How To Find Common Ground
In late December of 1914, trench warfare had set in along a 30 mile section of the western front of Europe. On one side was the powerful British fighting force, and on the other side was a force of formidable German soldiers. In between them, a vast section of space called “no-man's” land. The gridlock of trench warfare had left these sworn enemies separated by no more than three-hundred yards. On each side were people who had far more in common than they originally thought. And soon they would come to realize it.
On Christmas eve the British fighting force was preparing for an attack. As night fell on the western front, the British scouted their despised enemy. Their eyes were astonished when they observed the German trenches were illuminated. Their ears were taken aback to hear the sounds of some of their favorite Christmas carols, along with the sounds of clinking glasses and the joy of laughter.
The British were even more stunned when they began to hear an audible invitation to join their hated enemy in Christmas cheer. At first, the British assumed it to be a trap - an attempt to lure the British out of their trenches only to be ambushed. But the German invitations persisted. The two sides began to exchange Christmas carols in their native tongues - serenading “no-man’s” land with sounds of comfort and joy. On this evening in 1914, the sounds of war were replaced with laughter and the sounds of music. Eventually the British left their trenches and began to approach the Germans.
As the British approached their hated enemy, they were not met with a trap and relentless gunfire. Instead they were met with the embrace of the Germans - who closed the distance and met them in the middle of “no-man’s” land. Out of their trenches and in the open field, the hated sworn enemies were now embracing celebrating. The empty space of “no-man’s” land was now full of human embrace and peace. The gap between sworn enemies was closed as all found the man staring across the trenches - was just like them.
Deep into the night, the two sides continued to exchange laughter, sang Christmas carols, sipped beverages, enjoyed warm food - together. On this night there was no German or Britt. The two sides had laid down their weapons, they had laid down their disagreement - they saw across from them not an enemy, but a fellow man. The legend has it they even found their deep common love - the game of soccer. As someone produced a ball - “No man’s land” became a soccer pitch - and became the home of
As morning came, the two sides returned to their trenches. On Christmas day - peacetime still remained in effect. The two sides continued to yell jokes back and forth to each other - reminiscing on the night’s activity and fellowship. They elected not to fight for days.
Eventually, trouble entered their temporary paradise. The German high command had ordered the front lines to begin attacking. Now seeing the humanness in their enemy the Germans had an internal conflict. Before, they were firing at a faceless enemy they feared. Now they were firing at men they had just spent time with. So the Germans yelled across the way and warned when they would be firing, and that they would intentionally miss high. They instructed their now British friends to ensure they took cover - stay low. As the shots rang - both sides deeply questioned why they were here.
“How did it come to this?”
“My enemy is just like me.”
“A brother. A husband. A father. A Son.”
After a few more days of peace, the British high command had now intervened. They instructed their British lines to fight the ‘enemy’. They stated if anyone was suspected of not fighting they would be court martialed. If they were found to continue to fraternize with the enemy they would be executed.
The high command on both sides retook control, not from the front lines, but instead from a distant position of power. From a distance, the high command only saw a map, territory to take, interests to advance, opportunity to seize. But on the western front, the soldiers could see people. They could see humanity.
After a brief time of peace - war returned. And slowly but surely the warmth of friendship faded. They disregarded the humanity on the other side. It was no longer a human on the other side - it was back to a faceless enemy. An enemy to be feared. Conflict continued - stirred up by the powerful as the high command executed their strategy of disagreement and fighting.
The war would not end for another four years. Since the war’s end in 1918 there have been periods of peace time and war time. Time for soccer in fields far better manicured than “no-man’s land.” And other time for the tragedy of war.
What can the Christmas Eve Truce of 1914 teach us about leading in a climate of divisive, heated, conflict?
1.) We must see the other side as the face of humanity
On each side of a conflict there are people. People with passions, and potential. People with flaws and limitations. People who have siblings, children, parents, and friends. People who have hobbies, love sports, and love movies. We cannot lose sight of the humanity in the conflict. We cannot reduce “the other side” to an enemy to be feared. We have far more in common than we estimate.
2.) Beware: Some people gain from conflict
In the same way the soldiers on the western front began to question, “what are we doing here?” so too should those in heart of conflict. People in power (politicians) and people with influence (media) are gaining from the division and plight of humanity. Unlike the soldiers on the western front - we don’t have to fight. There are causes worthy of fighting for. But - we don’t have to take direction from the powerful or the “influential” on how to fight good fights. The good fight always starts in “No-Man’s Land.”
3.) There is risk in going to “No-Man’s Land”
It’s a powerful image to think that the soldiers met in the middle. One side didn’t go the entire way. They both left the trenches with a high degree of suspicion. But they went anyway. And eventually found they could trust humanity on the other side. They could share stories, they could find common ground, they could forget what they were even fighting about. There was a risk, but for that evening - the risk was well worth it. And so it is for us.
Stay The Course,
JB
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