“And now, my beauties, something with poison in it, I think. With poison in it, but attractive to the eye, and soothing to the smell.” – Wicked Witch of the West, Wizard of Oz
At the risk of turning this into an opium blog — and really, Thomas de Quincey aside, where’s the harm in that? — I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention today’s diplomatic row over the power of a flower. As most readers know, it is custom among our British cousins to wear a poppy or poppy substitute on November 11 as a remembrance of those who perished in The Great War. Trouble happens though when you want to wear your ceremonial poppy into the Great Hall of the People; for you see, the Chinese have a different view of Brits bearing buds.* David Cameron and his entourage refused and the matter was dropped, but it presented an interesting clash of symbols. Lest anyone forget, the poppies are for all of the Allies who died in The War, including several thousand Chinese who gave their lives on the fields of Belgium and France.**
Nevertheless, I think most people can appreciate how — from a particular Chinese perspective —