Wednesday 30 October 2013

Peace Pledge

I am not convinced by the white poppy.

The red poppy was initially, and 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.

Wear your red poppy with pride. I am wearing mine as I write. Because of what it really means.

3 comments:

  1. Cousin Katherine31 October 2013 at 11:17

    What are your views on when to start wearing a poppy? It annoys me to see television presenters wearing it in October. I suppose I associate the armistice so strongly with November that it seems wrong to wear it outside that month.

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  2. The British Legion's slogan for this armistice day is "shoulder to shoulder with all who serve" which is explicitly asking support for wars current and past. Thats why this year, for the first time, I will not be wearing a red poppy.

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  3. I don't see how it means that at all.

    Yes, Katherine, it does seem to start earlier every year. Like everything else.

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