Christopher Hitchens on debating religion and the elections
Author: admin // Category: wiki college
The editor of “Patrol” speaks with Christopher Hitchens after the debate with theologian Douglas Wilson at The King’s College in New York City.
The complete thing: http://www.vimeo.com/2111182
I asked: “Can somebody tell me what the ‘red flower’ means on CH’s lapel?”
The answer came quickly, user calcecini said:
“In answer to your question about CH’s lapel,it’s actually a poppy (made of plastic) worn in November in Britain as a memorial for those who have died in war (war remembrance day in on November 11th in the UK). You are given a poppy by people on the street after a donation, and that money goes to veterans charity. The tradition covers all wars, but is especially associated with WW1 1914 -18 - as the poppy grows in the area where the terrible trench wars took place.”
I checked and read that the tradition is based on the Canadian poem “In Flanders Fields”:
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
— John McCrae
I think we should indeed show this kind of stoicism and respect for those who protected our Freedom in the past and now against another dreadful enemy in poppy fields. I hope this catches on also in the USA and other places.
more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Flanders_Fields
Duration : 0:8:35
Part Two: Fox Speaks
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