Sir, – It is too simple of Ciarán Connolly (November 11th) to say there is "nothing" about the red poppy that suggests it advocates war.
In origin, possibly no. In how it is used by the British military and establishment to justify current war-making, absolutely yes. By the same token, and I am not drawing comparisons, a swastika is not just an ancient religious symbol but also a German fascist emblem from the first half of the 20th century. The same symbol can mean different things or be used in different ways.
The idea that the white poppy is “liberal PC claptrap” is nonsense. It is a British symbol in origin, yes, but from the Co-operative Women’s Guild in 1933. The search for suitable symbols for peace is an ongoing one. A “black shamrock” has been used by many in Ireland, originating in Derry, to oppose US military use of Shannon Airport – certainly the largest destructive contribution the Republic makes to external warfare and world destabilisation (meanwhile Northern Ireland makes Thales missiles). – Yours, etc,
ROB FAIRMICHAEL,
Co-ordinator, INNATE,
Ravensdene Park,
Belfast.