"The outcome of this war won't be decided tonight."

"We were talking about a cease fire, for Christmas Eve. What do you think? The outcome of this war won't be decided tonight. I don't think anyone would criticize us for laying down our riffles on Christmas Eve."

Joyeux Noel (2005)

The 1914 Christmas Miracle

The Christmas Truce in 1914 was a moment of unexpected miracle during the First World War. Right up until Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, German, Scottish and French soldiers fought as no other war. All three parties had a reason and was not going to turn back. But when Christmas Eve arrived the holiday spirit pranced through the trench. And for a full 48 hours there was a moment of peace and humanity that no men could have ever expected.

The 2006 film Joyeux Noel depicts this warm Christmas spirit.
http://www.historicaleye.com/xmastruce.html

A night before Christmas Eve, such movies remind us of what human heart could do. There is snow outside tonight. It looks like we are going to have a very white Christmas, a kind that we haven't seen often in Korea.


Merry Christmas with love

Clausewitz

"In the beginning, Clausewitz wrote to change an army; in the end, he wrote as devils chewed his soul. No happy man thinks deeply or writes well." (p.xvii)

"Clausewitz had the gift that comes to few men of seeing clearly then drwaing universal conclusiosn from the partiality of experience. Intuitively, he spotted relationships where others saw only disparate events and sensed the constants underlying the disruptions of his age." (p. xi)

- Introduction to the On War, Clausewitz by Ralph Peters.

What 1919 Paris tells us.

In 1919 Paris, at the end of World War I there was hope. Most of the powerful countries were present, most of the powerful leaders were taking an active lead in initiating a change to the broken world. Their six months of effort must not be forgotten. Yet, as we see from history, we see again how the War is torn down during World War II and the Cold War. Even today, current world politics show how the deep economic integration and globalization has not prevented someone from declaring war. So then, are we ultimately a failure in becoming a true "peacemaker"? Is by human nature such effort impossible to do?

In a sense, the true effectiveness of a "peacemaker"s role is often evaluated through history. Through time and history, we are able to have a better sense of who meant what and why certain things didn't happen certain way.

Still, as I review these stories, I am constantly reminded how history would remember us today of these moments. How can we measure ourselves as a good leader, a wise person if our good "peaceful" efforts may not always bring that good result? Is the initiation good enough? How do we know which one is the right one? How much time should pass for us to know which policy and which decision was the "right" one? Right one, as in what standard?

President Wilson became quite ill since he returned back to Washington. He was consumed with the deep failure of implementing his dream in US and Washington. The key is for policy makers and leaders today to not fall into this trap. The trap of letting one dream consuming oneself to the point it kills you. We are only human. Don't try to do everything by yourself. Let your team dream that dream with you. And let the time and world show what is the right one. But don't forget to work through your consciousness. Because your heart will know what decision is the right one. Let time and history to tell.

Dream with your team. Trust your instincts leaders.