Well said Jeanie...not sure why Ahnamis is chosing to be so confrontational and provocative about the wearing of poppies in November....
Mostly, I wear my poppy to remember my grandfather who fought in WWI at the age of 15 (he lied about his age in order to serve in the war). He drank poisonous water in Germany, got crabs in Egypt (not from hooker sex), and ate part of a horse knee in France. He rode mules and spent time in horrible horrible trenches...But he didn't talk much about his war experiences...in the early 70's, someone broke into their house and stole his medals and his war photos (and all the coins he collected during the war). He was a wonderful man and the only thing I regret is that my husband didn't get to meet him.
There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of him and how horrible that war must have been for him...however, in November I wear a poppy to honour him and all the friends he lost during the war...he always used to quote In Flander's Field and taught me the importance of Remembrance Day. I consider this to be a very valid reason to wear a poppy - and if someone has a problem with that, then they just don't get it.
Thank you. I'm starting to understand that Ahnimus is frustrated by the lack of care given to people in nursing homes and I think he's equating that with people that wear poppies not doing enough to help them. I don't see it that way, but I can understand why he does.
My experiences with Remembrance Day are similar. Much of what I have learned has been from my family, grandparents, great grandparents sharing with me the horrible things that happened in their generation. If not for them sharing these things with me and the significance of things like the poppies I'd never had read books, watched movies, learned more about what a terrible thing war is and would never have spent my life opposing war wherever I could. We learn so much from our forefathers. The people that came before us. I'm very grateful to them for what they learned and what they taught. When I wear a poppy all those things are behind my reason, all those things and so much more.
It's awful that your grandfather had his medals and keepsakes stolen. I am lucky to still have some of the things my grandfather collected during his time in New Guinea and the pacific in WW2.
Great, but remember isn't really worth a dime if you never do anything with the memory. My problem was that people don't contribute enough, there are people suffering, people that we supposedly respect by wearing these poppies. We say we remember them and we respect them, but we allow them to rot away. Did you know that in Ontario the average senior citizen gets a shower every 10 days? They are really in a sad state of affairs and for the most part can't help themselves. So it's great that we remember them and all, but are we gonna help them? That's sort of my point in this thread.
I feel you Ahnimus, being part of raising money for both our vets here and various local charities, I'm often frustrated by how little (when I say little, I mean nothing) folks contribute that are in a position to do so. But I have no control over them, so I have to let it go. I recommend getting involved, donating your time, inspiring folks. For every person that frustrates me, I'm blown away by the generosity of another. You will also find you can accomplish things you didn't think you could otherwise. I was given the task of putting together a basket for auction. I first had to raise the money then creatively put this basket together. I raised the money and with the help of an arts & crafts store, I got my basket together. Turned out pretty good and raise twice what it was worth. So, perhaps, get involved. You might surprise yourself.
As far as the poppies, like Jeanie said, it is tradition & tribute and allows folks to pay respects,nothing wrong with that at all. It's all part of the charity process as well and there are other channels as well.
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance,
but the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel Boorstin
Only a life lived for others is worth living.
~Albert Einstein
I know not everyone will agree with my opinion here, but I only wear a poppy when my country is not at war. As a citizen of a country that is occupying another country and actively perpetuating war, I don't feel I have the right to wear that prestigious badge.
I agree with Ahnimus.
In my country we don't have any charities for veterans (even our soldiers are in Iraq), but it's similar to other charities (specially very popular in Poland annual action for sick children). Every year they give signs to wear and almost all people do it. I think it's very selfish to wear it in that one day. Just like saying: look at me, I'm trendy! If U want to give something, not everybody has to know about it. For me it's a kind of snobbishness. What a big deal! U once a year give a coin for sb? U r really great!
I must say - sometimes I give some money, sometimes I don't. But I never wear such of this things (how did U call it? Poppies?)
Not 10c member? Have sth to say? write to me - I'll put it on the forum
halszka123@op.pl
They are representative of the poppies that grow in Flanders' Field, nice big red poppy...
And we (in Canada) wear them for more than just one day. People (like me) start wearing them around the middle of October. Certainly, I don't know of anyone who looks down on someone who doesn't wear a poppy. Personal choice, personal preference.
Comments
My experiences with Remembrance Day are similar. Much of what I have learned has been from my family, grandparents, great grandparents sharing with me the horrible things that happened in their generation. If not for them sharing these things with me and the significance of things like the poppies I'd never had read books, watched movies, learned more about what a terrible thing war is and would never have spent my life opposing war wherever I could. We learn so much from our forefathers. The people that came before us. I'm very grateful to them for what they learned and what they taught. When I wear a poppy all those things are behind my reason, all those things and so much more.
It's awful that your grandfather had his medals and keepsakes stolen. I am lucky to still have some of the things my grandfather collected during his time in New Guinea and the pacific in WW2.
*~You're IT Bert!~*
Hold on to the thread
The currents will shift
I feel you Ahnimus, being part of raising money for both our vets here and various local charities, I'm often frustrated by how little (when I say little, I mean nothing) folks contribute that are in a position to do so. But I have no control over them, so I have to let it go. I recommend getting involved, donating your time, inspiring folks. For every person that frustrates me, I'm blown away by the generosity of another. You will also find you can accomplish things you didn't think you could otherwise. I was given the task of putting together a basket for auction. I first had to raise the money then creatively put this basket together. I raised the money and with the help of an arts & crafts store, I got my basket together. Turned out pretty good and raise twice what it was worth. So, perhaps, get involved. You might surprise yourself.
As far as the poppies, like Jeanie said, it is tradition & tribute and allows folks to pay respects,nothing wrong with that at all. It's all part of the charity process as well and there are other channels as well.
but the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel Boorstin
Only a life lived for others is worth living.
~Albert Einstein
In my country we don't have any charities for veterans (even our soldiers are in Iraq), but it's similar to other charities (specially very popular in Poland annual action for sick children). Every year they give signs to wear and almost all people do it. I think it's very selfish to wear it in that one day. Just like saying: look at me, I'm trendy! If U want to give something, not everybody has to know about it. For me it's a kind of snobbishness. What a big deal! U once a year give a coin for sb? U r really great!
I must say - sometimes I give some money, sometimes I don't. But I never wear such of this things (how did U call it? Poppies?)
halszka123@op.pl
And we (in Canada) wear them for more than just one day. People (like me) start wearing them around the middle of October. Certainly, I don't know of anyone who looks down on someone who doesn't wear a poppy. Personal choice, personal preference.