ADVENT in Donetsk, December 2023
Since 2014:
Well, these were Russian Speaking Ukrainians, But Close Enough.
After four months of horrible deaths, more than 200,000 at Ypres alone, on the eve of Advent, Pope Benedict appealed to the warring parties that they should “cease the clang of arms while Christendom celebrates the Feast of the world’s Redemption.”
That was December, 1914. Would that the Patriarchs voiced such a plea today.
The Great War began with Austria attacking Serbia after the murder of the Austrian Archduke and his wife, Sophia. Long standing provocations by Serbia stood in the background.
Seeking to avert a larger war, the allies of Serbia and Austria sought to mediate preventative measures. Czar Nicholas of Russia and Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany (and King George of England) were cousins and long standing friends since childhood, being grandsons of Queen Victoria.
In a flurry of correspondence, known as the Willy-Nicky Telegrams, they sought to avoid a wider war. [They signed the letters with their childhood nicknames.]
On 28 July, Vienna declared war on Serbia.
On 29 July, in a telegram to Willy, Nicky noted the “indignation” of his public over the invasion of their ally, Serbia.
“I shall be overwhelmed by the pressure forced upon me and be forced to take extreme measures which will lead to war.”
He asked Willy to act as a mediator. Willy perceptively feared “involving Europe in the most horrible war she has ever known.”
“I fully understand how difficult it is for you and your government to face the drift of your public opinion.”
The Kaiser felt the same pressures.
On 30 July, Willy noted that in the face of military mobilizations, “my role as mediator…will be endangered if not ruined.”
On 31 July, following the mobilization of Russian troops, Willy complained, “my mediation has been made almost illusory.”
“Responsibilities for the safety of my empire force preventative measures of defense upon me.”
Nicky’s telegram stated, “It is technically impossible to stop our military preparations…[they are] obligatory…my troops shall not make any provocative action. I give you my solemn word on that.”
On 1 August, Germany declared war on Russia.
On 3 August, Germany declared war on France
On 4 August, King George declared war on Germany. The war to end all wars was underway.
World War I started as two close friends desperately tried to avoid a wider war as public sentiment and bureaucratic powers worked against them. Today, there are no good actors. Propaganda drives public sentiment. This horrendous propaganda pushed by the American main stream media has nothing to counterbalance the bi-partisan war mongers. There are no clues that our politicians even know the basic history (link) behind this tragedy.
Where will lead today’s sabre rattling? Prime Minister Boris Johnson with the American neocons firmly behind him, scuttled the peace negotiations in April. He promised more war machines and money. The U.S. goal of “bleeding Putin” (to quote a friend in Europe) as President Biden stated his desire for “regime change” in Russia, all point to disaster ahead.
Timeline Ukraine War
-Germany to remain member of NATO.
-Pledge: No Further Expansion of NATO to the East.
MAP of NATO EXPANSION
U.S.A. Broke its word.
“2008…Ukraine…Red Line”
American Communique at end to 2008 Bucharest NATO Meeting:
2022 Russia Invades Ukraine After 8 years of Ukraine War in Donbass
Russia’s Stated Goals: Denazification and Demilitarization of Ukraine.
Care to understand UKRAINE? Prof. Mearsheimer lays out BASICS that underlie the CRISIS for which “The West is principally responsible…” THIS was over TWO YEARS AGO. Miss intro, start at 5′ mark, thru 29 min. And then 36 min, following…
The USA was willing to risk Nuclear War to keep Russian Missiles out of Cuba. What do you think Russia will risk to keep American Missiles off of its border?
The Great War. The War to End All Wars. World War I. (It prepared the seedbed for its sequel, World War II. We still live with a century of consequences.)
Conservative Wm. F. Buckley, Jr., called it an unnecessary war. Another called it Satanic carnage.
Stanley Weintraub, in A Stillness Heard Round the World, chronicles the celebrations that broke out on that day. Work ceased, bells rang; sirens and whistles pierced the air. Buildings were emptied and throngs filled the streets, celebrating with cowbells and drums; horns and tin pans. Singing and shouts filled the air. Newsboys shouted, “EXTRA!”
The First Lady picked up her mother and sister and drove down Pennsylvania Avenue, to the delight of the crowds. Orville Wright wrote, “We all rejoice this day…”
All this was on November 7th, the day of the famous False Truce. And it began all over again on November 11th.
On the battlefront, when the cease-fire came, one young lieutenant wrote home of his Marines, “The poor boys, some of them just dropped and cried.”
Few, today, realize that what is now Veterans Day began as Armistice Day—a holiday of thanksgiving for the end of the brutal fighting that ravaged Europe for over four years.
In the 1960s our clueless Congress changed the date to the fourth Monday in October (part of their three-day holiday weekend project). The World War I generation would not hear of it. I remember my grandmother firmly stating that Armistice Day was November 11th, NOT the fourth Monday of October. After a decade of standing up and speaking out by those who knew the true date and meaning, Congress restored the November 11th holiday, forty years ago, in 1978.
In his day, Charles Spurgeon asked, “Why does a peaceful nation bluster and threaten for a few months, and even commence fighting, when in a short time it sighs for peace, and illuminates its streets as soon as peace is proclaimed? The immediate causes differ, but the abiding reason is the same — man is fallen, and belongs to a race of which infallible revelation declares “their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways, and the way of peace they have not known.”
In the West, November 11th also marks the Feast of St. Martin of Tours, whose most famous words are, “I am a soldier of Christ. It is not lawful for me to fight.”
***
C.H. Spurgeon’s Words on War and Christians. BEWARE. This is LINKED
Tempus fugit. Once-upon-a-time, at least a year ago, maybe more than two, Cap’n Kidd hoisted his sails on a voyage to rescue Charles Spurgeon from the plank-walking-offense amongst the Reformed of “pacifism.”
The Gospel Coalition’s page on Facebook, which chronicled this voyage, drew many comments. In this irenic give and take, I endeavored to engage others, pointing them to the words on war of C. H. Spurgeon. When I pointed out that Baylor Professor Thomas S. Kidd had misrepresented Charles Spurgeon on war, apparently being unfamiliar with the quotes that I had linked (I think the eye-patch thingy hinders him), my conversations and all links to Spurgeon’s words were deep-sixed.
{HALLOWEEN Alert} [Eye-Patch Thingies in RED, White, and Blue from Reformed Wear***. But a black UNISEX Hoodie will have to do until they have the pirate hats and pistols in-stock https://twitter.com/reformationwear ]
Blimey! They banned this bloke from their facebook page. I cannot even ‘like’ any article. (And I do like most.)
[Update: @MorningNEvening on Twitter has joined Cap’n Kidd’s Crew. Blocked me for re-tweeting Spurgeon devotional with an ‘Amen’ and link to Spurgeon’s lost (censored) quotes.]
This side of our redemption, let us celebrate the Resurrection following our King. Charles Spurgeon guides us along the Narrow Way.
Semper Fi
READ CHARLES SPURGEON’s WORDS On War & Christians, LINK HERE
WARNING: Clicking on the link and actually READING Spurgeon’s words is a mark of Total Depravity. I accept no liability for said persons being struck by lightning, excommunicated, disfellowshipped, or disemboweled with a rusty pirate’s sword.
***Reformed Wear: “We’ve Got You Covered, Head to Toe.”
ZEITGEIST 