Remembrance Day

[anteros_lmc]

No poetry for Remembrance Day this year, but I would urge you to read this article in the Guardian by Second World War veteran Harry Leslie Smith - This year, I will wear a poppy for the last time.

Comments

[donnaimmaculata]

This is potentially such a huge can of worms... but what the hell: in last year's HIGNFY episode, they discussed the public's attitude to poppy-wearing and how some TV presenters or football players had been criticised, because they had not worn a poppy, or not a large enough poppy or just for one day and not a whole week, and David Mitchell summed it up by saying about the football players: "[To show that they care], they should dress up as poppies!"

Unfortunately, I didn't find that bit on youtube, but there's this one, which I rather adore:

[anteros_lmc]

You're right, it's a massive can of worms. Personally I'm all in favour of remembering the sacrifice of service personnel who have fallen in all conflicts but I am utterly against the glorification of war, which is one of the reasons I've always supported the white poppy campaign.

[vespican]

It certainly is proper to remember the service and sacrifices of those who served our respective nations in time of need. Yet perhaps we should remember all who served their respective nations, regardless of who was an ally or an enemy at that time. All made some sort of sacrifice and performed some sort of service for their country, regardless. A worthy enemy is deserving of respect.
Dave

[anteros_lmc]

Definitely. I couldn't agree more.

[esmerelda_t]

While I think forcing people in the public eye to wear poppies is ridiculous I've never met anyone who wore a poppy because they thought it meant war was good or it was a celebration of war. Politicians may very well at times, shamefully IMO, use Remembrance services as propaganda but that's true of virtually anything else too. If they think it'll get a few votes or opinion poll points they 'll use it.

I wear a red poppy, poppies are red, the ones that grew on the battlefields of the First World War were red. I wear it in remembrance of all who have died in human conflict on all sides. I am particularly attached to it as a symbol as when I was on a school history trip to the First World War memorials a group of German school children had placed a wreath of poppies at the British and French memorial too.

[anteros_lmc]

I try and contribute to both campaigns if I can. I wear a red poppy every year, but I also buy a white one if I can find them, though they're not always easy to come by. I think I bought my first white poppy when I was about 16 and an active member of CND, but I've always worn the white beside the red.

[vespican]

Here in the US it's known as "Veterans' Day," saluting both the fallen and those who have survived.
Dave

[anteros_lmc]

Yes, I think it's very important to recognise those who have lived through war and survived. Too often they are the ones who are forgotten.