White Poppies for Peace

This year again, I will be wearing a white poppy instead of the usual Royal British Legion-issued red poppy, and I have no doubt that I will once again be lambasted by someone or other for disrespecting our military dead. For me, however, wearing a white poppy encompasses everything that the red poppy signifies, but it has the added element of remembering all military dead – wherever, whenever – and also indicating that in essence, I am anti-war.

It is difficult to say what I am about to say without sounding disrespectful, but please know that that is not my intention. For me, Armistice Day isn’t about paying tribute to British lads from years gone by who’ve laid their lives down for Queen and Country. Frankly, I am not of the opinion that war is an honorable act, and I find it difficult to subscribe to the view that the acts of any soldiers are honorable.

I genuinely mean no disrespect by that. What I do find honorable, is that these men and women, all over the world, from years gone by and from the present day – and those to come – are so loyal to their country and their cause, that they have been prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice in their country’s name. That’s honorable.

In essence, please don’t take this as me criticising the military dead. That’s not what I want to do. What I want to do is say that other than at this time of year, would you ever glorify war? Armistice Day needn’t be used as a day to glorify war – to make war honorable. War isn’t honorable. Killing and fighting are not honorable.

If you happen to be the sort of person who yes, wants to remember all military dead, but also wants to speak out against war, please join me in wearing a White Poppy for Peace this coming week. There’s no stopping you giving your £1 to the British Legion even if you wear a white poppy – I have.

http://www.ppu.org.uk/