Timeless armistice in a troubled world - 'Front Page Challenge' television piece

A time in the heat of battle when men put down weapons of war to celebrate life. The question is, did they really sing? We are told there was song, but no sleigh. No Santa. No one streaked across the sky waving and saying "ho ho ho". But in 1958, it was truly a "great story" for the CBC's Front Page Challenge.

I have never been in a trench, but from what I have read, these long, deep ditches were cold, damp and (during the First World War) scary places. They were not all that far from enemy lines. Between these forlorn scars on the face of mother earth, there was a place called No Man's Land. A place of terror for anyone caught in the crossfire of hate. A place where bodies often lay unattended. Blood seeping into the soil, souls reaching out, praying to be heard.

But on this night, Christmas Eve no less, a cease fire was in effect. The blood of life had stopped flowing from new wounds and No Man's Land was still. An eerie stillness replaced the crack of rifle fire. Good God, did I hear music? I want to cry Silent Night, Holy Night. Our troops sang carols. They sang. They sang with weapons of war at ready. But sing they did, and for a moment in the long, bitter tale of World War One, there was peace that went beyond the truce.

Unsanctioned, later denied, and forever set aside as only a romantic tale, the singing continued into the night. This by itself is a rather touching human story. Easier to comprehend than parting of seas, a virgin birth, evolution or creation.

But the tale is only half told. Other men from other countries heard the singing. Who started the singing and why they sang will forever by a mystery. But one thing is certain, "Peace on earth, good will toward men" rang out with Noel and Joy to the World. In this armistice, men of all races and religious persuasion stopped killing. The magic of love invaded the trenches on both sides and music prevailed. The magic of music prevailed as well.

In 1958, Mr. E. Copeland of Guelph, Ontario, stuck to his story. He produced an official looking order that had (in his words) been "posted by the brass". I don't recall the detail, but I did read the words, "...no further fraternizing with enemy troops..." Inspired by Mr. Copeland's recollection, and angered by the denial, I wrote a six-minute segment that further prompted graphics and Christmas music composed for Front Page Challenge by Lucio Agostini. The story touched my heart then, and it still does.

War historian, Col. Nickelson issued a stern reprimand to CBC brass. But his ringing disclaimer was as vague as my graphic account of the event. Front Page panelist Toby Robbins shed a few tears on the show while producer Jim Guthro stood his ground. To the chagrin of army brass the CBC repeated the show a few years later and I received my first ever residual cheque as a freelance writer for CBC light entertainment. But let us return to the trenches of No Man's Land ... of course, war is monstrously barbarian. A final act of most desperate nations. The final, desperate act of man. Sometimes an act of self defense, often an act to buoy one's personal morality in an effort to enslave the mind of others. Since war is nearly always sustained and motivated by greed, to fraternize with the enemy is a no-no. And to sing and make music when we should be killing one another? Traitors all indeed! As Matthew Arnold says in Dover Beach: "the sea is calm tonight..." and his poem ends with the line, "...where ignorant armies clash by night."

Of course, one must not "fraternize with the enemy" -- it didn't happen! But wait a moment, the order read "no further". If something never happened, do we order people not to do it again?

I hope Mr. Copeland rests in peace. His story was moving. He said he was there and he heard the singing. The words "Peace on earth, good will towards all mankind" may have real meaning in the next century. Meanwhile, let us at least celebrate the meaning of love! How about unity at home? In the good old Canadian way, let us share mankind's blessings with joy in our hearts. Perhaps peace is the operative word in any worthy description of culture? Maybe our culture can continue to embrace people from all over the world. Of course we got off to a bad start as blood, tainted by war, sullied our soil also. But for the most part, we have become a beacon for peace in what is indeed a troubled world.

James McIntosh, former PA&E publisher and recognized founder of the National Youth Orchestra, now lives in Steveston, British Columbia.

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