Wearing a white poppy does not mean you’re disrespecting veterans, it is just more inclusive of everyone else. Why is it so terrible to honour and acknowledge the trauma of all those who have experienced war? The white poppy movement understands that civilians have been involved in war against their will, and should be given more support. Imagine the number of civilians and soldiers who end up dying in these wars. There are countless wars fought around the world, and as of 2018 only 11 countries worldwide were not involved in some sort of conflict. But for me, wearing a white poppy in addition to the red one means I can honour my own past and recognize that we shouldn’t be advocating for wars happening anywhere.
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Since the red poppy movement actively raises money for veterans, it’s still incredibly important to support them. To them, it takes away from the soldiers who’ve fought and/or died in the war, despite the white poppy movement making it clear that people don’t have to choose and can wear the white poppy alongside the red. They refuse to carry white poppies and have previously stated that they see it as an insult.
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So why isn’t the white poppy, which includes more people than the red one, used more often in Canada? The biggest reason seems to be that the Royal Canadian Legion opposes it. However, coming from a country that experienced a civil war, a white poppy that honours all victims of war is something that does make sense to me and allows me to better connect with Canada’s history of war. I wasn’t from a family whose relatives had fought on behalf of Canada and I always felt like an imposter putting on a red poppy. PHOTO: Meera Eragoda / The PeakĬofounder of the Canadian movement Teresa Gagné states on their website that she believes veterans deserve to be recognized and supported, but is also hesitant to wear a red poppy “because of the undercurrent of promotion and recruitment for current and future wars.” She states that “the white poppy attracts questions, and gives me a chance to explain the nuances of my support.”Īs an immigrant to this country, this idea of nuance really resonated with me as I never felt like I could connect to the red poppy movement. The Canadian white poppy movement was started in Vancouver in 2008 by Vancouver Peace Poppies, who now distribute the poppies all over Canada. They have spread globally and now serve as a symbol not only to honour those who fought in the war, but also all the civilians who have died in wars worldwide. Lesser known, however, is the movement to wear white poppies in addition to red ones - a movement that I recently learned about and wish I had known about much sooner because it is more inclusive of all victims of war.Ĭreated in the United Kingdom in 1933 by the Women’s Cooperative Guild, white poppies were made to be a symbol of the anti-war movement in Britain. The green leaf was removed from the Scottish poppy to save money in order to direct more money towards veterans’ programs.If you pay even the slightest bit of attention to Remembrance Day every year, you will have noticed the red poppies that seemingly everybody wears. Made of paper with a plastic centre, the Scottish poppy has four petals and no green leaf. This version of the poppy is shipped out to many different countries where expatriates live. Produced by the Royal British Legion, the English poppy has two petals, a green leaf and a black centre. Funds raised from the sales of the poppy are used to support veterans and family programs.Įngland, Wales and Northern Ireland: Adopted in 1921 The red piece of the poppy contains indents to mark four petals and contains a black centre. Sold by the Royal Canadian Legion, the Canadian poppy is made of moulded plastic covered in flocking. In recent years South Africa has experienced a rise with people wearing poppies.Ĭanada: Adopted in 1921 Remembrance Day Poppies
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Poppies are frequently sent to and worn by expatriates living in other countries in Europe and beyond. The Royal British Legion adopted the poppy as a symbol of remembrance in 1921, as did several other countries including Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the United States. Though the concept of wearing poppies is derived from the poem, where the small red flowers are described as one of the first signs of life after death, each country has tailored a unique design and so poppies differ from country to country. Inspired by “In Flanders Fields,” a poem written in 1915 by Canadian military doctor Lieutenant-Colonel John MaCrae, the tradition of wearing poppies to honour veterans carries on in different countries around the world.
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Poppies are a universal symbol of remembrance and sacrifice.