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I'm British, so our experiences will differ here - but the generally nice idea of "remembrance" is very often hijacked by jingoistic warmongers. "In Flanders Fields", the Canadian poem is a very early example of this.
"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."Although it's extremely appropriate for Foxhole... the poem doesn't question war or motivations, it simply states "we died here, now it's your turn". It's completely uncritical as to the nature of war, instead being almost a celebration of a continued cycle of violence and veneration of war dead without any kind of self reflection as to the nature of the wars they fought in.
"Remember that we died, forget why/how we died."
It's a pretty dangerous sentiment to encourage all future generations to celebrate war dead while encouraging people to not question the nature of the "quarrel with the foe".Anyways. Since you're looking... I'd like to ask you to perhaps consider adding an occasional white poppy to the mix -- it's telling that many rightwing politicians in the UK consider them disgraceful, is it not?
I appreciate your concerns and we'll definitely consider making adjustments in the future.
However, with due respect, as Canadians, Nov 11th is our 'veterans day' and Flander's Fields is as ubiquitous as our national anthem. This was something a few members of the team, including myself, wanted to include in the game as a memorial due to the fact that we are making a game about war.
I would echo Adam's sentiment here. The poem was written by a Canadian soldier for a comrade who died in the battle of Ypres. The poem is not about a perpetual state of war, though I can see how it would be interpreted that way. It's about making sure lives weren't lost in vain and those who died aren't forgotten.
If the poem is hijacked in other countries, that's a shame. Here it is not. We can't speak for other countries, and this is our tribute to those who served for us. Here it is treated with the utmost reverence.
That said, I appreciate your concerns and if we do something like this in the future, I'll be sure to do look into a more European point of view.