Why I Don’t Wear a Poppy on Remembrance Day
The first weeks of November mark the beginning of war remembrance in western countries. Culminating on November 11th, Remembrance Day is a reflection of the wars fought through the 20th century. During this time it is customary to wear a poppy. This symbolism is pushed on Canadian (and western) culture to recognize that our freedoms have been won in the course of these wars and that our unwavering respect is owed to the soldiers. I do not wear a poppy, not because I don’t value my freedoms, but because I value peace and unquestioning support of soldiers and government military action is not conducive to peace.
Remembrance Day traces its roots back to the First World War. The Armistice agreement which ended active fighting took effect on the 11th hour, of the 11 day, of the eleventh month, 1918. The tradition of wearing a poppy also came from this war.
Canadian physician, Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, saw active duty in Belgium and Northern France. During the Second Battle of Ypres a friend of his was killed. McCrae noted that poppies grew on the grave of his friend and fallen comrades. He wrote the iconic poem In Flanders Field. Used as propaganda and as a fundraising flower, the poem popularized the poppy as a symbol of Remembrance Day.
The Royal Canadian Legion is a veterans association in Canada. They state that “honoring veterans is our duty” and that “Remembrance Day is a day for all Canadians to remember the men and women who served and sacrificed for our country. It is a day we encourage every individual, young and old, to pause, to give thanks and to remember.”
To be thankful to all soldiers at all times is not beneficial to the principles of freedom or peace. Canadian soldiers have participated in wars which were not just, where Canadian values were not at stake and that the result has been an increase in risk to Canadian’s.
Veterans Affairs Canada quick lists the Second Boer War, The First World War, The Second World War, The Korean War and The Afghanistan War as highlights of Canadian participation. It would not be wrong to examine these wars as follows; a war to increase the British Empire’s holdings in south Africa, a war to consolidate remaining aristocratic power in Europe, a reactionary war for the poverty forced on the German people, a war against former allies to cease the spread of their beliefs and a war to spread western beliefs in Afghanistan.
I admit that the evaluation above has little value. But these comments are of equal validity and is antithetical to the slogan ‘support the troops’. These conflicts had very little to do with Canadian values and to solely state that Canadian soldiers were fighting for Canadian freedoms is not truthful.
The War in Afghanistan has even been detrimental to Canadian security (see Canada’s most recent terrorist attack). Former CIA analyst, Michael Scheuer, wrote in Imperial Hubris how the growth of the Middle East conflicts could have been largely avoided if U.S. and NATO allies had simple allowed those cultures to live and develop on their own terms. Progress cannot be imposed.
What does it mean to remember a soldier who was conscripted against his will and sent to die for a cause he didn’t believe in? How do we remember the unjust acts of soldiers who were “just following orders”? The poppy indiscriminately represents support for actions past, present and future. It is designed to propagate the unquestioning support for military actions of government. It does this by guilting people into the perception they don’t value their freedom which must be solely secured by military personnel and their action.
The utter waste and destruction of war should be remembered. It should be remembered without bias and with careful examination of its causes. The flower which grows on the graves of soldiers may be a suitable symbol for recognition. But until this symbol is observed for the rejection of war and not the support of its participants, my lapel will remain bare.