our events, our work, our homes, and not
only on December 25. Dick
OMNI Nonviolence Newsletters: #10
http://omnicenter.org/newsletters/2014/2014-06-12.pdf
NONVIOLENT JESUS
Gandhi was quoted as saying:
“The only people on earth who do not see Christ and his teachings
as nonviolent are Christians.”
Love and Peace Day, Christmas 2013 http://omnicenter.org/newsletters/2013/2013-12-25.pdf
Contents Love and Peace Day, Christmas 2013 http://omnicenter.org/newsletters/2013/2013-12-25.pdf
Four Artistic Creations of the WWI 1914
Christmas Eve Trenches Truce
“All
Is Calm” Song
“Silent Night” Opera
“Joyeux Noel” Film
“Christmas 1914 and 1968” Poem
Dick, Refugees:
Joseph, Mary, Jesus
The Unemployed
Jim Wallis,
Christmas Tithe for the Poor
Commercialism
and Materialism
Center for American Dream
Mike Masterson
Menendez,
Struggle Over Nativity Scenes on Public Property
Newsletters: http://omnicenter.org/dick-bennetts-peace-justice-and-ecology-newsletters/
Blog: http://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/
For research purposes,
specific subjects can be located in the following alphabetized index, and
searched on the blog using the search box. The search box is located in
the upper left corner of the webpage.
Newsletter Index: http://omnicenter.org/dick-bennetts-peace-justice-and-ecology-newsletters/dicks-newsletter-index/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OMNIPeaceDept
(479) 442-4600
2582 Jimmie Ave.
Fayetteville, AR 72703
END LOVE AND PEACEMAKING DAY DECEMBER 25, 2015, BIRTHDAY OF JESUS
Sent to WS, Blog, individuals
OMNI
CHRISTMAS/LOVE AND
PEACEMAKING DAY NEWSLETTER, DECEMBER 25, 2013.
Compiled by Dick Bennett for a
Culture of Peace and Justice. http://omnicenter.org/newsletters/2013/2013-12-25.pdf
OMNI National/International DAYS Project
My blog: War
Department/Peace Department
http://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/
My Newsletters:
http://www.omnicenter.org/newsletter-archive/
Index:
http://www.omnicenter.org/omni-newsletter-general-index/
Contents #1
Four Artistic Creations of the WWI 1914 Christmas Eve
Trenches Truce
“All Is Calm” Song
“Silent Night”
Opera
“Joyeux Noel”
Film
“Christmas 1914
and 1968” Poem
Dick, Refugees: Joseph, Mary, Jesus
The Unemployed
Jim Wallis, Christmas Tithe for the Poor
Commercialism and Materialism
Center for American
Dream
Mike Masterson
Menendez, Struggle Over Nativity Scenes on Public Property
|
[OMNI: I saw this
at the
|
|
PBS SILENT NIGHT, Dec. 13,
2013
Silent
Night [I saw
the excellent PBS premiere Dec. 13, 2013. –Dick]
Silent Night premiered Friday, December 13, 2013.
Silent Night
Watch the full episode above
About
the Program
The Minnesota Opera’s production of Kevin
Puts’ Silent Night, a company commission
which earned its composer the 2012 Pulitzer Prize in Music, recounts a
miraculous moment of peace during one of the bloodiest wars in human history.
The fascinating true story takes place on
World War I’s western front. Weapons are laid down when the Scottish, French
and German officers defy their superiors and negotiate a Christmas Eve truce.
Enemies become brothers as they come together to share Christmas and bury their
dead.
The Minnesota Opera presented the world
premiere of Silent
Night in
November, 2011 at the
Silent
Night was conducted by Minnesota
Opera’s Music Director Michael Christie and staged by Academy Award-winning
director Eric Simonson. Silent
Night, which was recently honored with a
regional Emmy nomination, was the first commission of Minnesota Opera’s New
Works Initiative, a landmark program designed to invigorate the operatic
repertoire with an infusion of contemporary works. Minnesota Opera’s
production of Kevin Puts’ Silent
Night is presented by tpt National Productions.
Joyeux
Noel (2005)
[I
first saw this inspiring film several years ago at an OMNI Film Night. –D]
116 min - Drama | History | Music - 9 November 2005 (France)
Reviews: 139 user | 108 critic | 26 from Metacritic.com
On Christmas Eve during World War I, the Germans, French, and
Scottish troops fraternize and get to know the men who live on the opposite
side of a brutal war, in what became a true lesson of humanity.
Director and writer: Christian Carion
Stars: Diane Kruger, Benno Fürmann, Guillaume Canet |See full cast and crew »
"It is thought possible that the enemy may be contemplating an attack
during Xmas or New Year. Special vigilance will be maintained duringring this
period". From General Headquarters at St. Omer- to all units 24th
December, 1914" (Xmas Truce).
Joyeux Noel, (Merry Christmas) is a
movie based on the Christmas Eve truce of 1914 during World War 1. Joyeux Noel is a movie that conveys the
underlying themes of love, war, and brotherhood. The Christmas truce that the
movie portrays was unorthodox in that it was not the generals or the
governments who called the truce, but the ordinary soldiers on the frontlines in
the trenches. The film is dedicated to the soldiers who crossed into no man's
land that day.
Joyeux Noel, released in 2005, was
written and directed by Christian Carion, the director of the movie, Girl from Paris. Carion wrote and directed
the film from the three different viewpoints of the three countries involved in
the Christmas truce. Carion cast the movie so that each character in the movie
was portrayed by an actor who was native to the same country. The members of
the cast spoke the language of their home countries. This makes the language
ofthe film trilingual as it is in German, English, and French with subtitles in
English.
The cast of Joyeux Noel is not well known in
In 2006, Joyeux Noel was an Oscar nomination for
best foreign film at the Academy Awards and Golden Globe awards in the
The costumes of Joyeux Noel accurately reflect what was
worn during that time. The uniforms were unique to the countries that were
being portrayed. Even the use of hats instead of helmets by the Scottish and
French troops was common at this time. The weapons were all stylized after the
weapons used during World War 1. The movie Joyeux Noel follows the three nations
that are thrust into combat against one another on the Western Front in 1914,
the British, the French, and the Germans. The movie begins with a young child
from each country reciting a speech to a class about the oppressors who stood
in the way of their respective countries.
The movie then follows several key characters in the movie. The first
characters that it follows are Palmer, a priest, and Jonathan, a young man who
works with Palmer in a small church in
The movie then moves forward two months into the war when Aubybert, a French
lieutenant, is preparing his men for an assault against the German trench
system. The French supported by the Scottish under the command of Gordon attack
the German trenches with staggering losses to both sides. In the retreat
Jonathan's brother is killed. In command of the German defenders is Horstmayer
a young German lieutenant who is in command of the regiment that Sprink is in.
This is the only
major battle or fight in the film. Things become calm as Christmas Day is
approaching. Both sides anticipate an attack; although they don't know it, each
side is in fact planning a Christmas celebration or party in the trenches. The
German commander in charge of the front sent about 100,000 small Christmas
trees to the frontlines. It is during the preparations for Christmas that Anna
Sorenson offers to put on a Christmas Eve recital with Sprink at the German
command post. After receiving permission from the German Crown Prince, Sprink
is brought from the lines to participate in the recital with Anna. After the
recital Sprink makes the decision to return to the front and sing for his
comrades.
On the other side of the lines the French and Scottish soldiers are having
Christmas dinner. Palmer begins to play the bagpipes as the rest of the
Scottish soldiers begin to sing. After a few songs Sprink arrives at the German
trenches and begins to sing for his comrades. After Sprink has sung first verse
of Silent Night, Palmer begins playing the second verse from across the lines.
Sprink rises from the trenches and sings across the field. After the song, the
British applaud Sprink. Palmer then starts the opening of another song and
Sprink joins in. Sprink takes one of the small Christmas trees and walks
singing into no man's land between the two lines. After the song, greetings are
exchanged.
At this time
Horstmayer, and Gordon meet, along with Aubybert and discuss a truce for
Christmas Eve. The troops from both sides converge on the field with
On Christmas Day
Jonathan tries to bury his brother as the field is covered in fog. As the fog
lifts Gordon, Horstmayer, and Aubybert discuss another truce in order to bury
the dead. A small cemetery is made as each side collects their fallen comrades
and Palmer goes and performs a small service for each of the fallen. After the
funerals, a soccer game develops between the two sides. It is at this time that
Anna persuades Sprink to surrender to the French so they could remain together.
Shortly after the sides once again split up and return to their posts.
Later during the day Horstmayer warns the French and the British that his
artillery will open fire on their trenches. He invites them to come over and
take shelter in the German trench. After the bombardment Gordon invites the
Germans to take shelter in his trench because of a retaliatory bombardment from
the British. After the second bombardment the Germans return to their trenches
and the Scottish troops salute them with a song from their bagpipers. It is
during this lull that Sprink surrenders to Aubybert.
It is not long after this that the high commands from all three countries learn
of the truce. They find out about the truce through the letters sent home by
the soldiers. The commanders disagree with the truce and take actions to
reprimand the troops involved. The Scottish commander comes to the front line
and orders them to shoot a German soldier who is running toward the French
line. Jonathan is the only one who fires and kills the soldier. The soldier
running toward the French is in fact Ponchel, Aubybert's aide. The Scottish
commander replaces Gordon's unit on the line. Aubybert's unit is ordered to the
In an article for the New York Times, movie critic Stephen Holden says that, Joyeux Noel, a glossy French antiwar
movie is the kind of feel-good, feel-sad movie with a message that invites you
to bask in the glow of communal bonhomie". Holden continues to say that,
If the film's
sentiments about the madness of war are impeccable high minded, why then does Joyeux Noel, an Oscar nominee for best foreign-language film, feel as squishy
and vague as a handsome greeting card declaring peace on earth? Maybe it's
because the kinds of wars being fought in the 21st century involve religious,
ideological and economic differences that go much deeper and feel more
resistant to resolution than the European territorial disputes and power
struggles that precipitated World War I (Holden).
Although I respect
Holden's critique of Joyeux Noel, I strongly disagree with his analysis of the movie. True the
wars fought in the 21st century are more complex; at the beginning of World War
I, the traditional military tactics developing from the Napoleonic era were
used. World War I was the training ground for military tactics that are still
being used in the modern military. To say that religious, ideological and
economic differences between opposing foes are more complex is an interesting
statement. However, the beginning and ending of the film justify the theme that
problems facing modern nations on the brink of, or in the throes a war have
been around for centuries. With respect, I disagree with most of the points
Holden made.
Although much of the story of Joyeux Noel is fictional, the events
portrayed in the film actually happened. Although there are very few remaining
survivors of World War I who fought on the western front there are quite a few
written records of the events. On November 7th 2006 a young private's letter to
his mother in which he talks of shaking hands and playing a game of football
(soccer) with the Germans was sold at an auction (The NY Times). Other
written accounts of the football game recorded the Germans winning with a score
of 3-2 (Allen).
Letters and news of the Christmas truce of 1914 were published in
Although the Christmas truce of 1914 was largely dismissed and looked down
upon, the countries of today look back and see that the truce was not treason
or disobedience; it is now seen as a miraculous occasion. Items received as
gifts during the truce and letters from the time are being placed in museums
for the remembrance of this spectacular occasion. One example is a pipe.
A pipe given to a
British sergeant by a German soldier during the Christmas 1914 truce of the
First World War is to be put on permanent display at National War Museum of
Scotland. The pipe was one of the few artifacts to survive from the legendary
Christmas Day when German and British troops left the trenches to play football
and sing Christmas carols together. A German non-commissioned officer gave the
pipe to a sergeant of the Second Battalion Scots Guards. The pipe was donated
to the regimental collection by W.H. Abbot the regimental's chaplain (BBC
News UK).
Although the
Christmas truce of 1914 happened 94 years ago, the spirit of the truce lives on
in the artifacts from the soldiers who experienced the truce, the books and
movies made over this very human occasion where soldiers from opposing sides
laid down their arms and greeted one another in brotherhood on the holiest of
days. The Christmas truce of 1914 shows that differences between nations can be
settled by common men, who can join together even in the most trying times. The
Christmas truce of 1914 proves that the old lie "Dulce et decorum est pro
patria mori", How sweet it is to die for one's country (Owen), is false. Joyeux Noelportrays this message by
telling the story of men whose names have been forgotten while their actions on
the glorious day live on.
Works Cited
1. "Young Private's letter tells of poignant exchanges of Christmas
truce." New York Times 17 Oct. 2006
2. Allen, Richards. "90th Anniversary of WW1 Football Truce." New
York Times 24 Dec. 2004
3. "New home for peace pipe." BBC
4. Holden, Stephen. Joyeux Noel (Merry Christmas): A Truce Forged by Germans,
French and Scots. New York Times 3 March, 2006
5. Owen, Wilfred. "Dulce Et Decorum Est".
http://www.english.emory.edu/LostPoets/Dulce.html
6. Xmas Truce. http://www.kinnethmont.co.uc/1914-1918_files/xmas-truce.htm
Christmas
1914 & 1968
By Jim Hale, Vietnam War Veteran
It was fifty
years and four more ago
Since World
War I was being fought in the snow
Christmas
1914 the soldiers endured
In the
darkness, no mans land was obscured
But then a
holiday tree could be seen in the wire
In the
hearts of the soldiers, dreams of peace were inspired
The soldiers
from Germany, France, and the UK
Played
soccer together on Christmas day
The truce
was not sanctioned, they were breaking the rules
To keep
fighting on Christmas, they'd have to be fools
The truce
held in some places till New Years Day
But higher
up officers made them again square away
Now it is
Christmas 1968
Up all
night, for the Sun we await
Our lights
are all gone so our visions impaired
It's so dark
at night, except for the parachute flares
Our mortars
are thumping, the tracers are flying
My heart
double pumping, there's somebody dying
Bullets
reach a target, may not be what you think
Its war for
Christmas, we went over the brink
A hundred
yards past the airstrip that night
The Viet
Cong were trying, to get in close for a fight
Back in the
world, Silent Night they were singing
When our
mortars took out, the gifts they were bringing
Then came
the sound of secondary explosions
I just put
it away, and forgot those emotions
But now its
all finished with, over and done
In spite of
the dying, no peace has been won
World War I
happened a long time ago
The reasons
for fighting I never did know
In 2014 it
will be 100 years
Since the
war that was stopped by those brave mutineers
Is peace on
Earth just some words in a speech?
Or could it
be something war veterans might teach?
Jim Hale June 18 2011
CHRISTMAS
FOR REFUGEES by Dick Bennett
MATTHEW 2 tells the “Christmas
Story” of Jesus’ birth and the wise men from the East coming to
The question has surely
occurred to many Christians, in pondering the problem of illegal immigrants in
the
During the 1980s in South
America and in Central America—in El Salvador and Guatemala especially--, when
military rulers were oppressing and killing their people, thousands fled in all
directions to escape the slaughter, many of them reaching the US. Unfortunately, the fanatically
anti-communist
What did the public majority
think at the time? What think
today? Should the
But another kind of refugee is
at the center of a stormy controversy today.
The war against economic refugees—the displaced and homeless--is roiling
our country.
And yet other refugees, that promise to be
far larger in number than the others—I refer to climate refugees, people
fleeing the rising seas and droughts resulting from atmospheric warming—are
already on the move. Economic and
climate displacement together will challenge the governments of the world to an
extent never before experienced. A
Sanctuary Movement much greater than that of the 1980s will likely be necessary
to assist the desperate populations, unless governments on all levels are
prepared. Let us hope our leaders will
be ready to put in practice the rescue of refugees as were the authorities with
Joseph, Mary, and Jesus.
Carl Gibson, Billions for the
Pentagon, Spare Change for the Unemployed
Carl Gibson, Reader
Supported News, 12
December 2013. Gibson writes: "Good
jobs are on everyone's wish list this Christmas, but all the working
class (because let's be honest - there's basically no middle class in this
country) is getting from the beltway elite and the two corporate-owned parties
is more coal in our stockings."
READ
MORE
FROM SOJOURNERS 11-29-12
Starting the 'Christmas Tithe'
Religion
is far too judgmental. Surveys show that many people think that, especially a
new generation of young people who — more than ever before — are checking the
“none of the above” religious affiliation box.
I
get it. But religious leaders tend to be judgmental about many of the wrong
things; they are not making moral judgments on the important questions. So I am
going to be judgmental, as a religious leader, about something I just read.
A recent Harris
International and World Vision poll showed that Americans plan
to spend more this Christmas season on consumer gifts than they did last year,
but give less to charities and ministries that help the poor. Many say they are less
likely to give a charitable gift as a holiday present — a drop from 51 percent
to 45 percent.
So
we will have more Christmas presents this year, but less help for the poor.
While retailers, economists, and politicians may rejoice at the news about
higher consumer spending this year, the lower levels of support for the ones
Jesus called “the least of these” should legitimately bring some moral
judgments from the faith community.
Indeed,
the Matthew 25 scripture that this text is taken from is one of the few, and
most, judgmental passages in all the New Testament. About some things, Jesus was judgmental. The Gospel clearly says that
how we treat the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and
the prisoner is how we treat Jesus. That’s pretty judgmental, especially
when you go on to read what will happen to those who ignore Jesus in this
way.
But
rather than just being judgmental, let’s do something about it. Let’s start a "Christmas Tithe.” Let’s spread the idea to our kids, our families, our friends and
neighbors, and to the members of our congregations. Let’s keep it simple:
Keep
track of all our holiday spending for gifts this year, and then tithe a
percentage of that amount to an organization that directly serves the poor. A
tithe is traditionally 10 percent, but you could decide to do less or even
more. But make a decision about your Christmas tithe and pledge it to groups
that are now struggling to respond to the highest number of Americans in
poverty in half a century, and to those who focus on the poorest and most
vulnerable around the world. This is a time to give more — not less.
Sit
down with your kids and get them involved in the discussion and decision. You
may be surprised at how responsive they are to doing this together. World
Vision, which commissioned the sad survey, has a great World Vision Gift
Catalog that concretely improves the lives of a children and families in need
around the world by providing critical tools, opportunities, and animals to
overcome extreme poverty!
We
do this every Christmas Day at our home after we have opened our presents to
each other; and our two boys often feel it is the best part of the day. Each
kid gets to choose a gift for a family in one of the world’s poorest countries.
(Goats are top choices!) And then we decide together what else we will give to
other families. Many other organizations provide similar opportunities. We at
Sojourners have launched our own Just Giving Guide for that reason. Such gifts
can be given in the name of our children or loved ones.
The
only silver lining from the World Vision survey was the high number of people
who like charitable gifts like this that are given in their names. This
Christmas, my own extended Wallis family, instead of just giving more things to
each other, are all giving to an orphanage in
All
of that can be part of our Christmas Tithe.
Many
of us are deeply involved in missions and campaigns to bring social justice to
this world — to transform structures and policies that hurt the poor into new
practices that help them overcome their poverty. But the kind of personal
giving that we do is also very important, especially in teaching the lessons of
compassion and justice to our children.
So
let’s counter the results of the survey with a Christmas Tithe. Gather your
family together around this, send the idea to your friends and fellow
believers, take the idea to church, write letters to the editor in your local
paper. Let’s all decide this Christmas to tithe a percentage of all that we
give in Christmas presents directly to the poor — those who were given the
greatest gift at the first Christmas, with a child born in a stable who
promised to bring them “good news.”
Jim
Wallis is
the author of Rediscovering
Values: A Guide for Economic and Moral Recovery, and CEO of Sojourners. His forthcoming book, On God's
Side: What Religion Forgets and Politics Hasn’t Learned about Serving the
Common Good, is set to
release in early 2013. Follow Jim on Twitter @JimWallis.
ON THE GOD'S
POLITICS BLOG+ See what's new
on the blog of Jim Wallis and friends [I regret to report, yet am eager to spread
the word, that this site, along with countless thousands of online
communications can no longer be reached.
The ephemerality of the internet is an increasing historical catastrophe
that has not begun to be acknowledged by our leaders and populations. –Dick, 12-12-25]
Been There, Bordered That. So Why Are We Still So Afraid?
by Maryada Vallet
Friends and fellow Christians, let's take this opportunity for changing the immigration system to be
just that, real change that keeps families together, respects workers, frees
the captives and welcomes immigrants, and not another excuse to perpetuate this
cycle of fear of our neighbor.
+ Click to continue
COMMERCIALISM AND MATERIALISM
1.
Google Search for Center for a New
American Dream, Dec. 20, 2013.
National non-profit
organization challenging the "more is better" definition of the American dream.
Junk
Mail
Center
for a New American Dream - more of what matters. |
Mission
The
mission of the Center for the New American Dream. |
Jobs
Careers
at the Center for the New American Dream. |
Kids and
Commercialism
Campaign
to teach more about the effects of advertising and ... |
About Us
About
Us. beach sunset with silhouette Since its founding in ... |
The High Price of Materialism
VIDEO:
The High Price of Materialism. In this short ... |
2.
Center for a New
American Dream -
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_for_a_New_American_Dream
The Center for a New American Dream is a
nonprofit organization with a stated mission to “help Americans to reduce and
shift their consumption to improve ...
3.
The New American Dream: It's Not What You Think - ABC News - Go ...abcnews.go.com › Money
by Adam Levin - in 57 Google+ circles
Sep 8, 2013 - A great
number of Americans are
redefining the American Dream. That was
the takeaway from a recent Credit.com poll, which showed that ...
4.
Xavier University - Center for the Study of the American Dream
www.xavier.edu/americandream/
index new. ... American Dream Composite
Index™ and Eye-Opener Results ... Happy
Holidays from the Center for the
Study of the American Dream.
State of the American
Dream ... - About - Videos - Public Forum & Guest
Lectures
MIKE MASTERSON
TALK ON COMMERCIALIZING CHRISTMAS
DECEMBER 1, 2006 at UNITED CAMPUS MINISTRY, 902 W. Maple,
Fayetteville, corner of Maple and
Storer, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 7PM
SPONSORED BY THE OMNI PEACE CENTER
Mr. Masterson was the Editor of the Northwest Arkansas Times and is now a
columnist with the Arkansas
Democrat-Gazette.
Comment by Mike Masterson as recorded by Dick:
Our society in particular has confused
the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ with an opportunity to sell the notion
of Santa Claus, Scrooge, Daisy air
rifles and now a movie about Jack Frost's envy of Santa Claus. As all this rampant commercialism in the name of
Christ has transpired over the past 60 years or so, others now are moving to
remove the Christmas holiday altogether and, I suppose, turn it into an even
crasser commercial celebration - a cause
to celebrate what? Gluttony and buying
gifts on credit we can't really afford
to impress many we may not even like all
that much? I feel true Christians
are not perplexed in their faith, but we
all know that many who attend church do so for reasons other than their authentic faith. I'm deeply
disappointed in where we find ourselves
in 2006
STRUGGLE
OVER NATIVITY SCENES ON PUBLIC PROPERTY
Menendez,
Albert. The December Wars: Religious Symbols and Ceremonies in the Public
Square. Prometheus Books, 1993. Traces the dispute over nativity scenes on
public property as far back as the fourth century, when Catholic orthodoxy
turned Christmas into a major propaganda tool as well as a religious observance. Over the centuries there has been a
surprising amount of disagreement among the various Christian sects about the
nature of the Christmas observance, and even whether it should be observed or not.
|
|||||
|
DECEMBER
19, 2013 Celebrating
Christmas, Then and Now |
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CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER 2013
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CHRISTMAS ANTHOLOGIES 2013-2025.
