In Flanders field the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders field. - Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD; (1872-1918) Canadian Army. In many of the Commonwealth countries (former British colonies) November 11th is Rememberence Day, and likewise, my neighbours to the south will be participating in Veterans Day celebrations. Regardless of where you are from, the purpose of this day is to remember, pay homage and even thank the brave men and women who served, fought and died in the service of their country, particularly those who fought in both WWI and WWII. Quite frankly I think it is a marvelous day, one day out of 365.25 when the youth of today can demonstrate that they aren't self-centered, that they both remember and respect the past and are actually grateful that someone (and by 'someone' I really mean some-millions) stood up, heard the call of defense and fought for not only their freedom, but the freedom of future generations ie YOU and ME. Around here, we have a tradition. I can't and thusly won't say that it happens elsewhere, but because one of Canada's few claims to wartime fame (other than being the only army to take the Ridge, and being the only group to actually complete their D-Day objectives and push the furthest inland) includes the above mentioned poem. We actually just put it on our new ten dollar bills. I'll show you one day. At any rate, because of the poem, what we do is pruchase and wear a poppy around rememberence day - the funds going to legions, veterans funds etc. It's been a long-standing tradition in Canada and well, this is where my grievences come into play. Two to be exact. Firstly, I have the most unfortunate pleasure of reporting the theft of 17, one-seven, of these boxes in my town alone. I shall now remind people that my town consists of less than 100,000 people, which translates into a not a very high population. One of the issues is that we are lacking in able-bodied veterans from that time period. See, originally they'd stand in-front of grocery stores, hardware stores, malls... public places where they can get the most people. They never solicited, they stood there and if you wanted one, you'd approach the little old man wearing his metals, and drop a few coins or a bill in. But they're dying out see, so to keep the ball rolling, the legion and government are allowing shops, stores and such to put boxes by cash-registers so people can still purchase them so that the spirit doesn't die. Along comes the children of the 90's: a vile, wretched breed of... No, that's not fair. Some of these children are good, upstanding citizens but for the life of me I have never heard of something like this happening in the history of rememberence day. Seventeen of these boxes are stolen in a matter of one week, each one containing possibly over $100 each. Given the magnitude and the meaning these boxes carry, how dare these scumbags, these leeches on society steal from, essentially, the vets. Yes we wear them to show rememeber, but we don't have to purchase anything to remember now do we? No. We purchase them to support those who did fight and made it back. The people who fought for You, me, and even those theiving little misfits who do it for some little thrill or to add a stripe to their popularity rank. I don't care what your situation is. Need money? Get a job. Need drug money? Steal from your parents who raised or neglected you. But don't steal from someone you don't know, particularly from someone who doesn't know you but still decided to sacrifice a lot for your safety and well being. That's just burns me up. And you know what, the Vets aren't getting robbed. Noone dare does that because what if you're caught? What if the old man fingers you in a line-up and you're put away for assaulting and robbing a war vet. I guess it really is easier to commit a crime when you don't have to put a face to the vitcims. Some will try to justify it, "oh, but they're children." I don't care about their age either. As a child you were suppose to be taught respect and as a child you can sure as hell distinguish right from wrong. Even if you were taught to respect your elders, or heroes, you're sure as hell taught to not steal from others - especially when they need what you're taking. If it were a seven year old who took a box, that's alittle different. But something tells me we don't have an elementry-school-aged kleptomaniac roaming my streets. And even then the parents have a responsibility to say "Little Timmy, No." These thieves, no, even thieves have a some honour. These cowards, whoever they are, are just as bad as the people who steal from the Salvation Army donation box at christmas... and even those events don't total 17 in the whole of Canada! 17 in one town alone. I'm almost ashamed to say that I live here. It is my sincerest hope that this event sits on this persons or group of peoples conscience and that they feel like garbage until they do something to rectify the situation. Even if the Vets aren't dependant on that money (I know not how much this money accounts for in their budget) the principle alone should sit on them and I truly hope that the guilt both mounts and consumes them. And how I remember that terrible day How our blood stained the sand and the water And how in that hell that they called Suvla Bay We were butchered like lambs to the slaughter. Johnnie Turk was ready, oh he primed himself well He rained us with bullets and he showered us with shell And in five minutes flat we were all blown to hell Nearly blew us all back home to Australia. But the band played waltzing matilda As we stuck to bury our slain We burned ours and the turks buried theirs And we started all over again Those who were living just tried to survive In a mad world of blood, death and fire And for ten weary weeks, I kept myself alive While around me the corpses piled higher Then a big turkish shell knocked me arse over head And when I awoke in my hospital bed And saw what it had done and I wished I was dead Never knew there were worse things than dying For no more Ill go waltzing matilda All round the green bush far and near For to hump tent and pegs a man needs both legs No more waltzing matilda for me. - The Dubliners; The Band Played Waltzing Matilda. As some of you may know, I have classes during the day, whereas last year most of my classes were during the night, which resulted in a "get-in, get-out" mentality. As a result, I cannot call this a trend as last year I wasn't observing a whole lot, other than my grades as they sunk. However, this year I am observing and learning a hell of a lot - mostly unacademically related. What worries me is that I've been around campus a lot, walking mostly and the amount of people wearing poppies is disheartening. In short, faculty, administration and students just don't seem to be wearing them. I originally noticed it a week ago, but dismissed it as it was the beginning of November. For goodness sake, it's November the 8th. That's three... no, two days and change. How can you not support this people? Maybe the kids in university see it as unfashionable to wear a poppy, maybe they think the red will clash with their green motif or the dress they happen to be wearing under their over-priced, sub-standard, shotty quality yet trendy jacket. It's a bloody poppy people and for 11 days at most. Is it too much to ask to actually, oh I don't know - wear one? It seems to be a dying trend and the other day I was talking to one of my associates on the phone, to which she agreed that this year people seem to be lacking red pins. We hypothesize that it's a trend that may die out with the older generation, but even some of them aren't wearing. And please, will someone tell me why the only REAL people I see wearing poppies are old men with white hair and/or grey beards? Anybody? Anyone with a thought? I think part of the problem - aside from it not being chic or trendy is that for some reason, people can't seem to be relate to wars that happened over half a century ago. They are so far removed from the stories, the tales... perhaps even sick of the repetition. Other than the old gentlemen who probably had uncles and fathers who fought in the war, most Government officials and naturally, all news anchors are sporting them, moreso for political correctness than anything else. And even at that, I've seen a few Premiers (equal to governors) without 'em *coughcoughMcGuintycough*. The alternative is that the population is so self-absorbed and apathetic that they don't really give a flying-fric about the fallen soilders. *shakes head* Just a bloody shame is all, that this is how the flame of the old heroes are extinguished: quietly, worn only as a symbol of correctness on the lapel of liars. So it's over the mountains, and over the sea Come brave Newfoundlanders and join the Blue Puttees You'll fight in Flanders, and at Galipoli Enlist you Newfoundlanders and come follow me Then the call came from London, for the last July drive To the trenches with the regiment, prepare yourselves to die The roll call next morning, just a handful survived. Enlist you Newfoundlanders and come follow me The stone men on Water Street still cry for the day When the pride of the city went marching away A thousand men slaughtered, to hear the King say Enlist you Newfoundlanders and come follow me - Great Big Sea; Recruiting Sargeant. With Hats off and heads held high, we salute you. Humbly, - Captain B. Red