Friday, November 09, 2018

Arty Farty Friday ~ Poppies

On Sunday, the 11th day of the 11th month, it will be Remembrance Day in the UK. Many will have been wearing poppy symbols in their lapels during the week remembering those who died in two World Wars. "We shall remember them!"

For this Arty Farty Friday, I've chosen a handful of paintings featuring poppies:


 By Georgia O'Keeffe


 By Fred Stead

By Monet


 By Mary Cassatt


 By Chris Chapman



4 comments:

Wisewebwoman said...

I have very mixed feelings on this. The hoopla here in Canada is unbelievable and particularly so in my province as so many of the population of Newfoundland were wiped out in both wars.

Having studied much of the history and being so aware of the manipulations of the Masters behind the scenes, I weep for all those young men sacrificed. Sacrificed for what? So that so very many would make fortunes on their blood? Cannon fodder.

"Freedoms" is tossed around ad finitum.

I imagine it comforts their survivors. So be it.

Sorry for the treatise on this....

XO
WWW

Twilight said...

Wisewebwoman ~ I try to understand your point of view WWW, but cannot share it. We are not celebrating war here. We are paying tribute to those who gave their lives. Whether or not there had been manipulation in starting wars, the ordinary men and women who were called to duty, or enlisted did so with the best of intentions, to keep their families safe. Many, many, many gave their lives. I lived through World War 2, as a young child, i lived through part of it in a badly bombed city, perhaps that is the difference between us. I shall remain eternally grateful for all the men and women who helped bring an end to it. May there never be another - but if there is...we know who, once again, will be paying the price.

LB said...

Twilight ~ When I read your post, I admit to not knowing much about red poppy symbolism, let alone that the white poppy, symbolizing "peace and an end to all war" (see quote followed by link below), is an alternative:

"Opponents will trot out the usual defence; that, we ought to remember ‘all those who died’ in the past for humanitarian reasons. This, however, clearly glosses over the actual remembrance element of the poppy, which is supposedly so central to its symbolism. Current British soldiers – who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq – give regular media interviews for British media outlets that clearly link the senseless slaughter of yesteryear with contemporary imperial exploits.

Why is it never even mooted that the alternative white poppy (which is sans the British Legion baggage), symbolising peace and an end to all war, be worn? The simple, and the truest, answer is because the red – as opposed to the white – poppy, is utilised to advance a militarist agenda in Britain. One which is eerily reminiscent of the militarism of the early twentieth century in the lead-up to World War I":

Excerpt from Counterpunch post, "Poppy Fascism and the English Education System"
by KERRON Ó LUAIN

https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/11/12/poppy-fascism-and-the-english-education-system/

There's always another side to the story.

Good luck today. Hope all goes well with your husband's surgery.

Twilight said...

LB ~ Thank you - yes the surgery went well. :)

I've read the alternative views about red poppies, white poppies and all the arguments. I continue to choose the red poppy. I choose it because it means so much to so many people in the UK. It has become, for many of us, imbued with a personal meaning, irrespective of what others choose to make of it. It means, to the vast majority of those who wear on in their lapels, nothing at all about militarist agendas! It's what it means to the wearer that is important.