Thanks to a lobby group in Ottawa, the media has been flooded with debate over the red poppy vs. the white poppy. White poppy? Where did this come from?
TEAM RED
Red Poppy
"It is generally accepted that the red poppy was first promoted by Moina Michael (an American) and Anna Guerin (a Frenchwoman), two female volunteers with the YMCA during the First World War. Meeting at a YMCA conference in New York City, 1918, and inspired by John McCrae’s poem In Flanders Fields, they decided to encourage wearing a red poppy as a symbol of remembrance for those who were killed in the war." (1)
"Through the early 1920s, a sincere sense of optimism pervaded Western European and North American society. In the aftermath of the Great War, a celebratory tone was widespread and not merely over battlefield victories, but also because there was a real sense of hope for a peaceful future."(1)
In other words, so we wouldn't become complacent in our permanent peace, red poppies were to remind us of the sacrifice that brought us this peace.
TEAM WHITE
White Poppy
"The optimism of the 1920s would prove a cruel hoax, however, producing the white poppy in its wake." (1)
"In 1933 the first white poppies appeared on Armistice Day [Britain] (called Remembrance Day after World War Two). The white poppy was not intended as an insult to those who died in the First World War - a war in which many of the white poppy supporters lost husbands, brothers, sons and lovers - but a challenge to the continuing drive to war." (2)
"The white poppy became a symbol of the total renunciation of war, to be worn alongside the red poppy as a reminder of the desire for enduring peace and using peaceful means to resolve disputes." (1)
In other words, permanent peace is a lie. On top of remembering sacrifice, we also need to proactively seek peaceful, enduring solutions.
SO IN SHORT:
 |
| From Wikipedia |
* Both poppies have a place in our early post "Great War" heritage
* In that heritage, red and white poppies could co-exist
OR
Team Red = Remembrance
Team White = Peace
SO WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
There are a few possibilities I've gleaned from the media (3):
1) Activists are promoting the idea that red poppies glorify war and white poppies represent peace
2) Some Canadians feel white poppies are disrespectful towards veterans
3) The Legion worries white poppies will undermine their crucial fund-raising campaign
4) White poppies are not native to Flanders
The activist, though maybe noble in intent, are not being fair to the red poppy. This isn't helped by the Legion marginalizing white poppy campaigns. If the Legion embraced both poppies, they would have a chance to educate the public on the historical significance of both. Both sides could get what they want, without either side being misrepresented, and the whole controversy could be dropped.
If Canadians felt free to wear both red and white poppies, which is perfectly fine in other countries like Britain, then no one would see it as disrespectful.
If the Legion embraced both poppies, then they could use both in their fund-raising campaign. If people choose to wear both poppies, this might even increase revenues. The Legion might also benefit from loosening it's tight control over their trademark. The power of a symbol increases with its proliferation. So let people knit, cut and paste, and bend pipe-cleaners, let them participate in on the process, and let them do so in both colours. Just kindly ask that as they do so, they make donations to the Legion. I doubt anyone, even the activists, have any real issue about supporting struggling veterans and their families.
And finally, white poppies evolved as a response to conflict that happened after Flanders and World War I. Whether white poppies grow in Flanders is irrelevant.
I've decided it's not enough to just remember those who have made sacrifice through war. It is also important to remember why they fought, and what they would expect of us as we move forward. If it becomes solely about glorifying veterans for the sake of doing so, then their sacrifice means nothing and the activists are right. It disturbs me when symbols of peace are disdained as being disrespectful to veterans, as though peace were the antithesis of what they fought for. Celebrate that people care enough to pin on a poppy of any colour. If the Legion sold white poppies, I would make a donation for both, so I could tap into my own heritage of war and of peace, and be sure to tell the whole story.
Sources
(1) "Schultz & Weier: Why we wear poppies, both red and white"
Christopher Schultz and Jonathan Weier, National Post | 11/11/13 | Last Updated:07/11/13 2:40 PM ET
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/11/11/schultz-weier-why-we-wear-poppies-both-red-and-white/
(2) "White Poppies for a Culture of Peace"
Peace Pledge Union,
(3) "Red Poppies Do Not Glorify War"
The Globe and Mail, Published Sunday, Nov. 10 2013, 7:30 PM EST, Last updated Sunday, Nov. 10 2013, 7:30 PM EST
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