In the UK we have remembrance day on the 11th November. It started as Armistice Day after the ending of WW1 IN 1918.
From remembering the dead combatants of that war it has evolved into remembering " the fallen " from all military conflicts.
Red poppies are sold, proceeds going to help sustain old soldiers by the Royal British Legion.
I have several problems with it.
Firstly, it is in memory of fallen combatants that were on " our side ".
Civilian casualties of war are ignored in this ceremony, even though their deaths are significant and increasingly so in modern warfare.
The fallen are awarded hero status, but I maintain all of the dead as a result of war are more accurately victims.
The other side's dead are not remembered either and because of that I used to wear the white poppy which is known as the peace poppy and which mourns the death of ALL victims of war. Unfortunately, that used to get me in all sorts of situations with people who dont like the white poppy and what it represents. Nowadays I give the money but don't wear the red poppy because at the end of the day I think it glorifies war.
From remembering the dead combatants of that war it has evolved into remembering " the fallen " from all military conflicts.
Red poppies are sold, proceeds going to help sustain old soldiers by the Royal British Legion.
I have several problems with it.
Firstly, it is in memory of fallen combatants that were on " our side ".
Civilian casualties of war are ignored in this ceremony, even though their deaths are significant and increasingly so in modern warfare.
The fallen are awarded hero status, but I maintain all of the dead as a result of war are more accurately victims.
The other side's dead are not remembered either and because of that I used to wear the white poppy which is known as the peace poppy and which mourns the death of ALL victims of war. Unfortunately, that used to get me in all sorts of situations with people who dont like the white poppy and what it represents. Nowadays I give the money but don't wear the red poppy because at the end of the day I think it glorifies war.
A man is born to a virgin mother, lives, dies, comes alive again and then disappears into the clouds to become his Dad. How likely is that?
