[silv (Annette)]

What does it feel like when you guys say "places of pride" to soldiers' memorials?
Pride is such an ambiguous emotion, depending on cultural agreement of which values and situations are deemed worthy of inducing the emotion, isn't it?

When I read the thread title just now I immediately hoped for a time when it became cultural agreement that "places of pride" are places where wars were prevented.

The German and Austrian soldiers who paraded in the streets in 1914 with flowers on their bayonets felt pride as well. They were also told and believed it that going to war was the right, and brave, and proud thing to do. Murdering other men with their bayonets. Flowers and all.

I'm German, born in the 60s, and lived in NZ for a while. Long enough to come across Poppy day a few times. It made me feel sooo sad. Because what I perceived was hero worship for the dead soldiers. And that worship is what keeps people going to wars over and over again.

I'm glad to read Gary's memory of that old veteran and some of you agreeing with that story.
So I think it's possible that I'm wrong with my NZ perception. Poppy day isn't about pride and worship, at all? Is it about remembering how important it is to keep and work for peace?