REMEMBERENCE SUNDAY Beautiful piece of writing by veteran on why this year he will wear a poppy for the last time.

[Darkesteyes]

Harry Leslie Smiths piece is a truer memory from those times. Am in awe and much respect to this man.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/08/poppy-last-time-remembrance-harry-leslie-smith

Thats a great article. Thanks for the link.

I think our great leader David Cameron sums this sentiment up well when he said next years commemmorative events were going to be on a par with the Jubilee celebrations.

I agree.
But I think it's very sad that he feels sidelined- surely we shoud be listening MORE to his generation.

Did Cameron really say that? what a prat.

Thank you so much for that link.

He expressed exactly the problem I have with Rememberence Day.

YY Pacific And he expressed it eloquently and with passion. I watched a prog called Secrets of the Workhouse earlier this year and actor Brian Cox discovered that his ancestor had fought in the Great War. His ancestor had been badly treated and in and out of the workhouse and yet was considered good enough to fight in that war.
This and what Harry says in that article are the things that get glossed over. That is one of the best pieces ive seen on the Guardian site.

I'm so torn on the poppy, I agree entirely with what was said in that article. But I also want to show remembrance, especially for why WWII was fought. I feel like now, more than ever, it is relevant to remember that we fought against the demonisation of a large group of people - especially when much of the propaganda against them was about how they were to blame for a failing economy. I want to show remembrance for the brave people (both on the front lines and everywhere else) who fought to protect the vulnerable.

Wish the poppy hadn't become this compulsory thing that seems to be used to glorify war.

Today in town there were loads of cadets selling poppies, yet it seemed to me fewer people than usual wearing them, does anyone else have that impression? I do feel it might be because of people's unease with the current/recent wars.

I think remembrance is very very important indeed, I take issue with Remembrance and it being used to 'sell' various dubious policies.

I have always fond it very hard to express this in RL because a. I am grateful for the sacrifices made by servicemen and women and would hate to offend anybody who is actively serving now or did in the past b. I would be mortified to offend anybody who lost a loved one in any war and c. because I am German. Born 20 odd years after the end of WW2 and I know that history is far more complex than 'It was the Germans wot did it', but still.

I remember ALL the dead, on all sides; usually the poor and those who had little choice but to serve, be that because they were conscripted or 'forced' by social circumstances. Some of them will have died doing their duty, some of them during truly heroic acts, but ALL of them just died .

A couple of years ago I explained to an ex RAF mate that I won't be wearing a poppy in future because of our government co-opting the poppy for current wars, which, let's face it, are all fought in the name of corporate interests, not national security. It took hours of argument discussion to get him to understand my point, which was the appeal was set up to provide for the WW1 soldiers and Harry Patch had just died. Harry famously declared that war is organised murder. As our government and the oil companies love war so much they can pay for the care of our more recent veterans.

That article is probably the most articulate and well written piece I've seen about this. Thanks for posting.

MurderofGoths

Quakers wear the white peace poppy as well as the red one.

It is a tough one for me too.
I am not a true pacifist (how could you be when confronted with the reality of fascism?) but I despise war and war mongers and when I see Blair and all the other gung-ho cunts lining up at the Cenotaph it makes me rage.

An incredible piece of writing by Harry Smith - what a gent.

www.ppu.org.uk/whitepoppy/

I found this article a few days ago and thought it was really quite tear-jerking!

I also liked the huffington post article on why the poppy has become a symbol of war rather than peace.

Such a shame, so much opportunity for peace that has been wasted.

I used to wear the white poppy but stopped as it can upset people- and not really a pacifist.

I'm not sure about the white poppy, it's not free from controversy itself.

Thatcher absolutely despised the white poppy.
Nuff said.

Haha, definitely a bonus

Well, I am going to stay clear of all poppies.
I don't need people to see that I am remembering and I can donate without buying a paper flower.

Very good OP, thanks.
Remembrance Sunday has been ruined by jingoism.

Quest have been showing the History of World War 2 over the weekend. the footage is thought provoking and heartbreaking.

I am bumping this because I think it deserves to be read.

Have just forwarded it to my dad... wish me luck!

I don't know if I will wear the poppy next year or not but I do agree with everything he is saying . I work a lot with people who do remember WW2 and also the effects on families after WW1 and I would feel disrespectful while with them to not wear a poppy at this time of year but actually thinking back over the weekend most of them didn't have a poppy this year .

And next year being like the jubilee is just a bloody stupid thing to say . Cameron for example .....

Beautifully measured piece.

I always buy a poppy. I never wear it publically.

Wow what a great article. I have no trouble with buying them, but after reading this I feel I may not be wearing one next year.

you do not have to wear a poppy.

think about why it isn't compulsory, and why many other things did not happen.