Damned if I Do, Damned if I Don't

I don't wear a poppy. I never have. It is my small protest against celebrating war. That's what Remembrance Day is to me. It doesnt't matter how it's presented, how the speeches are sometimes about peace. There is a romantic flavour to the ceremony, men and women in uniform, marching, guns, the solemnness, the respectfullness. The remembering glorifies war. "Lest we forget", are you kidding me. In all the years that we've taken this day to "remember", has it decreased conflict in any way.

I say, let's have events of peace. Let's celebrate life, the good things, the helping, the learning, the growing, the unity in the diversity. Let's fight disease more, let's fight poverty, let's fight inequality in a conflict-less, meaningful way.

Now I'm off to the Remembrance Day service in our small town because my daughter is in the high school band and the band is part of the processional. Every year that I do this, I am torn between my convictions and the need to support my daughter. I guess I don't have it in me to stand up and fight.