The significance of poppies

Hello!

Now, it has been almost three months since I last updated this, which I think is my longest gap since I started doing this. I feel awful about this. I have had a lot of things going on, such as leaving home to go to University, but even so I feel that I should have found more time for my blog. I think the longer I leave it to update this, the harder it gets to do it again; I still come across things that I want to blog about, but then I think 'Why am I blogging about this and not that thing that happened last week?' and that destructive domino effect continues. The way to make this run smoothly is to update it frequently and regularly, which I always try to do; just sometimes it doesn't work out like that.

I'm going to start out with an article I read in the Guardian last week by Harry Leslie Smith, which explains why as of next year, he will no longer wear a poppy on Remembrance Day. I think that he makes some very valid points:

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/08/poppy-last-time-remembrance-harry-leslie-smith

I very much agree with his position here. While I am too young to remember the significance of it, I feel that Remembrance Day is very politicised. I don't entirely see the point of wearing a poppy, and I generally tend not to wear one myself; not because I don't appreciate the sacrifice that the soldiers made, but because in my opinion people generally wear them to make a point to the world. Politicians and celebrities wear them, and it is almost a badge to show that you know how to care. It's not that I don't respect people who wear poppies, but at the same time I think that you have to wear them for the right reasons; if it's just to be seen to be doing what is politically correct, then you may as well not bother. For the same reason, I don't really see the point of having two minutes' silence. I don't think it really achieves anything. Maybe other people will have a different take on this, but when I have taken part in silences, I have never felt in any way closer or more respectful of those who have died; I tend to feel more that way while reading, or talking to people about this kind of thing. Of course I'm aware and grateful for the sacrifices made during wartime, but I prefer to ponder this in a personal way, rather than taking part in a celebration which actually, when it comes down to it, actually equates to another attempt to be politically correct and to keep up with the Joneses.

I have also been thinking a lot about the concept of 'absolutism' - which in a war, is a step up from being a conscientious objector. A conscientious objector refuses to fight; an absolutist refuses to help the war effort in any way whatsoever. I think if our country is caught up in another war, I may declare myself one. I was talking about this recently with a friend, who said that it very much depends on the intentions behind the war in the first place; the First World War was rather unnecessary, whereas the Second World War was a fight for something that was actually important. I thought about this, and I said that of course I'd do something if I felt that a war was necessary; however, I tend to feel that it rarely is. I can't comment on the Second World War, as I wasn't born then and I feel strongly that I am not qualified to judge the necessity of something political that I wasn't even around to see.

I do feel though that in today's society, while the sacrifices of soldiers during wars are honoured, there is a suggestion that fighting is a brave and admirable thing to do. Well, it undoubtedly is brave, but I would not say it was admirable. I very much object to the idea of the army; I feel that the way to resolve things is through discussion and negotiation, and not to go in all guns blazing. This is a rather idealist viewpoint, but I think if more people thought like me, there would be a lot less sadness and depression in this world. I also question why, in an age when we are being constantly told that there isn't enough money to keep the NHS free for all and when we hear of people who are unable to heat their own homes this winter, we are spending so much money on the hundred year anniversary of World War I. Yes, it is important to remember it and learn from it, but you don't need a huge event with thousands spent on it to do that. I feel that it can be added to the list (with the royal wedding, the Queen's jubilee, the Olympics and Margaret Thatcher's funeral) of things that, while important to some people, we seem to have lots of money to spend on, whilst the level of poverty in this country is going up. Why can we not spend money on things that will benefit people who are still alive today, instead of those who are dead and gone?

Hopefully I will find time to post more frequent updates in future. Thanks for reading.