Some of the people whom I most respect politically, and sometimes in other spheres as well, wear the white poppy.
But I must admit that I am not convinced.
The red poppy was initially, and it is still properly, anything but a glorification of war.
The white poppy message to "remember all victims of war" is already included, and the red poppy no longer features the name of Haig. White poppy money goes to the Peace Pledge Union, a campaigning organisation for absolute pacifism (a cause to which I do not subscribe), rather than to a welfare charity of any kind.
The white poppy message to "remember all victims of war" is already included, and the red poppy no longer features the name of Haig. White poppy money goes to the Peace Pledge Union, a campaigning organisation for absolute pacifism (a cause to which I do not subscribe), rather than to a welfare charity of any kind.
Wear your red poppy with pride, because of what it really means. Or lose it, because in very recent years it has come to mean the exact opposite of its original and intended meaning.
It, and the events associated with it, at least at national level, have become expressions of political support for recent and ongoing military interventions, and of others that might be proposed by the people who brought us those.
I am giving the whole thing until next year, the centenary of the Armistice. But if things have not reverted to their original intention by then, then I really could give it all up. I suggest that you adopt the same approach. Do not wear the White Poppy, either. By all means still give to the Royal British Legion, although it does have some housekeeping to do. But do not proclaim publicly your support for every past, present and putative war of choice.
After all, militaria long ago ceased to be part of mainstream culture. Former members of the Armed Forces comprise a large part of the Conservative Party's active membership, but they comprise a tiny part of the population at large. National Service ended 57 years ago, so hardly anyone under the age of about 75 has ever been in the Armed Forces.
All in all, this is one among the many reasons why a party led by Jeremy Corbyn not only won 40 per cent of the vote, and came well within a million votes of winning outright, but did so not only to the horror, but to the genuine bemusement, of the Conservative Party and its subculture. Don't let them hijack the poppy, though. Or, if they do, then just stop wearing it.
I am giving the whole thing until next year, the centenary of the Armistice. But if things have not reverted to their original intention by then, then I really could give it all up. I suggest that you adopt the same approach. Do not wear the White Poppy, either. By all means still give to the Royal British Legion, although it does have some housekeeping to do. But do not proclaim publicly your support for every past, present and putative war of choice.
After all, militaria long ago ceased to be part of mainstream culture. Former members of the Armed Forces comprise a large part of the Conservative Party's active membership, but they comprise a tiny part of the population at large. National Service ended 57 years ago, so hardly anyone under the age of about 75 has ever been in the Armed Forces.
All in all, this is one among the many reasons why a party led by Jeremy Corbyn not only won 40 per cent of the vote, and came well within a million votes of winning outright, but did so not only to the horror, but to the genuine bemusement, of the Conservative Party and its subculture. Don't let them hijack the poppy, though. Or, if they do, then just stop wearing it.
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