Ignorance alert

[HEyHEY]

Do AMericans wear poppies?

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. They are sold just before Memorial Day (end of May)

by the American Legion (a veterans' organization).

[Droopy]

2. What the hell's a poppy?

I thought poppies were those plants that they derive opium from.

[Deja Q]

3. They're also the ones Bush wouldn'rt destroy in Afghanistan when

he invaded that country after 9/11... so much for the "war on drugs".

[HEyHEY]

4. The little flower on this guy's jacket

[GoddessOfGuinness]

5. check this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=389537

and there's an interesting perspective on the poem here:
http://www.ppu.org.uk/learn/poetry/poetry_ww1_1.html

[TreasonousBastard]

13. There was an old Woody Allen line...

about trying to make opium from Veteran's poppies.

Most people back then knew there were lots of varieties of poppies.

[haele]

6. They used to...

I haven't seen or even heard of the VFW or VA members selling poppies for veteran's programs (they used to sit out front the stores like the Salvation Army, volunteer charity sellers, and professional petition signature mongers do now)for a couple years now. I live in a military town - one would think they'd be out in force.
This year, for some reason, I've really missed having a poppy - even went around to a few stores last night looking for a fake one to put up at my desk. Nothing.
I guess I'll just have to stick to making my own paper poppies the next time Armistice/Veteran's Day comes around.

Haele

[oneighty]

12. VFW Buddy Poppy in the spring

American Legion also has a poppy ? blue I think. Different time of the year. Your donation is better served directly to VA Hospital or other vet's service program.. IMHO.

180

Hey haele

[MaineDem]

7. I still see them in May

Around our Memorial Day holiday; not as often as when I was a kid, though.

[david_vincent]

8. I've never seen anyone down here wearing them

Then I tune in the CBC and everyone on air for the past week has been wearing them.
"Lest we forget." November 11 used to be called Armistice Day and it was really about the First World War, which had a whole lot more to do with the British Empire than the United States.
The U.S. entered the war late, and over the opposition of a LOT (possibly a majority) of the public. Woodrow Wilson resorted to highly unconstitutional measures to squelch dissent. A book entitled "Opponents of War, 1917 - 1918" by H.C. Peterson and Gilbert C. Fite spells it all out in shocking detail. Simply calling the President a "scoundrel" for getting the country involved in the war was enough to have a man imprisoned for several years. The parallels between that day and our own are frightening. This book is recommended reading!

[glarius]

9. Poppies are sold and the proceeds help the veterans

here in Canada, and Great Britain....Don't know about Australia and the other Commonwealth countries....It is to honour the servicemen in WW1, WW2 and all wars, including the present one....:)

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

10. Disabled American Veterans sell them around here

on Memorial Day. I try to get one every year.

And yes, I know why poppies are a symbol of Remembrance Day....

"In Flanders' Field, the poppies grow....."

11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month-this was chosen as a symbol. We need to stop going headlong into war, we need to work for peace, before it is too late for the world. They knew it 85 years ago-and we know it today.

[bleedingheart]

11. In Flanders field the poppies blow between the crosses

row on row....

Yep Americans wear poppies...mostly older ones do but they are still sold to benefit Vet Charities.

[Padraig18]

14. Yes!

I bought one from the Disbaled American Veteran's this morning.