This would never happen in the US. We have an enemy within who seeks to destroy such unification.
Remember in the years following 9/11 the left protesting the showing of any footage, saying it would be too painful for the nation & the families? Gimme a break. Now, hardly anyone marks the occasion, and it was only 9 short years ago.
I definitely think veterans should be remembered and honored. It seems like I’m bombarded with books, movies, commercials, and special programs about wars and soldiers—there’s even a History channel—so I feel like I’m remembering the sacrifices veterans have made for this country at least weekly.
But Britain is an island drenched in history and a lot of warfare. From the Romans onward, Britain has seen a lot of invasions, internecine warfare, and even imperial wars. Britain can’t help be reminded constantly of shed blood.
I like the poppy as the symbol of remembrance. It’s a striking and yet humble-looking flower all at once. It’s not gaudy. It’s subdued and an excellent reminder of sacrifice: it reminds one of a bullet wound.
There are at least three US holidays where veterans are honored: Memorial Day (though admittedly almost as an after-thought by most), the Fourth of July, and Veterans Day. We’re also encouraged to be reminded on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Professional sporting events are usually opened with a color guard and singing the national anthem, so there’s ample opportunities for thoughtful reminders year-round.
England is the dirty bastard that created efficacious civilization.
The only proposition that has survived or has a chance of surviving the entropic threshing floors of world history.
Hmm, it seems like the ‘wear a ribbon’ campaign to me. So, you wear a poppy...Britain is going to hell in a handbasket. Why not DO something to save the country so that the vets who fought for it are not dishonored? Or just watch it fall to the muslims and wear your poppy. Symbols never trump action.
Take a look at this video - “A Pittance of Time” - it’s a very moving remembrance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kX_3y3u5Uo&feature=related
An issue a-brewing is that McDonald’s has foolishly prohibited their employees from wearing the poppy on their uniforms. While it’s not a big deal in the USA, this is near sacrilige in Commonwealth countries.
Well we used to celebrate Armistice day but it was replaced with Veterans Day, a day that could have been placed anywhere else on the calendar.
I guess since we didn’t lose millions of troops in that war it doesn’t matter to the USA any longer. Still matters to me.
I’m a bit confused. Last year, or maybe the year before, I got a paper poppy from the DAV guys down at the local supermarket, here in Virginia. I made a small donation to their outreach programs. It wasn’t like everyone was wearing them, but it was fairly common that day.
Not only that the Brits remember, we should, too. We were allies and while we shed our blood in no small measure in the Great War, it bears remembering that the UK lost almost a million KIA, over 1.6 million wounded, in that one war alone. Of the Western Alliance, Britain, France, Russia really shed rivers of blood.
Emma Watson (Hermione Granger)
Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter)
Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley)
J.K. Rowling
Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy)
James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley)
Katie Leung (Cho Chan)
Ralph Fiennes (Lord Voldemort)
Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom)
Poppies everywhere - not everybody wears them, but most people do. It can be a sight to see.
Impossible. Besides, Obama wouldn’t like it.