Politics Plus

Don Winslow Films

Greeting from the Bidens

Today is “Boxing Day” in British-English-speaking countries. It has nothing to do with cats, though they do love boxes – and who doesn’t love cats?

Yes, I know, Christmas was yesterday. But if he only just heard the bells on Christmas Day of 1863, he couldn’t very well have put it out before or even on Christmas, could he” and, written as it was in the middle of the Civil War, it has things to say to us today.

Here is the original (full) poem. The part usually sung is verses 1, 2, 6, and 7 (and that’s what is in the video.)
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

The Trumpty Dumpty Cycle Episode 13 “Scoundrels”

No “Christmas Truce” from Beau yet – he was probably distracted by this, which is worth considering anyway.