@ 08. Nov 2009 – 12:52:53
Watching those veterans, old and young, able and crippled, marching in the Rememberance parade, I was remainded of an important distinction -
click on the Poppy Cross to enlarge
I sometimes forget that hating the business of war blinds me to the faith of those who have to die in it. What annoys me however are those cowardly politicians who jump on the bandwagon of today's commemorations to convince us that wars are worth dying for, especially when someone else does the dying.
SeasideMan
Pro Well said A! That is precisely what angers me most at this tike of year..
xx
justgrrl
I think an absolute difference should be made between 'aggression' and 'defense' in war matters. Like, when the "first V-1 to hit London landed... on the rail bridge across Grove Road, in Bethnal Green, killing six people, seriously injuring 30, and making about 200 homeless" (quoted from here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/78/a1302878.shtml )was a deciding moment when everyone understood that 'fighting (back), and eventually 'dying for' was not a debatable issue re "Why should they go out to fight?"
I think the 'rememberance poppy', so much a national sign of reverence and pride in Britain of today, is reminding us all - and making everyone proud of - the people of that time. It can't be used as a symbol in connection with wars in general - so I understand.
ohtralala
I understood that poppies grew in Flanders field ...
justgrrl
If we'd like to really indulge in hair-splitting, or poppy-splitting for that matter, the poppy plant, Paper somniferum, grew, and grows in many places in the worrld, and has been around for thousands of years.
McCrae's poem, initially called We shall not sleep, made the poppy flower a most recognisable symbol for all times after, of course first for the ww1 fallen soldiers and veterans. Btw, last three British-resident veterans of World War I, Bill Stone, Henry Allingham, and Harry Patch, attended the 2008 Remembrance ceremony but all passed away in 2009 - that I mention just to satisfy your hair-splitting requirements. It does not mean the poppy might have lost it's symbolic power. Since the ww2 the poppy has a wide acceptance as a sign of respect for fallen soldiers, disabled veterans, and honourable soldiers of many countries - I understand.
ohtralala
I like the comment - 'lions led by donkeys' - very apt ...
Foxwriter
Absolutely spot on, ABE.
We do as we are commanded. We thus command our men to do what must be done.
If we are lucky we, and our men, come home.
MichaelStMark
Pro None of them are forced to sign up, but as in WW1 they all imagine it'll be a turkey shoot and of course the old smokers' addage of "it'll never happen to me", along with that sense of immortality that comes with youth is ever-present.
The Westminster talking heads are forever the ones explaining the reasons why the kids should be fighting ... and ever as keen as mustard to keep it going.
In that case hand the "Right Honourable" members their sand flackjackets, give em basic gun training and pack em off to Afghanland asap. One of the parliamentary priviliges could be free underwear wash at end of each day.
Brown on patrol through Helmand ... see the fear in his eye - now that WOULD be entertainment.
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"Politicians hide themselves away
They only started the war
Why should they go out to fight?
They leave that role to the poor
Time will tell on their power minds
Making war just for fun
Treating people just like pawns in chess
Wait 'til their judgement day comes"