In Afghani Fields - Remembrance

"The tragic irony of Harper's comparison is that he failed to acknowledge the relevance of the poppy to Afghanistan today."

No, the tragic irony is people don't know there is more than one genus of Poppy. The red poppies thet grew on the Canadian blood soaked fields of Flanders so many years ago bear no relation to the Opium poppies of Afghaniastan today.

Except to those unwilling to see the difference.


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"I think it's important to always carry enough technology to restart civilization, should it be necessary." Mark Tilden

The red poppies thet grew on the Canadian blood soaked fields of Flanders so many years ago bear no relation to the Opium poppies of Afghaniastan today.<<

I believe the "poppy" being refered to is symbolic. My wife could probably give you the names of many different species of poppies but that is not the point.


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Expect little from life and get more from it.

The differance between the two poems, is that one was written about those who stopped an invasion and the other written about those who joined the invaders.

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Expect little from life and get more from it.

Wearing the symbolic poppy has also proven pointless as the "Lest we forget" has not stopped corrupt politicians from sending more and more to die and only reminds us that our vets have never been cared for properly.

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"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music." Friedrich Nietzsche

Wearing the symbolic poppy has also proven pointless as the "Lest we forget" has not stopped corrupt politicians from sending more and more to die and only reminds us that our vets have never been cared for properly.



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"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music." Friedrich Nietzsche

In the spirit of sadness (war) and respect (for those who stand against
war), I'd like to share this bit of news forwarded from BC's Strong
Communities Coalition:


Granny occupation.

Although the media was remiss in covering this event, a dozen or more
Victoria Raging Grannies yesterday peacefully occupied the recruitment
office for the Canadian military in Victoria.

They were supported by some local activists outside the building in
their demand that no more Canadian youth, and Afghani civilians, be
sacrified to the meat grinder of war.

They were treated with kid gloves by the military police until they made
their decision after an hour of occupation to peacefully leave the
building by the back door. This was necessary because some one had
placed a bicycle lock on the front door and their bolt cutters (Canadian
military equipment) were not up to the task of removing the lock.   
 
By the way, if you are worried about CSIS attending your events and
filming you, their vehicle on Vancouver Island is a white van with the
license number 294-DKN.

CSIS didn't film the Raging Grannies.

<a href="http://www.whitepoppy.org/">http://www.whitepoppy.org/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Here is an org for peace<br />
<p>---<br>Diogenes said:<br />
"I am Diogenes the Dog. I nuzzle the kind, bark at the greedy and bite scoundrels."

So much truth in so few words, "In Afghani Fields".

Made me think, and I decided to re-post this on more time. Ironically, the inspiration for it came from the following poem by Rudyard Kipling:

When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Just roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
Ang go to your God like a soldier.


Here once more, with all due respect to Kipling and those who went there, and died, my poem:


We see it each evening
Live on our tv
The fighting and dying
so we can be "free"

So why's it the poor
Who get sent off to die
While the young monied Master
is home eating pie?

The bastards and whores
Say that it needs to be so
It's your duty to country
That's why you must go

Say goodbye to your parents
Your children, your wife
And the freedom you had
In your non-uniform life

They'll shave you you and train you
To shoot or be shot
To obey orders blindly
Be they crazy or not

The thing they don't tell you
About foreign wars
Is that you're fighting in his home
While abandoning yours

So while fearless leader
was home sleeping in bed
You were out on patrol
And got shot in the head

So now you're back home
And the casket is closed
Your family's all present
You all have been hosed

You dad sits there wondering
Why you had to die
You mom and your wife
Can do nothing but cry

Your kids will grow up
All missing their dad
Never knowing the life
They should have had

And meanwhile on TV
The talking heads drone
fearless leader just smiles
And chats on the phone

Tomorrow he's on TV
Discussing the war
Why it has to be done
And lying some more

And somewhere out there
In that faraway land
A newbie hits dirt
And swallows some sand


That about sums it up for regarding that damn foolish "war for freedom". But before I go, I have one last thing to say:

I hope you sleep well PM Harper.
How was your pie?

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"and the knowledge they fear is a weapon to be used against them"

"The Weapon" - Rush

You are right, it's not the point. The Poppy is about remembering the Fallen, not the War.

Mr. Chapman has decided to make it about the war.

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"I think it's important to always carry enough technology to restart civilization, should it be necessary." Mark Tilden

The white poppy was also originally intended to signify the loss of a loved one in war, where the red was meant for the soldiers. In Edmonton, some think they can change an 80 year old significance by putting the word "peace" on a white poppy.<br />
<br />
Some people just don't do their homework. If you decide to wear one, I hope you do it for the right reasons.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/remembrance/history/poppy.shtml">http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/remembrance/history/poppy.shtml</a><br />
<p>---<br>"I think it's important to always carry enough technology to restart civilization, should it be necessary." Mark Tilden<br />

Oh, and the 'white' poppy is also the 'opium' poppy, exactally what this article decries.


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"I think it's important to always carry enough technology to restart civilization, should it be necessary." Mark Tilden

The Poppy is about remembering the Fallen, not the War.<<

The fallen in "The war to end wars" and those who have fallen since. Perhaps "invasions" will replace the term war. Perhaps the species of poppy in Afghanistan will replace the symbolic poppy we us today.



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Expect little from life and get more from it.

<a href="http://www.americanmeadows.com/Wildflower-Articles/poppies.cfm">http://www.americanmeadows.com/Wildflower-Articles/poppies.cfm</a> <br />
<br />
The small, fragile, brilliantly red Poppy is probably the world&#8217;s most popular wildflower.<br />
It is so popular and widespread, in fact, that there is some confusion about it. No, even though the seed looks about the same, it is not the species used for making poppy seed rolls in baking. And it is also not the famous species used in the production of opium and heroin. The Opium Poppy, P. somniferum, a larger annual species, is the one that produces the seeds for baking and also the narcotic sap for illegal drugs.<p>---<br>Diogenes said:<br />
"I am Diogenes the Dog. I nuzzle the kind, bark at the greedy and bite scoundrels."