Poppy

The poppy was worn originally after 'The Great War' with the motto 'Lest we forget' with the proceeds going to those maimed by being frogmarched into the trenches with a gun pointed at their heads. Were they heroes? They died for their king, voluntarily or involuntarily. Of course the role of the armed forces changed forever after that, but is the poppy a symbol of national pride? No, it is a symbol of national shame, the shame of war, we desecrate those who died by saying it is our national pride to wear it.Should we wear it? Yes.Yes, to remember the futility of war, and the horrors that come with it. We should wear it with our our heads bowed in remberence of all those that gave their lives in those wars, with the hope that they fought to end war, to remind us that fighting a war should only be undertaken under extreme circumstances, and to thank those that went before us so that we wouldn't have to. But never as a symbol of national pride.