Yes, today is Armistice Day, November 11, 2020. It was established to commemorate the day the armistice was signed in 1918 that ended World War I. As it has morphed into what is now called Veterans Day, the original intent of establishing the holiday has been forgotten as was the desire 100 years ago to end all wars. I think I would be safe in saying that most Americans, if asked, do not know what Armistice Day is, such has our teaching of history failed and our awareness of significant historical events over the ages dimmed to the point of being extinguished.
Gerry Condon writes at Popular Resistance:
“November 11th is Armistice Day, marking the 1918 armistice that ended the First World War, on the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.” Horrified by the industrial slaughter of millions of soldiers and civilians, the people of the U.S. and the world initiated campaigns to outlaw war once and for all. In 1928 the U.S. Secretary of State and the French Foreign Minister were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for co-sponsoring the Kellogg-Briand Pact, which declared war-making illegal and called upon nations to settle their differences by peaceful means. The United Nations Charter, signed by many nations in 1945 after the end of World War II, included similar language, “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind…”
World War I was to have been the “war to end all wars” and although turning turning Armistice Day into Veterans Day might have been born with good intentions, honoring veterans is not the same as a day dedicated to ending war. Should we honor veterans? Yes. We must honor them all day every day by taking care of them and their families, ensuring they have health care, food, housing and jobs. We should be talking to veterans. If you do not know any veterans, I will introduce you to a dozen tomorrow. No amount of marching, flag waving, parading and trumpeting should be promulgated as a substitute, for we must ask ourselves what happens to our veterans on November 12th? Or the week after? Or the next month?
That being said, Veterans for Peace has issued this statement regarding the original intent of Armistice Day :
“Veterans For Peace is calling on everyone to stand up for peace this Armistice Day. More than ever, the world faces a critical moment. Tensions are heightened around the world and the U.S. is engaged militarily in multiple countries, without an end in sight. Here at home we have seen the increasing militarization of our police forces and brutal crackdowns on dissent and people’s uprisings against state power. We must press our government to end reckless military interventions that endanger the entire world. We must build a culture of peace.”
It is fitting that veterans are calling for peace. Even General Douglas MacArthur said in his farewell address to the cadets at West Point, “the soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.” I would have preferred that he said “works for peace” but he was of another era. And we are of this era. Time to get to work.
Comments by Readers
Stan Snapp
Nov 11, 2020Dick,
Thank you so much for publishing this account of the history of Armistace Day. (In your intro you wrote 2018 instead of 1918) LOL. I was born on this day in 1940, so today I turn 80! I know it is hard to believe. During my first 12 years we celebrated the Armistace on this day, as you said, “the day that was a celebration to end all wars”. When General Eisenhower was elected President he led the effort to change the name from celebrating peace to honoring those that fought. With WW II still fresh in our hearts it was quickly agreed and that was that. In my heart I have always celebrated the Peace this day while thanking those that served. We thank those that serve even though we know that only a tiny fraction of those actually were in harms way. Most that serve do so helping to keep the peace or supporting those that actually are called upon to be engaged in the conflict. Again, thank you for this posting and for reminding us that celebrating the Peace is a good thing.
Dick Conoboy
Nov 11, 2020Stan,
Thanks. I always appreciate editing! 😊 And Happy Birthday!.
Steve M. James
Nov 11, 2020Comments
David Donohue
Nov 11, 2020Thanks, Dick. Great article, much appreciated.
Dick Conoboy
Nov 11, 2020David,
Can you post it about locally? That would help spread the word. Thanks.
David Donohue
Nov 11, 2020Did.
Sita Amba-Rao
Nov 11, 2020A memorable lesson in history, thanks to Dick Conoboy.
And today in honor of the Cleveland Jacksons of all wars, thanks to Steve James for sharing his remembrance of his war friend.
Drue Robinson
Nov 11, 2020Thank you, Dick and Steve.
I appreciate both the factual and the personal in your posts.
I remember walking along the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington DC and witnessing those who were placing their hands on names… your story, Steve, lends a whole new poignant perspective.
May we end all wars, in the world and within ourseleves.
Erik Thomas
Nov 11, 2020Thank you, Dick, Steve James and Stan for your recollections.
I am also reflecting on all the Cleveland Jacksons of the world, and that their families went through so much as well as those who died directly in combat.
Jon Humphrey
Nov 11, 2020Thank you for this excellent article and reminder.
Geoff Middaugh
Nov 12, 2020Thank you Dick, and Steve James. To Cleve. In John Barry’s book Influenza, he goes in great detail of the final days of the war and Woodrow Wilson’s attempt, and failure, after the Armistice to create a treaty that would trully end the war and establish a peace. A failure, nonetheless.
David A. Swanson
Nov 16, 2020Your piece on Arimistice Day and its meaning reminded me also that when we were young the pledge of allegiance went “.. one nation, indivisible, ....” not “...one nation under god, indivisble…” Another national exercise that morphed into something else. In this case, the removal of the separation between church and state.
Dick Conoboy
Nov 16, 2020David,
Exactly. Four years ago, I wrote an article entitled Anthems and Pledges - RIP? in which appeared a quote from Noam Chomsky on pledges:
“Now I know that many people think the Pledge is simply an affirmation of their respect for the flag, their love for the country, and their gratitude to the men and women who fought in America’s wars. But that’s not what it is. The Pledge is an attempt to impose conformity on the masses and compel them to click their heels and proclaim their devotion to the Fatherland. That’s not how it’s supposed to work in a democracy. In a democracy, the representatives of the state are supposed to pledge their loyalty to the people and to the laws that protect them. That’s the correct relationship between the state and the people. The Pledge turns that whole concept on its head.”