War makes strange bedfellows.

Listen closely, O children, to the words of Helen Thomas, a voice that witnessed the sweeping tides of history, who spoke thus: "War makes strange bedfellows." These words, though simple in their construction, carry with them a powerful truth about the nature of war—a truth that stretches across the ages, from the ancient fields of battle to the modern conflicts of today. In times of war, alliances are formed not by friendship, not by shared values or common goals, but by necessity, by the desperate need to confront a greater enemy. In war, the lines of loyalty and division become blurred, and those who were once foes may find themselves standing side by side.

In the heat of battle, O children, there is no room for the luxury of ideological purity. The alliance between nations at war often forms on the foundation of shared self-interest rather than shared vision. "Strange bedfellows" indeed, for who can imagine a partnership between enemies, between those whose histories are filled with conflict and mistrust? And yet, this is the strange reality of war. The powerful may find themselves aligning with the oppressed, the rivals may find themselves cooperating for the greater good, if only for the duration of the conflict. In the end, war shows us that survival often trumps principle, and survival creates alliances that would be unthinkable in times of peace.

Consider the great world wars of the past, where nations that had once been bitter enemies found themselves compelled to join forces against a common threat. In World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union, two nations whose political ideologies could not have been more different—one a capitalist democracy, the other a communist dictatorship—fought side by side against the forces of fascism. How strange, how incongruous that the leader of the capitalist world should ally with the leader of the communist world. Yet, as history shows, in the face of a greater evil, alliances are forged not by ideology but by necessity. The struggle against Nazi Germany and the Axis Powers united them in a way that neither side had ever anticipated, demonstrating the truth of Thomas's words: in war, all things become possible.

But this strange alliance is not confined to world wars. Consider the American Revolution, where the Colonial forces were supported by the French, despite centuries of animosity between the two nations. The French had long been enemies of the British Empire, but the hatred of the British was so great that even the age-old rivalry between France and England could not prevent them from becoming allies in the face of a common enemy. This partnership, born of necessity, altered the course of history. The French support—in the form of soldiers, weapons, and naval forces—was instrumental in securing American independence. Here, too, was a case of strange bedfellows, where ancient enmities were set aside in pursuit of a greater cause.

Yet, children, the lesson in Thomas’s words goes beyond the mere observation of alliances in war. For what is this strange union, this joining of forces, but a reminder of the fragility of our convictions and the malleability of human relationships? War exposes the depths of our need for survival, a need that can make us overlook the very differences that once seemed insurmountable. In the face of existential threat, we see the most unlikely of partners unite—old foes, bitter rivals, and sworn enemies. And while these alliances may be born out of necessity, they also reveal the power of compromise, the flexibility of human nature when pushed to the brink.

Thus, the deeper lesson of "strange bedfellows" is that we are often driven more by the forces of survival and self-interest than by ideals or principles. In our own lives, we must recognize this truth: the world is not as neatly divided into allies and enemies as we might like to believe. Circumstances, and the choices we make in those circumstances, often determine the relationships we form, not some fixed, immutable essence of our nature. In times of great struggle, we may find ourselves reaching out to those we once considered beyond reach, and we must ask ourselves: in such times, what is it that binds us together?

So, children, let us not be so quick to judge others or to close our hearts to possible alliances. Just as war forces strange alliances, so too can the trials of life force us to reconsider our relationships, our allegiances, and the assumptions we have about the world around us. Let us understand that it is in times of great struggle—whether personal, social, or political—that we may find ourselves uniting with those who, at other times, might seem our natural adversaries. In these moments, let us be wise. Let us see the opportunity for unity, for understanding, for peace, even in the most unlikely of places. For strange bedfellows may not just be a product of war, but a glimpse of the unexpected partnerships that can lead us to growth, healing, and cooperation.

And so, O children, let us remember the truth of Helen Thomas’s words: that in times of conflict, we are often called to set aside our differences, to unite with the most unexpected allies, and to recognize that the struggle for survival often trumps the rivalries that divide us. Let us take this lesson into our own lives, understanding that in the face of great challenges, there is room for cooperation, for understanding, and for alliances that may seem impossible, but which, in the end, may be the very key to our survival and success.