White Poppies
- Thread starter zz000ter
- Start date
I think you are being narrow-minded and inflammatory. Nobody is slapping anybody in the face.
White is a traditional symbol of peace. The poppy is honoring the veterans. What is wrong with combining the two? Are you saying that veterans are against peace?
War is a horrible thing. At times, it has been necessary to go to war in order to achieve peace. I think the white poppy is meant to be a reminder that we need to keep peace as an overall goal.
With the military industrial complex, we are drawn into wars because that is where the profits are. Some would have us in a perpetual state of war. I don't think veterans want that, and many would be proud to wear a white poppy.
The fact that the white poppy rides on the coat tails of the traditional red poppies is the point. Why not choose white roses or something other than poppies? The actual flower of peace is the cattail, but that's not that sexy a plant, so they piggy back on something that has an almost reverent profile. It's been tried before and twittered away in the wind in no time.
In all this time, I've not seen any wearing it, so it can't be that many wearing, so please define 'many'. Trying to draw connection between the MIC and the veterans is bogus. The veterans fought so we could have our peace.
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/Legion+over+peace+group+white+poppies/3767581/story.html
The Royal Canadian Legion has entered a fresh battle with peace activists, who claim the Remembrance Day poppies sold annually by veterans romanticize war and are selling white poppies they say symbolize non-violent conflict resolution.
"The red Legion poppy, in my opinion, represents the nostalgia and romanticizing of war," said Ian Harvey, an activist in the Ottawa White Poppy Coalition. "We should remember that you don't have to go to war to get peace."
But Jim Ross, president of the Legion's P.E.I. provincial command and a former lieutenant-commander in the Canadian Navy, said the Legion owns the rights to the poppy symbol, and the national office will most likely ask many of the various activist groups to stop the white-poppy campaign.
"The red poppies are not political statements and the Legion doesn't have any political positions. The poppies are simply a symbol of remembrance. Nothing more," Mr. Ross said. "It seems to me that the people who usually distribute these [white] poppies and do these sort of things have never spent a day in their life in the service of their country."
Mr. Harvey and other activists plan to lay a wreath made of white poppies at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Remembrance Day. His group has been doing this since 2008 without incident. He said the ceremony will take place at 12:30 p.m., after the official ceremony.
"We don't want to look like we're competing with them," he said.
The white poppy was first introduced in the United Kingdom by the Women's Co-operative Guild in 1933. The Peace Pledge Union distributes boxes of the poppies to peace groups outside the United Kingdom.
"I did some research on the poppies and I thought it would be a good idea to bring them to Canada," Mr. Harvey said, adding the white poppy more accurately reflects the nature of what Remembrance Day should be about.
"The white poppy views all losses of life in war as tragedies," Mr. Harvey said. "I think the traditional ceremonies don't do that, because it's a day where everyone puts the focus on the soldiers. The white poppy also remembers the civilians."
This is not the first time the Legion has complained about the white poppies. In 2008, an anti-war group and a health food store in Edmonton stopped distributing white poppies after the Legion claimed their distribution was illegal.
"These people are doing a great disservice to veterans everywhere," Mr. Ross said.
Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/ca...hite+poppies/3767581/story.html#ixzz14NQLOtYU
What Mr. Harvey doesn't seem to understand, is if the Focus does shine mostly on the Veterans on this one day, it is because they deserve it.
The Royal Canadian Legion has entered a fresh battle with peace activists, who claim the Remembrance Day poppies sold annually by veterans romanticize war and are selling white poppies they say symbolize non-violent conflict resolution.
"The red Legion poppy, in my opinion, represents the nostalgia and romanticizing of war," said Ian Harvey, an activist in the Ottawa White Poppy Coalition. "We should remember that you don't have to go to war to get peace."
But Jim Ross, president of the Legion's P.E.I. provincial command and a former lieutenant-commander in the Canadian Navy, said the Legion owns the rights to the poppy symbol, and the national office will most likely ask many of the various activist groups to stop the white-poppy campaign.
"The red poppies are not political statements and the Legion doesn't have any political positions. The poppies are simply a symbol of remembrance. Nothing more," Mr. Ross said. "It seems to me that the people who usually distribute these [white] poppies and do these sort of things have never spent a day in their life in the service of their country."
Mr. Harvey and other activists plan to lay a wreath made of white poppies at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Remembrance Day. His group has been doing this since 2008 without incident. He said the ceremony will take place at 12:30 p.m., after the official ceremony.
"We don't want to look like we're competing with them," he said.
The white poppy was first introduced in the United Kingdom by the Women's Co-operative Guild in 1933. The Peace Pledge Union distributes boxes of the poppies to peace groups outside the United Kingdom.
"I did some research on the poppies and I thought it would be a good idea to bring them to Canada," Mr. Harvey said, adding the white poppy more accurately reflects the nature of what Remembrance Day should be about.
"The white poppy views all losses of life in war as tragedies," Mr. Harvey said. "I think the traditional ceremonies don't do that, because it's a day where everyone puts the focus on the soldiers. The white poppy also remembers the civilians."
This is not the first time the Legion has complained about the white poppies. In 2008, an anti-war group and a health food store in Edmonton stopped distributing white poppies after the Legion claimed their distribution was illegal.
"These people are doing a great disservice to veterans everywhere," Mr. Ross said.
Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/ca...hite+poppies/3767581/story.html#ixzz14NQLOtYU
What Mr. Harvey doesn't seem to understand, is if the Focus does shine mostly on the Veterans on this one day, it is because they deserve it.
I fear Mr. Harvey is being naive to the extreme. These "White Poppy" people are basically anti-military. They think that by getting rid of the military we won't be able to engage in any wars. That is like saying we can get rid of crime by getting rid of LE. Or, we can get rid of cancer by getting rid of doctors and nurses.
"Many" is defined as "a whole bunch". LOL Okay, you make a valid point. But reading mervyn's post,it sounds like the white poppies are new in Canada this year.
Very good point. Well, apparently "freedom" does not mean wearing a turban in a Legion Hall. Apparently every group has its share of assholes.
Questor - OK so you hate the military and soldiers
I don't know why since they stopped Hitler and later the Russians - but that's another issue.
You have every right to your views ...
.. but why can't you respect November 11 for what it is - a remembrance and honouring of our veterans.
If you want, why not have the I HATE THE MILITARY day on Nov 12?
The issue of dead civilians - well that is just a veiled accusations "You Baby Killers".
These white poppy pushers are remnants of the left-wing that spat on soldiers returning from Vietnam.
Remember that the military and soldiers do not start wars - politicians do.
I don't know why since they stopped Hitler and later the Russians - but that's another issue.
You have every right to your views ...
.. but why can't you respect November 11 for what it is - a remembrance and honouring of our veterans.
If you want, why not have the I HATE THE MILITARY day on Nov 12?
The issue of dead civilians - well that is just a veiled accusations "You Baby Killers".
These white poppy pushers are remnants of the left-wing that spat on soldiers returning from Vietnam.
Remember that the military and soldiers do not start wars - politicians do.
zz000ter, I've looked over Questor's posts in this thread and I don't see the basis for your claim that he hates "the military and soldiers". He may disagree with you on the white poppy issue, but don't put words in his mouth.
For the record, I'll be wearing a red poppy this year, as I always do.
Freedom is a relative term, There are many thick book wilh laws about what we can and cannot do; so total freedom is an illusion. You r have the freedom to do stupid/foolish/bad things but don't expect o be allowed to do them without consequences.
The white poppy is north at new but I believe it only made on serious appearance a few years.
I believe it is very poorly design lazy campaign an d might have been better to have not chosen the poppy.
It was late last night and I forgot to mention this.
The placement of the Red poppy at the National War Memorial, to me at least, has become a very important act, it was never planned, it's not political, it's just something we as Canadians started to do, and it's something frankly I'm very protective of.
By placing the white poppies on that memorial after the fact, Mr. Harvey is insulting the very sincere emotion behind that act by politisizing it.
The placement of the Red poppy at the National War Memorial, to me at least, has become a very important act, it was never planned, it's not political, it's just something we as Canadians started to do, and it's something frankly I'm very protective of.
By placing the white poppies on that memorial after the fact, Mr. Harvey is insulting the very sincere emotion behind that act by politisizing it.
Precisely!
I couldn't agree more. BTW, where exactly does the money go for the sale of white poppies?
I wonder how you stop people like:
Ghenghis Khan
Napoleon
Mussolini
Hitler
... to name a few
WITHOUT going to war.
Hmmmm - maybe by appeasing them and just giving them what they want?
The objective of these left-wing international socialists is to weaken out society so that it is easier to 'attack' be it military or economic.
The BARBARIANS are always at the gate.
Don't ever forget that.
