Well, it shows you how much I know. I just assumed that Americans didn't sell or wear poppies. I assumed it was mostly the practice of European and Commonwealth countries.
You bring up a very interesting question about what kind of effect WWI might have had on the US if they had suffered the same kind of losses as other countries. It's possible the US might be more cautious, but it's also possible that it would be even more militant. I mean, look at the reaction to 9/11. Another country might (and I say might) have ended any kind of military operations overseas. However, if anything, I think 9/11 caused the opposite to happen.
No, we used to wear poppies, but the practice has all but disappeared. I can remember as a teenager pleasing an old veteran enormously by both buying a poppy from him on Veteran's Day, and reciting the opening lines of "In Flanders Fields" to show that I understood its significance.
It's a shame that the practice of wearing poppies has all but disappeared in the US, especially as it does seem to please veterans. I love your anecdote about how happy you made that veteran by buying a poppy and reciting the opening lines of "In Flanders Fields". I'm sure it meant a lot to him that you did understand the poppy's significance.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2008-11-16 02:30 am (UTC)You bring up a very interesting question about what kind of effect WWI might have had on the US if they had suffered the same kind of losses as other countries. It's possible the US might be more cautious, but it's also possible that it would be even more militant. I mean, look at the reaction to 9/11. Another country might (and I say might) have ended any kind of military operations overseas. However, if anything, I think 9/11 caused the opposite to happen.
no subject
Date: 2008-11-16 02:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-16 08:45 pm (UTC)