We Remember

Today is Armistice day, and across the countries silence was observed at 11AM

It saddens me that the media seem more interested in the usual "crack pot" stories that gather at this time of year.

However the Red Poppy / White Poppy question seems to be getting more column space than normal. I guess when Jon Snow starts out stating that he won't wear a poppy on screen, and the guy from Ekklesia states that the Red Poppy is somehow less "Christian" than the white; I guess we get what we deserve.

BUT look beyond the headlines and we see reasoned comments:

Snow wears a poppy in private life, but draws the line at wearing symbols to support any organization on TV. The white poppy row seems mainly taken out of context, whilst the white issue is one of the redemptive nonviolence peace, and the Red poppy remembers those who fought for peace.

My personal take on this is best summed up by the notice at our local Waitrose.

Remembrance of Armistice day, and the conflicts since then. WWI may not have been clear cut in its roots, and it was a tremendous loss of life, but it did allow for major social and economic changes to come after. WWII was different as a war could be. Fought against fascism of the worst kind, with a will to subject other peoples and inflict untold horror on other races. Those that fought, fought for the freedom of Europe and the world.

Since then we remember our armed forces who continue to fight for their country (right or wrong). Therefore I wear red and will continue to wear red.

That is not to say that white is wrong, this whole issue must be about choice. Because choice is part of that freedom fought for.

That deserves remembering. Reading out the names of the fallen, staying quiet, remembering is important for our society today. We need to remember, we need to remember that it only takes a small conflict to become a world war. Our society is not forgetting the fact of the wars, but it is starting to loose its respect and focus on what it meant.

In these times we all need to remember.

The white poppy remembers a better way to peace. The red reminds us that sometimes there is no alternative.

So in whatever manner you choose to remember, please remember and spend sometime thinking of the cost our freedom takes from our own people.