Sir, - I have found recent letters to the Editor concerning the poppy emblem curiously interesting. The letter by Iain McKinney, who wears a poppy as a mark of respect to those who were prepared to fight fascism and tyranny", struck me as being rather ironic.
While I recognise the valour of those Irishmen who fought valiantly to "protect the rights of small nations", despite the difficulties of being used as cannon fodder, I also recognise the inherent ironic anomaly in this whole debate.
The Fourth of July celebrations are seen as good, wholesome, flag waving occasions. It would seem that the American self liberation from British colonial oppression is worthy of celebration. The commemoration of our own self liberation from British colonial oppression, most clearly expressed by wearing a lily at Easter, is seemingly not worthy of celebration because of connections made between the Easter Lily and the modern IRA.
Obviously, fighting "fascism and tyranny" on the Continent early in the century was vastly different from fighting "fascism and tyranny" on this island during the same period. - Is mise, le meas,
Dept of Applied
Communications,
UCG.