The Poppy: Friend or Foe (as seen in the sputnik)

The poppy, once a symbol of hope for men in the trenches, has evolved into the modern soldier’s worst nightmare. From innocently blowing in Flanders field to fuelling terrorism, addiction and a booming drug industry in the present day, it is clear our relation to this family of flowers is ever changing. For although there are a variety of types, all distinct, many have an undeniable ability to produce chaos. So though for many veterans of the First and Second World Wars the poppy may be a beautiful symbol, to the new generation it should evoke terror.
The shift became pronounced during the Vietnam War, when 15 percent of American troops began to use heroin (a by product of opium gum). This was widely recognized as an epidemic and many of those men brought the addiction back home with them, sparking widespread issues. Even today in Afghanistan the availability of this corrosive drug is mindboggling, in fact it has become a war strategy for the opposition to get soldiers addicted. Unfortunately, in many cases, they seem to have succeeded. Here are some great articles about this move: http://rawstory.com/2009/10/taliban-heroin-tactic-weapon/ , http://airamerica.com/liveinwashingtonwithjackrice/blog/10-20-2009/taliban-using-heroin-weapon-video-audio/
In Afghanistan, where the poppy fields flourish, Al-Qaeda uses this opium to fund its violent campaigns against occupants, one of which being Canada. This is their major financial backing amounting to a ridiculous sum of money and here's the piece explaining this: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/world/asia/28intel.html?pagewanted=1. Without it, the proliferation of weapons would simply be impossible. The streets would have a few less roadside bombs, the guns firing at planes from below would be fewer and more far between and maybe just maybe we, as a country, could have been able to leave. But with the money produced from opium and subsequently heroin, Al-Qaeda appears a force to be reckoned with; yet another instance of the dangers of the poppy.
The final questions then must be asked, when did this happen? The poppy, embodiment of quiet courage, how did it take on so many new faces, names and identities? Why did our symbol of resilience and inner strength fade into an abyss of shady dealings? The answers lie within the complexities of the plant itself leading one to rightly assume, that to think of the poppy as an insignificant, superfluous flower, could be no farther from the truth.