Robert Fisk writing in the Independent has been more than scathing about the wearing of the poppy or why remembrance rituals make him see red.
" I am appalled at this obscene fashion appendage inspired by a PRO WAR poem which demands further human sacrifice." he says There is even a poll in the Independent Has the poppy become preposterous?"
The poem of course is
In Flanders Field by John McCrae written in 1915
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders field
Take up our quarrel with the foe;
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high
If you break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
The last verse of the poem is the one that Mr Fisk takes issue with, encouraging other young men to go to war.
I actually agree with him on this poem, nobody wants to glorify war and make our youth feel the need to take up arms and feel guilty if they do not.
I wear a poppy to remember those brave dead young men and to make everyone think about the futility of war
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