Comments on: Red Poppies, White Poppies, No Poppies

By: Xuantong Hongxian

Xuantong Hongxian — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:02:41 +0000

I wear both, I wear the red one to remember the soldiers who died defending us and I wear the white one to remember all the civilian casualties who died in the war. I don’t believe in any of this “protest against glorifying war” crap. I wear the white poppy to remember the countless innocent civilians who died, who aren’t involved in the conflict in any way they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time And I think that that is just as important to remember. Lest we forget

By: Nancy Easterling

Nancy Easterling — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 05:35:08 +0000

In every area of life there seems to be someone that trys to go against what has been tradition or belief for many years. Sure everyone in life would chose peace over war but that is not the
reality of life. You have your right to wear a white poppy but please keep it away from those Veterans and Veteran Memorials that have stood for the sacrifice soldiers have given for your freedom to do so. Our soldiers have always taken pride in the red poppy to represent their beliefs and sacrifice to our Nation.
I guess there are people that sit around and search the internet to find issues that they can go against. Please find something that will contribute to this world. A white poppy will not change anything concerning war. War will always be. To think the world will have total peace is to live a fairytail life. Maybe the saying that fits best is “Get a real life.”

By: Sam Youno

Sam Youno — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:25:53 +0000

I’ll be wearing both a red and a white poppy next year (during Remembrance Ceremonies in which I perform). I’d planned to wear only the white, but that would offend some veterans, which is most definitely not my purpose or my point. I’ll wear the red to honour the sacrifices of the veterans, and the white to express my opposition to war and my disgust with those who glorify it.

The two sentiments are in no way contradictory.

By: What’s Up Wednesdays: Why We Remember || Beyond the Rhetoric ||

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:01:35 +0000

[...] Remembrance Day. Many people wear red poppies to show respect, but there are movements toward both white poppies and no poppies. Are you being disrespectful by wearing a white poppy or are you simply making a [...]

By: Shulamit Day Berlevtov

Shulamit Day Berlevtov — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 01:31:13 +0000

Video of white poppy wreath-laying at the National War Memorial in Otttawa Nov. 11, 2008: http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=C85Y3zFlO5M

For more info about Ottawa white poppy events, contact Brenda Vellino at brenda_carr(at)carleton.ca or Ian Harvey at mmediamaniac(at)yahoo.com

For general white poppy info, see the Peace Pledge Union website: http://www.ppu.org.uk/whitepoppy/index.html

By: Ian Bell

Ian Bell — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:21:28 +0000

There are always fruitcakes who want to differentiate themselves from the mainstream. Armistice and later Remembrance Day are apolitical events created to celebrate the sacrifices of those who went to war, either fruitlessly or with a purpose. Thankfully, the red poppies and somber reflection on that contribution we all share is mainstream enough to raise the ire of the fruitcakes. Let’s protest war the other 364 days of the year. For today let’s celebrate those who fell and sacrificed.

By: Michael Kwan

Michael Kwan — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 22:59:44 +0000

I don’t think the red poppy glorifies war. It simply commemorates the sacrifices of the soldiers who were killed and/or injured in the wars in the past. What’s done is done and we should respect those who sacrificed for their country. You can protest war the rest of the year.

By: tyfn

tyfn — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 22:11:45 +0000

There is also nothing that stops people from wearing the white poppy during the rest of the year to support peace. I hadn’t heard of the white poppy until today. During the Remembrance Day period, I think the red is traditional and representative of the gratitude we feel to the soldiers that gave their lives so that we can live free today.

By: Miss604

Miss604 — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 21:55:26 +0000

@ Luc – I’ll ask Dave where you can get them, I can’t seem to find anything online right now (shocking, I know) aside from the UK site and another site that says most white poppies are homemade.

By: luc

luc — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 21:49:42 +0000

Where can one get a white poppy in Vancouver?
One can still wear a white one to support the peace movement and donate to the veterans programs directly.