Why I No Longer Feel Comfortable Wearing a Poppy

[Geckos48]

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/madeleine-fry/poppy-day_b_4169581.html

very eloquently put. Exactly how I feel about the whole debacle.

November 11th should be for those who selflessly gave their lives in the World Wars, not those who chose to fight dubious campaigns abroad.

[DontCallMeDaughter]

But that's no reason for an individual not to wear a poppy. You wear one for your own reasons - to thank the men that gave their lives to keep us free, to thank the ones that still continue to do so. The charity that poppies support is still doing essential work. The service men and ex-service men I know who see people wearing poppies know that we care about what they are doing.

Sure - if you choose to donate to the charity or send your respects to the fallen in some other way, then that's your prerogative, but that's not what the article is suggesting. It's just taking an opt-out and ignore stance and that irks me.

And besides, where I live, the poppies are all sold by handsome men in uniform, I tend to end up with about 30

[Geckos48]

I dont buy poppies because I dont want to support servicemen who have gone off to dubious wars and are doing the very opposite of 'keeping us free'

the biggest threat to my safety is from people in countries that we have chosen to invade, attack and occupy.

They do the very opposite of 'keep me free'

I would prefer November 11th to be about the WW veterans who gave their lives selflessly because Britain was being attacked. Not those who chose to go and attack for a living.

[Geckos48]

I suppose the point is, I shouldnt have to support current service men in order to support those who gave their lives and limbs in the WW's

[AuntieStella]

It was the Govenrment who issued legal orders who sent our Forces into (what I totally agree were) dubious operations.

I wasn't the Armed Forces themselves who "chose to go and attack".

[Geckos48]

Sorry, I dont agree with the 'I dont believe in war I do believe in soldiers' stance.

i think if you are prepared to accept money to go abroad to invade, attack, occupy and kill people then you are not necessarily deserving of my respect.

Its certainly not something I would want to give money to. I would be happy to give money to the last remaining verterans and their families though.

[AuntieStella]

As there are more surviving limbless veterans from WW2 than from recent conflicts, then perhaps donate to BLESMA?

[CocoCha]

I wear my poppy with pride.

[Geckos48]

Do the veterans of the two world wars not deserve their 'own' day though?

I think they do.

[ColinFirthsGirth]

Gecko I totally agree with you.

[AuntieStella]

Ok - I look forward to seeing your campaign for one.

I don't agree, but if there is widespread support for that then I hope you make it happen.

There are of course no WW1 veterans left, so presumably you'll be covering WW2 only? Or will it include National Service personnel who ended up fighting in say Malaya?

[Geckos48]

Thank you Colin

I am pleased someone is daring to come out and say it in the press. It makes a pleasant change from all the 'heroes' stuff that gets bandied about meaninglessly.

However, whether people agree with me or not (I know it is a contentious issue) surely people can agree that those who fought in the first and second world war, with conscription, not through choice, deserve a day of remembrance of their own?

[ThinkAboutItTomorrow]

I wear a poppy because I think it is important to remember the horror of war and what it does to people. Any war and any people.

I wear a poppy as much in remembrance of the German dead of WW2 as the British dead. As much in remembrance of the dead Iraqi civilians as the BNP voting squaddie (to stereotype wildly).

[Geckos48]

There are still widows and family of WW1 veterans.

They fought and lost as much.

[Geckos48]

Does it not bother you, think that the money you donate with your poppy goes only on British soldiers? would it not be better to donate to action aid?

[ColinFirthsGirth]

I believe there is a big difference between those conscripted and those that choose to join the armed forces.

[ThinkAboutItTomorrow]

I do donate to action aid. It's a bit by the by to me that there is a charity attached - for me it is a non religious act of remembrance more than it is a charity

[AuntieStella]

Actually, the Legion supports veterans of all nationalities as long as they are resident in UK.

[Geckos48]

Not sure that makes me anymore willing to support them Auntie

Colin I absolutely agree, I also think there is a big difference in fighting a war when your country is being attacked and just going around in big tanks blowing people up because you fancy it (basically)

[LtAllHallowsEve]

Dubious wars to YOU. Not to those of us that were actually there. You weren't, you don't know or understand.

The RBL donates to and helps soldiers, and families of soldiers and always will.

I wear my poppy with pride, and always will - one day I might need their help, or my DH might, or my DD might. I believe in and am proud of our Military.

[ColinFirthsGirth]

I wear a white poppy - the money from that helps to promote peaceful alternatives to war.

[Geckos48]

Ohhh Colin I LOVE that idea!

[FannyFifer]

I have felt increasingly uncomfortable in recent years.
That article makes a lot of sense to me.

[FannyFifer]

LtAllHallowsEve, of course the recent conflicts have been dubious, how can you say otherwise?

[AuntieStella]

I think you might like to check the antecedents of the White Poppy a little more carefully. It's not a 'promote peace by other means' organisation, it's a "abolish the British Armed Forces" organisation. Which is fine as a viewpoint, but tasteless around Remembrance Day.

(The BBC article so oft cited about it ignores the founding principles and instead starts several years after its inception).

[trish5000]

I wear a poppy to show respect to the brave people who go to whereever. Would I always give money to a Governement who sent them if I had a choice. Not always. Because I dont agree with every war fought in our name. Not that we know all the ins and outs of all of them.
The two world wars, as far as I am concerned very needed to be fought. The rest since, not so sure.