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Some Republican Welsh Nationalists have a problem with wearing the Red Poppy and recognising Remembrance Day, seeing it as a very British thing. I admit myself to being prone to such beliefs over the years but this year had a change of heart and took to wearing a red poppy, in remembrance of the sacrifices so many made in two major wars. .
WWI maybe regarded as one awful Imperialist inspired slaughter but it's not that I pay respect to but rather to working people in all armies who were slaughtered and maimed horribly for life. As for WWII put the Welsh Nationalism aside for a short while and how can we not respect and remember those who fought against Hitler and Nazi Germany but again I wore a Red Poppy to remember, those who fought this time in a rightous cause but also to remember the innocents, the civilians on both sides be they the blitzed of the British Isles or of Germany and Japan. The sacrifice was international and the remembrance is International but next year I will tie red, green and yellow ribbon to a red poppy to give it some Welsh Rememberance identification, and why not after all pacifists wear a white poppy and annimal lovers a purple poppy.
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I also now wear the Red Poppy mindful of fact that my two grandfathers fought in WWI, were wounded but survived, the one my mothers father to eventually get killed in a Coal mine incident.
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G.Gruffydd.
