It's Not Often...

It's not often that I read a chain email that I enjoy. Far more frequently I make a mental note to severely disable the person who started it.

The one at the end of this post however, struck a different chord with me and I felt it would be worthwhile sharing it.

Now, typing is by far the least expressive form of communication which a human can undertake- but I assure you that if I were in your presence and talking to you, there would be not a trace of sarcasm in that statement.

This email is about the annual Poppy Appeal. I'm not familiar with similar appeals in other countries- but I imagine there is something analogous. If you're not British (he says- optimistically imagining he may have foreign readers), I suggest you do a bit of reading into it. If you are British, I still suggest you do some reading into it. Few people seem to know what an enormous difference the whole appeal makes. I assure you, you will garner a good deal more respect for the all-too-few members of the public who wear a cheap, tacky, nasty-looking little paper flower around this time of year.

This lack of understanding was demonstrated concisely when I was in the Air Cadets. We collected for the appeal annually in our local area, and I remember one particular occasion when a thirty-something year old man, fresh out of Sainsburys with his shopping, walked past me; grasping eagerly onto my collection pot and box of poppies; and muttered "...it's not my funeral."

This then, shows how little some people understand about how the appeal works, and how the funds are distributed. Clearly his conscience got the best of him eventually- as half an hour later he reappeared and donated about £10 on a single poppy.

Whether you are a staunch pacifist, or an advocate of foreign military intervention, there is no denying that the idea of a young mother (or indeed father); usually with children; getting help and support from a truly altruistic charity in the wake of the death of their spouse in some far off conflict. This isn't some charity that perpetuates war or violence: these are people who are there when a family or loved one receives the devastating news of the death of a loved one in the service of a cause. If you're still not convinced, you need only read some of the testimonies circulating in papers and on the web for some utterly heart-wrenching accounts where (for example) a mother has to explain to her three year old son that his dad won't be coming home. I don't believe there is a soul alive who doesn't believe that people in this situation deserve some help and support.

Despite my best efforts, re-reading this I realise how woefully inadequately I've conveyed the meaning of my musings. I implore you to read into this yourself and really understand why the Poppy Appeal is worth supporting.

In the mean time, I leave you with the aforementioned email below.

-Neop

http://www.poppy.org.uk/

""

The poppy Appeal commences on 24th October. Please read this. They are doing their bit.....please do yours by reading this and forwarding it to someone else: The average British soldier is 19 years old.....he is a short haired, well built lad who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears and just old enough to buy a round of drinks but old enough to die for his country - and for you. He's not particularly keen on hard work but he'd rather be grafting in Afghanistan than unemployed in the UK . He recently left comprehensive school where he was probably an average student, played some form of sport, drove a ten year old rust bucket, and knew a girl that either broke up with him when he left, or swore to be waiting when he returns home. He moves easily to rock and roll or hip-hop or to the rattle of a 7.62mm machine gun. He is about a stone lighter than when he left home because he is working or fighting from dawn to dusk and well beyond. He has trouble spelling, so letter writing is a pain for him, but he can strip a rifle in 25 seconds and reassemble it in the dark. He can recite every detail of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either effectively if he has to. He digs trenches and latrines without the aid of machines and can apply first aid like a professional paramedic. He can march until he is told to stop, or stay dead still until he is told to move. He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation but he is not without a rebellious spirit or a sense of personal dignity. He is confidently self-sufficient. He has two sets of uniform with him: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his water bottle full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never forgets to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes and fix his own hurts. If you are thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food is your food. He'll even share his life-saving ammunition with you in the heat of a firefight if you run low. He has learned to use his hands like weapons and regards his weapon as an extension of his own hands. He can save your life or he can take it, because that is his job - it's what a soldier does. He often works twice as long and hard as a civilian, draw half the pay and have nowhere to spend it, and can still find black ironic humour in it all. There's an old saying in the British Army: 'If you can't take a joke, you shouldn't have joined!' He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime. He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and he is unashamed to show it or admit it. He feels every bugle note of the 'Last Post' or 'Sunset' vibrate through his body while standing rigidly to attention. He's not afraid to 'Bollock' anyone who shows disrespect when the Regimental Colours are on display or the National Anthem is played; yet in an odd twist, he would defend anyone's right to be an individual. Just as with generations of young people before him, he is paying the price for our freedom. Clean shaven and baby faced he may be, but be prepared to defend yourself if you treat him like a kid. He is the latest in a long thin line of British Fighting Men that have kept this country free for hundreds of years. He asks for nothing from us except our respect, friendship and understanding. We may not like what he does, but sometimes he doesn't like it either - he just has it to do.. Remember him always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood. And now we even have brave young women putting themselves in harm's way, doing their part in this tradition of going to war when our nation's politicians call on us to do so. When you receive this, please stop for a moment and if you are so inclined, feel free to say a prayer for our troops in the trouble spots of the world.

""