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Aired Tuesday, 19 December 2017, 5:00 PM EST CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES: Breaking the Trance of War and Standing for Justice A Conversation With Author David Swanson (War Is a Lie) and Activist Jul Bystrova “If war is a necessary evil, why not stand for peace as a necessary good?” — Swami Beyondananda It used to be that the “work of heart” I most associated with Christmas was the Frank Capra movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” But ever since my friend Shanti Norman recorded John McCutcheon’s song, “Christmas in the Trenches” in 2000, I have held that extraordinary piece of work as best symbolizing the light that can shine in times of greatest darkness. After World War I started in 1914, the Pope suggested a truce around Christmas time. The generals pursuing the war didn’t like this idea one bit, and in fact one of their concerns was that the enemy trenches were so close, that soldiers could hear the enemy speaking to their comrades, and even smell the food they were cooking. What came to be known as the “Christmas