Truce reached over white poppies
-11/11/05
The traditionally strained relations between the peace movement and the Royal British Legion appear to have been cautiously overcome after a series of discussions in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday.
Representatives from the lex-Services charity and the Movement for the Abolition of War (Maw) – advocates of wearing white “peace” poppies alongside the red – have been talking for more than a year in an attempt to find common ground.
The white poppies have been around since 1933 and were developed as a response to those who see war as regrettable, but necessary.
The white poppy represents another view that war is neither necessary, purposive or innevitable, and sets out to challenge what some see as comfortable and convenient formulations of the kind perpetuated every year on Remembrance Day.
Even this week, there were local misunderstandings and disagreemente when a church minister sold white poppies at his church in Ipswich.
But following discussions between peace campaigners and those who produce the red poppies, in an apparent breakthrough the Legion has agreed to include information about Movement for the Abolition of War (MAW) in its 40,000 schools information packs, and has removed a prominent statement that “there will always be wars” from its website.
It has also agreed to address Maw’s annual meeting later this month and has, in return, invited a representative from the movement to contribute its ideas at a charity forum next month.
Stuart Gendall, the director of communications at the Legion, told the Daily Telegraph: “We are two organisations that need to understand each other. It is true to say [there has been animosity] in the past, but we run parallel in many ways.
“Our aims and objectives are not the same – the Legion is not a political organisation – but we also want to make sure there is a better world for people, and show people the horrible cost of war.”
But whilst there may be agreement that war is not innevitable and carries a terrible cost, there still appears to be disagreement over whether war is always unnecessary or sometimes the right thing to do.
Gendall said that the Legion’s attitude to the white poppy, introduced by the Co-operative Women’s Guild in 1933 as symbol against war but perceived by some as an image of betrayal, had not softened. “The red poppy already says everything that the white poppy is trying to say.”
Mr Gendall said relations with Maw had warmed as part of a programme of change – Taking the Legion Forward – which aims to make the charity more relevant to daily life.
More than a year ago Christine Titmus, who later joined the board of Maw, asked the Legion to remove from its website the “discouraging” statement: “Unfortunately there will always be wars, and as long as there are, the Legion will always be standing by to help.” Mrs Titmus said she believed the Legion was missing the opportunity to communicate a message of peace to children.
She received a reply from Ian Townsend, the Legion’s secretary general, who agreed to remove the statement, saying: “War is a catastrophic event and there are no more ardent peacemakers than those of us who have experienced it.”
In December Maw is expected to join 40 charities, including Help the Aged and the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen’s Association, at a forum which will be asked for ideas on how the Legion should develop.
The traditionally strained relations between the peace movement and the Royal British Legion appear to have been cautiously overcome after a series of discussions in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday.
Representatives from the lex-Services charity and the Movement for the Abolition of War (Maw) – advocates of wearing white “peace” poppies alongside the red – have been talking for more than a year in an attempt to find common ground.
The white poppies have been around since 1933 and were developed as a response to those who see war as regrettable, but necessary.
The white poppy represents another view that war is neither necessary, purposive or innevitable, and sets out to challenge what some see as comfortable and convenient formulations of the kind perpetuated every year on Remembrance Day.
Even this week, there were local misunderstandings and disagreemente when a church minister sold white poppies at his church in Ipswich.
But following discussions between peace campaigners and those who produce the red poppies, in an apparent breakthrough the Legion has agreed to include information about Movement for the Abolition of War (MAW) in its 40,000 schools information packs, and has removed a prominent statement that “there will always be wars” from its website.
It has also agreed to address Maw’s annual meeting later this month and has, in return, invited a representative from the movement to contribute its ideas at a charity forum next month.
Stuart Gendall, the director of communications at the Legion, told the Daily Telegraph: “We are two organisations that need to understand each other. It is true to say [there has been animosity] in the past, but we run parallel in many ways.
“Our aims and objectives are not the same – the Legion is not a political organisation – but we also want to make sure there is a better world for people, and show people the horrible cost of war.”
But whilst there may be agreement that war is not innevitable and carries a terrible cost, there still appears to be disagreement over whether war is always unnecessary or sometimes the right thing to do.
Gendall said that the Legion’s attitude to the white poppy, introduced by the Co-operative Women’s Guild in 1933 as symbol against war but perceived by some as an image of betrayal, had not softened. “The red poppy already says everything that the white poppy is trying to say.”
Mr Gendall said relations with Maw had warmed as part of a programme of change – Taking the Legion Forward – which aims to make the charity more relevant to daily life.
More than a year ago Christine Titmus, who later joined the board of Maw, asked the Legion to remove from its website the “discouraging” statement: “Unfortunately there will always be wars, and as long as there are, the Legion will always be standing by to help.” Mrs Titmus said she believed the Legion was missing the opportunity to communicate a message of peace to children.
She received a reply from Ian Townsend, the Legion’s secretary general, who agreed to remove the statement, saying: “War is a catastrophic event and there are no more ardent peacemakers than those of us who have experienced it.”
In December Maw is expected to join 40 charities, including Help the Aged and the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen’s Association, at a forum which will be asked for ideas on how the Legion should develop.