Poppy on kids sports kits

Nothing about war is cut and dried. Nothing. There will always be aberrations. But the overwhelming narrative of those big wars in the last century was essentially fighting against bullies and tyrants. I wear my poppy to recognise that sacrifice.

They died so that you have the freedom to nit pick and be cynical and misrepresent and make every excuse about why you don’t wish to honour their memory.

Shouldn't we all fight against genocidal bullies and tyrants? Or do we just take the pacifist way and just give in to them?

This.

or everyone should be free to do as their conscience dictates. So much talk of freedom on this thread, and so much decrying of that freedom to make a basic choice.

I'd be delighted and proud to have raised a child who could think for herself and who might have a concept that there are other ways to do things.

Your ignorance and lack of education is showing

Thanks 👍🏻

I wasn't aware everyone in a sports team had to have the same moral and political views. Do you really think people should have to miss out on playing sports due to their personal beliefs?

That's up to the individual.
If your team is involved in something you don't agree with you have a choice. Opt in and be part of the team or opt out.

Paratroopers in particular are tainted with their reputation for shooting civilians in the back.

Your ignorance and lack of education is showing.

It's not about making a point, it's about standing by your beliefs and being true to yourself.

I wasn't aware everyone in a sports team had to have the same moral and political views. Do you really think people should have to miss out on playing sports due to their personal beliefs?

Can you not remember people who died in the world wars without wearing a poppy?
The British Legion have actually said they don't want people to be coerced into wearing a poppy.
British soldiers shot dead innocent civilians in Northern Ireland. David Cameron even made an official apology about it. If you were one of their loved ones, should you be encouraged to wear a poppy?

A brief Google search should give you the answers as to why some people wouldn't want their children wearing a poppy. Are you English? Unfortunately it seems to be the way of some English to be so uneducated as to the "other" parts of the UK.

It's not. It's like a material sticker

Mortified your child thinks for themselves, and understands the nuances of a complex subject?

Also, buying a poppy isn't the only way to show respect by any means.

No it's not but it is pretty well known that sporting events will commemorate Remembrance Sunday this weekend. That's part and parcel of being part of a sports team. If you have an issue with it, opt out.

Refusing to wear a poppy in these circumstances just seems churlish. What point is being made exactly?

Exactly... it's just a sticker... why is everyone getting so hysterical about how important it is to wear the sticker, and demanding others just do it.

This wasn't clear to me, until you wrote it on P5.
From the start, when you said the coach was handing them out, I had presumed they were printed on the kit (and this wasn't challenged when someone said that early on).
I mean, I was wondering what kids sports team could afford a new set of shirts just for this weekend, but....

However, if it is just a sticker, then I can't see the issue with her just saying "no thanks" when (s)he starts handing them round. I mean, it seems unlikely they will stick on the kit for long anyway. If the coach is surprised, then your dd can explain, but I suspect (s)he will just move down the line, handing them to people who want to wear them.

It’s entirely possible to respect those soldiers but still choose not to wear a poppy. It’s entirely possible not to feel that way and not to wear a poppy.

It is about freedom of choice. I agree with the OP, it should be an opt in option.

But lots of people DO believe “the UK should not maintain any armed forces, should never fight in any wars / battles (including fighting in defence)”. For both religious reasons (Quakers, Buddhists etc) and political reasons (lots of people from countries which are politically neutral, as well as various communists, anarchists etc).

Show me one post on this thread that has said that the option to wear a poppy should be taken away from those who want to wear it.

It's about respect, not obeisance.

Respect cuts both ways, and if you have a problem with that (which necessarily means having a problem with someone not seeing or doing things the way you do), you have instantly lost any right to the intellectual or moral high ground.

Every poster here respects the right of those who want to wear a poppy, to wear one.

Not every poster respects the right of those who DON'T want to wear one. In fact, they have used shame and guilt and feigned/real ignorance and in your case, made up nonsense, to justify why they shouldn't respect the rights of people to not wear a poppy. And all this under the banner of "respect". It's the sort of hypocrisy we see everywhere these days. Like tweens playing gotcha, just to have the last word, but based on mistruths and made up rubbish.

The poppy in some places is a divisive political symbol.

Mortified your child thinks for themselves, and understands the nuances of a complex subject?

Also, buying a poppy isn't the only way to show respect by any means.

Imagine not understanding other perspectives than your own. How embarrassing.

Oh I understand other perspectives and in this case it seems somewhat disrespectful.

I'd be mortified if this was my child.

Do you know where Derry is? Hint: it’s in the UK 🙄

Imagine not understanding other perspectives than your own. How embarrassing.

Imagine having an issue with wearing a poppy at an organised sports event on remembrance weekend?!
How embarrassing

I'd argue it's more disrespectful to wear a poppy just because it's the done thing than because you deeply care and understand the horrors of war.

And this kind of attitude is one of the reasons I no longer wear a poppy.

It should be individual choice. Forced compliance does not demonstrate any kind of respect,