Yesterday, I proudly wore my red poppy. It is the symbol of Remembrance Day, 11th November. At 11.00 am I observed a minute silence. To remember them. Not a war. Not the fighting, but them. The men and women who stood up to serve, not the politics of their country, but their families, their friends and the people. They gave their lives to protect us.
If I had my way, no one would be sent to fight other human beings. If I had my way, the families would not have to deal with the loss of a son or daughter, a husband or wife, a father or mother. Ever. But I don’t have that power.
We cannot deny the fact that it happened (and still happens). We cannot (or should not) rewrite history to please ourselves. We don’t have to like it either. We must learn from it. So I remember.
“At the rising of the sun
and the going down of the same.
We will remember them.”
The poppy serves as a focus for remembering. However it should not be for just one day. For one ceremony nor for just one minute’s silence. We should remember them every day. We should remember that we are all live in this world. Then maybe we could embrace each other and try to understand our differences.
When I wear my red poppy, it is not to glorify war but is in the hope that one day we will not repeat our past mistakes and work out a way to prevent such tragedies. We need to learn to live together on this planet. It is the only one we have.
I wear my poppy; lest I forget.