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Ex-Navy SEAL Jocko Willink cites WWI Christmas Truce story to share message of humanity amid BLM protests

In a YouTube video, Willink narrated the story of the Christmas Truce in the British and German trenches of World War I, alluding it to the current situation between protesters and police force
PUBLISHED JUN 6, 2020
Jocko Willink (YouTube)
Jocko Willink (YouTube)

The George Floyd protests have sparked one of the biggest revolutions of our time. Americans have flooded the streets day-in and day-out for the past week or so to protest against police brutality on people of color, and primarily the black community with the Black Lives Matter movement. Most people have been rallying, signing petitions and making donations to help elevate the black community, while simultaneously demanding justice for all the black lives lost at the hands of blatant racism. Others have used their voices and their platforms to raise awareness to stir the masses and encourage support to the Black Lives Matter movement. Retired US Navy SEAL Jocko Willink alluded to a moment in war history to speak up about the ongoing protests and riots that have spread across the nation, specifically addressing the demonstrators and the police.

In an eight-minute video posted on YouTube, Willink narrates the story of the 'Christmas Truce', in the British and German trenches of World War I. On the night of Christmas Eve, 1914, the British troops who lay awake in the trenches, heard the laughter and singing from across the lines, where German troops where basking in the Christmas spirit, despite being in the middle of a horrendous and devastating war. As dawn broke, some German soldiers approached the British troops across no man's land to wish them a 'Merry Christmas.' At first, the British soldiers thought it may have been a trick until they noticed that the Germans were unarmed and emerged from their spots. They met halfway on no man's land and shook hands, effectively instating a truce. They exchanged cigarettes, mince pies, and even sang carols and songs. Some Germans even lit Christmas trees around the trenches and they supposedly also played a good-natured game of soccer. The so-called 'Christmas Truce' of 1914 occurred only five months after the war in Europe broke out and became one of the last incidents of the outdated notions of amicability between enemies engaged in warfare. 

The Illustrated London News's illustration of the Christmas Truce: 'British and German Soldiers Arm-in-Arm Exchanging Headgear: A Christmas Truce between Opposing Trenches'. The sub caption reads 'Saxons and Anglo-Saxons fraternizing on the field of battle at the season of peace and goodwill: Officers and men from the German and British trenches meet and greet one another—A German officer photographing a group of foes and friends.' (Wikimedia Commons)

The soldiers on the Western Front didn't expect to celebrate on the battlefield, but even a world war couldn't sabotage the spirit of Christmas. Days later, they were back in their respective trenches adhering to the orders from their generals. When the Germans were ordered to open fire on off-guard British troops, they tipped them off about the attack and asked them to lay low while they fired into the sky. However, sometime later, the British commanding officers released an official statement that attempts to befriend the enemy would be punishable by law. Never again was there an attempt at a holiday ceasefire, as higher-ups would squash any hopes by threatening disciplinary actions like court marshal or execution if found befriending the enemy. However, that little incident was what sparked hope. It was proof that no matter the brutal and heavily-armed clash between the two opposing troops, they still retained their humanity.

"The hope is that we as human beings can see other people as human beings. We know we can and I know it is not always easy, but we need to do this on both sides of the trenches," said Willink in the YouTube video posted to his account on Friday, June 5. "And if you're a protester looking at a police officer or a National Guard soldier, please take a moment to remember that the police officer or National Guard is a son or a father or a daughter or a mother or a brother or a sister. Remember that that soldier or that officer is a person." Addressing the law enforcement that is standing on guard as the protests and riots across the country rage on, he said, "If you're a soldier or an officer and looking at a protester or even a rioter, please remember the same thing -- that you are looking a person, a person like you. A person with a family, a person with aspirations, a person with hope, a person with pain, a person with sadness, and joy and misery, a person with hate and a person with love."

A demonstrator protests as police forces hold a line near Lafayette Park and the White House on June 3, 2020, in Washington, DC. Protests in cities throughout the country continue in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25 (Getty Images)

"Look, it can be easy to dehumanize others, but when we dehumanize, we separate people from who we are, from what we are. And it becomes easy to hate them because they are different from us. Well, I'm telling you they are not that different," Willink continued. "The person you're looking at... Yes, they are angry, and yes, they are frustrated and yes, they are scared, they are tired, they are fed up, they are aggravated, they are full of potential and they're deeply flawed. In other words, they are a person, just like you. Please remember that. Be safe out there and try to take care of one another." 

Willink's followers commended him for his words. A Twitter user replied to his tweet saying, "Looks like we might have an opportunity to advance to the next level of humanity. Freedom. Equality. Gratitude. Humility. Remembering. Teaching. Learning. Humor must come as well." His words echo the sentiments of equality, something that the current movement is striving for. Another used tweeted, "As always showing the 'dichotomy' of man. Keep it up Jocko." Willink, who is a podcaster and posts regular content on his YouTube account, received much praise for this video in particular. "Love your message so well put. Every time I listen to your podcasts or messages I get inspired please know your encouragement and messages go along way for a lot of people including myself," a follower wrote, while another commented, "So eloquently put Jocko. The message behind that poignant story just strikes a chord especially in these turbulent times we're having right now."

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