In “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie,” Carl Watner uses the development of the “live and let live” system that developed in the trenches of WW1 as an example of how cooperation between individuals can happen under all sorts of conditions.Warring soldiers who were stuck in the trenches figured out that this mutual cooperation increased the chances that everyone would get what the soldiers really wanted, which was to return home. Alive.
Of course their off-scene commanders didn’t think too much of this and they used various schemes to stop this behavior. I’m sure they hated this. How dare these soldiers make their own pacts with their opponents instead of following orders. How embarrassing to see peace breaking out, right in the middle of their war.
Of course war tactics are much different nowadays because many of those doing the damage never even get close to seeing the people they are maiming and killing.
Even so, this example shows what individuals can accomplish, even under the most horrid circumstances, to cooperate with others.
Final note to Issue 12
This issue contains a short piece by H. L. Mencken, written in 1930 called “What I Believe.” He sums up his life philosophy with a string of paragraphs that begin with I believe. This is my favorite:
“I believe in complete freedom of thought and speech, alike for the humblest man and the mightest, and in the utmost freedom of conduct that is consistent with living in organized society."
