Remembrance Sunday and the great poppy debate

So, I was at work today. And it is Remembrance Sunday. And in the lead-up to this weekend we have had countless debates about the wearing of the poppy - people defacing poppy appeal posters and war memorials, a campaign for the contestants of Strictly Come Dancing to wear one during their performances, why is it still relevant today, how wearing one is a political statement, etc, etc.

And to be honest, by today, I was starting to feel a little tired of the whole sorry debate.

And then a colleague at work hit the nail on the head - I think that the reason for so much fuss over the poppy issue is because people no longer know or learn history. They no longer understand the deeper issue of Remembrance Sunday. For many, the concept of war dates no further back than our invasion into Iraq and Afghanistan. And while any loss of human life is tragic and awful, in Afghanistan so far 228 have died. On the first day of the Somme 20000 died.

And so making a fuss about a poppy for political reasons, social reasons, whatever reason really seems to be a bit self-indulgent. It is not a political statement, but a mark of respect, and to show that it doesn't matter how much or how little you had achieved in your life as a solider, to us you are still important enough to remember.