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Preserving poppy popularity
November 17, 2003
By Cam Tait
It isn't just a poppy. It's a symbol of freedom and of remembering. As
Calgary mayor David Bronconnier began his Remembrance Day remarks last
week, he was clear about his feelings toward some businesses that initially
didn't allow poppy distribution this year.
"The poppy drive is not just another fundraiser. A poppy...is an unspoken gesture that says 'I remember,'" said Bronconnier, as was quoted in the Calgary Herald. "We have been distracted by the decision of some businesses and some universities to refuse the sale of poppies in their stores -- one company even went so far as to return the poppies, saying 'it clutters the counter space'. "How dismissive, how utterly lacking in compassion, how embarrassing for all of us."
How do you really feel, Mr. Bronconnier?
The story surfaced a good ten days ago when a few businesses refused to distribute poppies. So we held our own town meeting to hear what folks had to say. Why is this happening and how can we ensure poppy distribution will honour our veterans?
"It seems to me that it's not kids who need educating, but older executives who make these corporate decisions," Kim e-mails. "How old, on average, would these people be now - in their forties at least? I am in my forties and I certainly know the significance of the poppy. Perhaps it's time that corporate executives start looking at their goodwill efforts in the community."
Ingrid writes to say she has a 21-year-old and a 17-year-old and Remembrance Day has been a topic of many discussions, with many questions. "For them, the enemy seems to be on Canadian soil," writes Ingrid. "To relate historically to something that happened long before they were born is something they have trouble doing. Have we failed to convey to them a sense of history? When was the last time a child in our school system heard anything about Canadian history in a global framework and reasons for WWI and WWII?"
Ingrid makes a sharp point. "Unfortunately, it seems some kids do not relate very well to the seniors that they see connected to Remembrance Day. My daughter was saying that when the veterans came to her highschool some of the students laughed at them and made fun of them. She was horrified. We need to figure out a way to involve young people in the actual ceremonies - reading the poem, singing songs they have written about war and peace so that visually, Remembrance Day is not just about seniors. Perhaps we could incorporate stories of immigrants who have suffered in their home country and now live in Canada. Very soon there will be very few veterans left and who then will carry the message? Like everything, what isn't translated over to the younger generation could very well be lost."
David writes to say there are "horror" stories about businesses that refuse
to allow poppies to be sold in front of or around their place of business.
Then he reminds us of the poignant television spot that ran in early November
where a young man phones his grandfather in Dieppe to thank him for what
he did there. "It's just the thing I think you're looking for," David
writes.
Perhaps we should see that spot all year long, not only during the eleventh
month.
Cam Tait is a columnist with the Edmonton Journal who writes about sports,
philanthropy and community leaders. E-mail Cam at cam@charityvillage.com with thoughts,
suggestions or ideas.
Opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect
the views of CharityVillage.com®.
