More on "Wearing the Poppy"

Two of my best "Twitter-friends" have now got involved. The writer has, as I understand, personal experience of the horrors of war, as have living relatives of my own. I do not seek to insult their experience, their feelings or their opinions. I salute them as people. I do *not* decline to contribute to the funds for "veterans". (And I condemn the behaviour of people who insult soldiers - dead or alive - as "proxies" for the people who sent them to risk their lives). I therefore added the comment that follows (slightly amended for context).

You probably won't like my recent blog-post on the same subject, I suspect.

However, I will say that, if I lived in the U.K., I would find the decision on whether to wear the Poppy or not much more difficult.

It might end up the same, though.

Symbols are very powerful and it is beyond any individual's power to decree that the poppy or any other symbol has the meaning that they would wish to give it.

In Ireland, there is a lapel symbol available around Easter time known as the "Easter Lily". Some will tell you it is to remember the noble heroes (yes, they were noble, even if you think them misguided - just read the thoughts of the (real) General Blackadder who sentenced them to death) who died for Irish freedom in 1916 and their successors in that struggle.

Ah, yes: "their successors in that struggle". Therein lies the rub. That's where the trouble starts. I also refuse to wear the Easter Lily.

As in Ireland, so in England. The celebration of the fallen for "King/Queen and Country" inevitably becomes a patriotic "fest". I know it was an Irishman - GBS wasn't it ? - who characterised patriotism as the last refuge of the scoundrel, but you know that he was right.

It would be great if Remembrance Day was really only about remembering the dead and wounded, and not at all about glorifying the causes for which they suffered and died, and continue to do. For many, that is what it is, and I empathise with you, and join in recalling my own relatives among the number.

Wearing the Poppy (and even Remembrance Day), though - despite the efforts of OedipusLex and others - signals something else. Wishing it were otherwise will not make it so.