What does it mean to remember our veterans?
What does it mean to set aside, for one day, our opinions and our gripes?
To remember the sacrifices that allow us to live in a democratic society in which we are allowed our own thoughts and opinions?
It was, my friends, the poppy debate, which forced us to consider all of these matters.
In this debate, we saw, in my opinion, a silent majority among the students in this university become vocal as they asserted their values and their right to remembrance free of politics and division.
We heard what the red poppy means to so many of our students.
Many students and I condemned the white poppy campaign for its misrepresentation of the red poppy as a symbol of war and bloodlust, when it’s really a symbol of sacrifice and respect.
I saw countless students condemn the campaign for causing offence to our country’s veterans—on a day and a month dedicated to remembering their sacrifices.
It is time for the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) to take a stand against the white poppy campaign.
As the representative government of the undergraduate student body at this university, I firmly believe that it is important for CUSA to take a stand for the deeply held values of the students it represents.
Our government must be more than just a disperser of funds and a provider of services—it must stand as a representation, an edifice, to the values many of us in this community hold dear.
And in many ways, CUSA does stand for the values of Carleton as a community.
That’s why CUSA has a Discrimination on Campus policy to combat racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination in our university, and why CUSA continues to criticize the Canadian Blood Services restriction of blood donations from men who have sex with men.
That is why I have proposed a motion for CUSA to condemn the white poppy campaign.
I want the values of Remembrance Day, and the values of the traditional red poppy, which was worn by many students this month, to become an official part of the values of our student government.
I want our student government to pass a motion that recognizes the creation of this student-generated movement to protect the traditional red poppy and to correct misconceptions about the poppy, ensuring that Remembrance Day remains focused on the contributions of our veterans.
I want veterans to know, through CUSA passing this motion, that the values of our generation include remembrance and service to our country.
I want them to know that this generation is not losing touch with the sacrifices of this country’s past.
