" Give Peace A Chance ... "

"Ev'rybody's talking about
Revolution, Evolution, Mastication, Flagelolation, Regulations.
Integrations, Meditations, United Nations, Congratulations
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance"

~ John Lennon ~ Give Peace A Chance ~

***

In our city, on November 11, Rememberance Day, memorial ceremonies have been scheduled.  The community at large it requested to attend with their poppies vividly displayed on lapels.  Some ceremonies will be televised, others will be private.  And red poppies are a familiar sight in November on ordinary folk, veterans, businessman, school children and politicians.  Funds raised from these poppies are to support the veterans, those that survived and families of those that didn't.  The poppy is a symbol to aid the living and honour the dead.  The poppy promises an end to pain.  For many, this act of rememberance is a way of healing the trauma.  

What I didn't realize is that there is a White poppy as well.  White poppies use to offer an alternative way of remembering.  Remembering that the sufferings of war are not confined to soldiers but to thousands of children whom die of starvation and dis-ease as a direct results of war ~ worn to avoid the outbreak of another wear ~ worn for Peace ~ an end to war and giving peace a chance ... the pledge for Peace.  And really are we not looking for peace in our lives ... in our hearts and in our minds.  Peace in knowing that the choices we make or that are made for us are ultimately for a higher good.  Peace in any situation that we find ourselves facing ... and instead of criticizing the world that is, working towards making a world that could be more compassionate, more loving ... more peaceful.  

One with more life and less dis-ease.

So this year, alongside your red poppy, consider a white one as well.  Knowing that the white poppy symbolizes Peace, Morality and Decency ~ ask for a stronger statement, an admission that lasting peace can not be achieved by human conflict .... Knowing that reconciliation and tolerance could unite rather than divide nations and religions of the world, a call for peace with justice.  

Giving Peace A Chance