Flower power: Brian Hodkinson on white poppies

‘A potential for conflict is built into the act of wearing a white poppy.’

My father was a staunch Methodist. When I asked him how he justified going to world war two at the same time as being a Christian, he had a simple answer: ‘What alternatives did we have?’

Now, I know that there were alternatives, it’s just that he was not aware of them. This begs the question: are people today aware of alternatives to militaristic solutions? I don’t think they are, even though there are many organisations that attempt to promote peaceful solutions.

I say this because, for many years now, I have distributed white poppies in November. Invariably I get asked the same question: ‘What’s the meaning of white poppies?’

I want to make a proposal that could help, but first a little preamble.

In the run-up to Remembrance Sunday, red poppies are on sale for weeks in advance. Television newsreaders seem obliged to wear them well ahead of time, and the media bombards us with stories of the ‘glorious sacrifices’ made for our freedom. Old veterans are interviewed; pilgrimages are made to war graves; the list is endless. In the midst of this mindset we try to shoehorn-in an extra dimension by selling white poppies. Even the Peace Pledge Union, which makes and distributes the white poppies, has, on some of its literature, the phrase ‘Swimming Against the Tide’.

It seems to me that, just as many people regard red and white poppies as alternatives, the fact that they appear together creates another kind of tension – there is, in fact, the potential for conflict built into the act of wearing a white poppy.

So my proposal is this: move the white poppy day by six months, to May. Steer it clear of November. Conscientious Objectors day, 15 May, seems to be ideally situated. On this day, all peace organisations could have public displays of their work in hired rooms, and perhaps have public speakers. It might be that all organisations in a particular town or village could join to create a massive witness to peace. I know that in many places of worship there are dedicated members who are already working for peace, so maybe we could have services in churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, or even Wiccan celebrations on the village green. The BBC, with its declared mandate to present a balanced view, could broadcast these events to mark the occasion.

Maybe we could have white poppy speakers going into schools. Maybe we could create white poppy youth organisations to promote peace. Maybe we could create a peace cadet service as an alternative to promoting the military. Maybe, as well as schools that focus on music, engineering or science, we could create those that concentrate on peace. The possibilities are endless, but I’d be interested to hear other Friends’ opinions.

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