The Blood-Stained Poppy: A Critique Of The Politics Of Commemoration

by Kevin Rooney, James Heartfield

For a century the war dead have been honoured with Red Poppies on Remembrance Day. The Poppy is part of a cult of death that celebrates the slaughter of the 'Great War' of 1914-18. The Poppy and the Remembrance Day ceremony turn grief to sanctify war. Here we expose the truth about the First World War, and about the century of militarism that followed. The war was not fought to make the world safe, but out of hatred and imperial greed. In the hundred years since the end of the First World War, Britain's military ventures have continued to wreak havoc across the world. The Poppy is a symbol of British militarism, not a badge of peace.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

168 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 2019

Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first chapters are best in giving an understanding of the insidious historical purpose of the poppy as a pro-war symbol. The later chapters become a far-too-brief medley of British evils across the last century of global violence with either token discussion of the poppy or none at all. Perhaps not bad for a quick introduction to English perfidy but one could easily find better books to replace the last half of this one.

[Gabriel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very little specifically to do with the Red Poppy, just a quick history of WWI and 20th century British militarism. Chapter on Northern Ireland interesting enough