The contrast between “peace and goodwill” and the reality of life can be clearly seen in the tale of Christmas Day 1914. Where are the peace and goodwill so often alluded to? Unfortunately, armed conflict and interpersonal strife are ever present in our world. If we lift our heads above the tinsel and trappings and take a cold, hard look at the world around us, the frequently used words of comfort and cheer seem hollow-a mere platitude. Clearly there is an intentional disconnect between the peaceful-sounding music and the disturbing video. People often remark on the jarring nature of these controversial scenes, which include shots of rocket fire and other heavy artillery raining destruction on the earth. It begins: “They said there’ll be snow at Christmas, they said there’ll be peace on earth, but instead it just kept on raining a veil of tears for the Virgin birth.” Toward the end of the video that accompanied the original release are scenes from Vietnam showing the destructive force of war.

One British example is “I Believe in Father Christmas” by Greg Lake, released in the United Kingdom in 1975 and still frequently played. These few short words sum up for many the warm feeling that is synonymous with Christmas, conveying an implicit hope, a spirit of generosity and a kindly disposition toward others.Īnother ubiquitous feature of the modern season of goodwill is the Christmas song, which often alludes to this universal seasonal sentiment.

Whether it be printed on a greeting card or emblazoned on a sign outside a church, the proclamation of “peace on earth and goodwill to all” often comes to the fore around Christmas time.

Images of peace on earth