An Eric Bogle song - a lyrical meditation if you will - that evokes the realities of war more honestly than the official ceremonies with their obfuscating leitmotif of restrained pomp and militarism - sung appropriately here in both English and German



Royal British Legion poppy



...and an aging WWII veteran dissenter writes:

"This year, I will wear a poppy for the last time"









White poppy



Most thinking people agree the continuing need for a nationwide act of remembrance; but many find the overt militarism of the current ceremonial inappropriate, not to say offensive, when it is the unspeakable horror of war and those who perished in it that ought properly to be its focus.

And since it is militarism and the pompous, catastrophic failures of leaders that are the root causes of war, sack-cloth and ashes would be rather more appropriate attire for ceremonial leaders than dress uniforms with rows of shiny medals.

The White Poppy Project of the Peace Pledge Union is an attempt to promote these issues



