Red Poppies

[mirrorshard]

It's that time of year again, with a poppy-seller on each corner[1], and it seems somehow morally wrong not to be supporting the war dead and their survivors. I don't disagree with this in principle, it was - and still is to some extent - a terrible human tragedy. It just makes me feel twitchy to wear something connected to war, even though this one isn't a political statement.

Now, if only they sold white poppies...

[1] http://www.poppy.org/ for those of you who are living Elsewhere and don't understand this traditional British custom of wearing a small paper and plastic poppy on the lapel at this time of year. http://www.poppy.org/About_Poppy_Appeal/History.html explains why a poppy.

Comments

[malvino.livejournal.com]

Same problem last year, I'll be wearing one regardless and if anyone has a go at me for supporting the war I'll give them a bloody nose.

The did have white poppies once, but it didn't work out too well. You can buy them now too, but the money just goes to a vague "peace fund" oganisation that really don't say much about themselves but cosy up to a number of other ideas and don't really inspire much confidence.

[hellison.livejournal.com]

White poppies here are for the Easter Rising and of course no good Republican would be seen out wearing teh Evil Red Symbols of British Oppression that Glorify the Deaths of all the Innocent Terrorists killed by British soldiers.
This is of course following the version of history where thousands of Irish soldiers *didn't* die in the 2 world wars.

We have an amazing ability to take just about *anything* and turn it into an excuse for argument and division.

[claudacity.livejournal.com]

hm, interesting. singapore marks her fall to the japanese in world war 2 in a far more... pragmatic way. no flower selling here, we get Total Defense Day instead, a special day for propaganda Important Messages.

[harald387.livejournal.com]

It's a Canadian tradition as well, honouring the memories of people who fought and died so the rest of us could have peace.

I'd be offended if anyone claimed that wearing a poppy meant I was a supporter of war. It's not supporting war; it's remembering those who made peace.

-K

[mirrorshard.livejournal.com]

Discovered today about the white poppy tradition - I vaguely knew I remembered it from somewhere. Official ones only really available through mail order, though a few Quaker friends of mine were wearing them.

I may have to redecorate an official red one ;)

[scootersaurus.livejournal.com]

I've always seen Rememberance Day as remembering those who gave their lives so that we can enjoy what we have, how they shouldn't have had to fight for us in the first place, and how we may learn from the mistakes of the past and not repeat them.

Of course, we don't learn anything, but we can still hope we will someday. :P

I wonder if Tim Hortons will put out a Rememberance Day Quarter (http://www.downtownstamps.bc.ca/images/news/poppy.jpg) again this year. Sure it was a marketing scheme and the poppy on the quarters rubbed off easily, but they were cool.

[sleetersoulfire.livejournal.com]

I've bought poppies most years in a "lest we forget" sort of way.

Anyone who accuses me of supporting war by remembering those who were conscripted and gave their lives because they had to can, frankly, bite me.