The White Poppy

Hi, I've been sent a link to this thread by a friend who hails from Toronto originally, now living in Wales, GB. Thought as someone from where the white poppies originated I might have some input.

Firstly, I'll be honest - I only wear the red poppy. However, I have a couple of friends who wear the white poppy alongside the red.

Their reasons behind this are that the red poppy shows their support for the Legion and their respect for those who died in the war. The white also shows their respect for those who fought and died but also symbolises their sadness that war was necessary and remains ever present in the world.

My understanding is that originally the red poppy was worn to show respect for those who fought and died and to remember their sacrifices and the terrible cost of war, in the hope that the Great War of 1914-18 would be the last. So to me, the white poppy is not needed to symbolise what my friends wish to convey while showing respect to the troops.

However, they have worn the red and white poppies to many remembrance day parades (including this years) and have not as yet been accused of being disrespectful of the dead.

In fact, why does it have to be a poppy at all? Why not another flower? Can someone who supports the 'white poppy idea' answer these questions?