Poppy wearing

[HappyAgainOneDay]

I was in town today and waited for a friend who didn't turn up because she'd forgotten for half an hour. Opposite me in a shopping Mall was a poppy table and two servicemen behind it. I began to look at people passing and was amazed at the huge number of people who were not wearing a poppy. Far more were not sporting a poppy than those who were.

I then realised that those without poppies were mostly on the younger side of the population - say, 40 and younger. Do they not realise what we are remembering? Yes, the poppies represent those who died but the general reason for the charity now is that the funds collected go to service people who've lost limbs or are otherwise disabled. The families of those who never came back are also helped. AIBU for thinking that more should wear a poppy with pride?

[DinkyDonky]

YABU. not everyone wishes to support military-related charities.

Not wearing a poppy doesn't stop people from remembering

[BiancaDelRio]

YABU.

I don't wear one. And thankfully it's not obligatory.

It's a choice. And it's none of your business if people choose not to.

[BiancaDelRio]

And you've posted the same thread twice .

[ThursdayLast]

Hang on.
I'm sure I already hid this thread

[skylark2]

I'll swear I just answered this. Same answer as last time.

[HappyAgainOneDay]

Oh, just found this duplicate thread. Sorry.

[AesSedai]

It's a choice. said Bianca

So be fucking grateful that you've actually GOT that choice and show some empathy for those that gave it to you

[bellarations]

That's abit abrupt aes.
It's a choice, and infact they could have donated but not taken a poppy.

[AlpacaLypse]

As I am the descendant of refugees I have far more dead relatives who fought on the 'wrong' side than the 'right' one. Nevertheless I wear my poppy and remember my great uncles who fought and died for Hitler, none aged more than 20, on the Russian front. They didn't have a choice.

[LittleBairn]

YABU for me giving to charity is personal and private I don't need to advertise it. But if you feel better about judging me for not wearing one then you go ahead.

[Jengnr]

I'm grateful for those who died for my freedom. I will remember them with the respect they deserve.

Not so much for those fighting now for a government wanting to curtail those freedoms. Fuck that.

And I'll wear what I please. Freedom y'see.

[CrashDiveOnMingoCity]

YABU and patronising with your age comment.

[TheBookofRuth]

My grandad fought in WW2, my great-grandad in WW1. Both were decorated for valour, and both would have argued that they didn't do that so that someone could order me to be "fucking grateful".

[Grumpyrealist77]

Trapper, great riposte!!
Get home safely!
OP have a

[PigeonPie]

The thing is, if you had seen me or any of my family you wouldn't have seen our poppies. Mine is a very small pin one which I've had for a few years which is on the collar of my blouse and my DSs' ones are also small metal ones.

We always do an online donation to the RBL so that they can get the benefit of the gift aid and my parents do house to house collections (this year with my DSs in cub / beaver uniforms).

Please don't judge people for this.

Thank you

[DeadCert]

I don't support war so I don't wear a poppy.

That's the end of that one then.

[HedgehogsDontBite]

Not wearing a poppy does not equal not buying a poppy. I always buy a poppy but don't often wear it. Usually because I just forget to move it across when I change my clothes. When I do wear it it's on my blouse not my coat so you wouldn't see it if I were out and about.

[AesSedai]

I don't support war so I don't wear a poppy. said DeadCert

Just as well some people fought for your freedom then, otherwise you would be in a Nazi state with no freedom.

[DeadCert]

I am very thankful for that and will remember those that fought in WW1 and WW2 very fondly and in my own way.

I don't support any recent war at all. And all those that fought chose to go. I'm against war in its modern form.

Hope that clears that one up. Next!

[Greengrow]

Freedom not to wear one is surely important. Thou shalt not kill is the philosophy of many and most wars are pretty pointless killing.

I will wear one. I have a son playing the last post on 3 separate big occasions over the next 3 days and those I am at it would look wrong if I didn't and I don't want to offend those around us but I do think most wars are pointless. I agree sometimes we need to fight but we tend to do it in a stupid way which increases loss of life. Go read the WWI poets. They say all anyone needs to know about war.

[AesSedai]

I'm against war in its modern form.

Let's hope we don't get invaded then

Or should we have let everybody on the Falkland Islands be killed?

[AskBasil]

Yes I think I the government should introduce a law which said that everyone over the age of say 12, should be forced to wear a poppy every November with every outfit in public.

Anyone who didn't, should be heavily fined for a first offence, forced to do community service for a second offence, imprisoned for a third offence and it's the death penalty for a fourth. All before Christmas.

[HexBramble]

Dead Cert, whilst I support your right to choose whether or not to wear a poppy, the actual act of wearing one does not support war.

I wear mine as a visible reminder to others. A reminder of those that fell for our freedom.

[Greengrow]

Indeed, Ask... this compulsory poppy wearng would be just like the Hitler imposed symbol jews had to wear which those very soldiers fought against.