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Original poster

why do you wear a poppy?

411 replies

oiolehnvn · 06/11/2025 11:45

Lots of red poppies around us at the moment. Disclaimer I am not British but come from a country that is currently waging a war, in fact technically two countries that have been in the news for waging wars and have always been uncomfortable with people supporting or celebrating our army. I am therefore puzzled as to why the Brits wear poppies ever year. If you choose to wear one, what's your rationale? Equally, if you do not - what's yours?

OP posts:
cityanalyst678 · 06/11/2025 17:24

usedtobeaylis · 06/11/2025 14:25

She's literally trying to learn via this thread.

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One second asking the question on ChatGPT would give all the answers.
They gave their today for our tomorrow.
Says it all.

BatchCookBabe · 06/11/2025 17:22

cardibach · 06/11/2025 17:19

The British Legion isn’t the military! It’s a charity helping veterans, ex-servicemen and their families. All the money goes to that. Where does the white poppy money go?
And how can someone think the RBL is ‘the military’? Mind boggling.

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Exactly. I think @SundaySunday3 is the one finding things difficult to understand, not @Umy15r03lcha1

BatchCookBabe · 06/11/2025 17:21

Barnestine · 06/11/2025 17:16

Poppy racism?? How does this manifest and where are people experiencing this actually living please?

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Poppy racism? I've heard it all now.

cardibach · 06/11/2025 17:20

Barnestine · 06/11/2025 17:13

None of these worthy sentiments preclude one from wearing a red poppy in remembrance of all the poor bastards who volunteered and were conscripted and died in hideous conditions in WW1 and subsequent conflicts.

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In fact, they are pretty much what the red poppy represents…

cardibach · 06/11/2025 17:19

SundaySunday3 · 06/11/2025 16:58

No I do not ‘always make shit up’.
you can read, I hope, the British legion say a percentage goes to veterans and the rest goes into the British legion- eg the military. Which of course contributes to future war.
it’s not difficult to understand, but perhaps it is for you.

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The British Legion isn’t the military! It’s a charity helping veterans, ex-servicemen and their families. All the money goes to that. Where does the white poppy money go?
And how can someone think the RBL is ‘the military’? Mind boggling.

outdooryone · 06/11/2025 17:18

oiolehnvn · 06/11/2025 17:04

We also don't tend to leave london very much because honestly as new migrants into the country we dont have any family or friends in the rest of the UK so I don't know much about what happens outside our bubble.

Can I suggest that you find a way to explore some of our country some more? There are really good value ways of doing it - even from London you can make day trips on a bus or train to some great places and meet some lovely people.

Uricon2 · 06/11/2025 17:17

SundaySunday3 · 06/11/2025 16:58

No I do not ‘always make shit up’.
you can read, I hope, the British legion say a percentage goes to veterans and the rest goes into the British legion- eg the military. Which of course contributes to future war.
it’s not difficult to understand, but perhaps it is for you.

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The British Legion is not the MoD. It is not the military. It is an organisation that supports veterans.

If you have any kind of 'proof' that the sales of poppies are funding wars, please post it. I've read the website and there is nothing that indicates it at all.

ETA and the families of veterans.

ThatCyanCat · 06/11/2025 17:16

I may have issues with decisions certain governments make, but I wouldn't class maintaining an army as funding war. By that logic we should have no army and no defence spending.

Barnestine · 06/11/2025 17:16

HappyGolmore2 · 06/11/2025 13:12

I can’t bear the poppy racism and I don’t give money to military charities, so I don’t wear a poppy.

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Poppy racism?? How does this manifest and where are people experiencing this actually living please?

cardibach · 06/11/2025 17:16

Northerngirl821 · 06/11/2025 15:47

I don’t wear one and I’m a veteran. I hate the way it has been misappropriated and used by the right to spread hatred and division eg all the lies about how muslims/the left/ethnic minorities want it to be banned, anyone not wearing one is disrespecting our country etc.

I still donate, go to remembrance parade, observe the silence etc. but for me the wearing of the poppy has been politicised and no longer carries the same meaning.

I share your concerns, but still wear mine (not all the time - just at remembrance events) because they fucking can’t take it from me.

BatchCookBabe · 06/11/2025 17:15

HewasH2O · 06/11/2025 17:13

The British Legion is not funding wars. It helps the veterans, it helps the families & children of those who are serving in the armed forces, it provides support. It is NOT funding wars.

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Exactly. Where on earth do people get such obvious fallacies from?! Confused

HewasH2O · 06/11/2025 17:13

SundaySunday3 · 06/11/2025 16:58

No I do not ‘always make shit up’.
you can read, I hope, the British legion say a percentage goes to veterans and the rest goes into the British legion- eg the military. Which of course contributes to future war.
it’s not difficult to understand, but perhaps it is for you.

Show quote history

The British Legion is not funding wars. It helps the veterans, it helps the families & children of those who are serving in the armed forces, it provides support. It is NOT funding wars.

Barnestine · 06/11/2025 17:13

SundaySunday3 · 06/11/2025 13:05

As a pacifist and member of the PPU, I wear a white poppy.
if you would like to commemorate all those killed in past war but also not fund future warfare & stand for peace, join the PPU ✌🏼

White poppies stand for three things.

🤍 Remembrance of all victims of war, including both civilians and members of the armed forces. We remember people of all nationalities. We remember those killed in wars happening now, as well as in the past. We also remember those who are often excluded from the mainstream, such as refugees and victims of colonial conflicts.

🤍Challenging war and militarism, as well as any attempt to glorify or celebrate war. White poppies encourage us to question the way war is normalised and justified. They remind us of the need to resist war and its causes today.

🤍 A commitment to peace and to seeking nonviolent solutions to conflict. By drawing attention to the devastating human cost of war, white poppies highlight the urgency of our ongoing struggle for peace.

None of these worthy sentiments preclude one from wearing a red poppy in remembrance of all the poor bastards who volunteered and were conscripted and died in hideous conditions in WW1 and subsequent conflicts.

Thedogscollar · 06/11/2025 17:04

Out of respect for the people who have fought and died in wars so that I can live the life I live today.

Original poster
oiolehnvn · 06/11/2025 17:04

We also don't tend to leave london very much because honestly as new migrants into the country we dont have any family or friends in the rest of the UK so I don't know much about what happens outside our bubble.

OP posts:
Original poster
oiolehnvn · 06/11/2025 17:02

@ropework I live in London and honestly don't have many truly English friends. It's a very international crowd.

OP posts:
SundaySunday3 · 06/11/2025 16:58

Umy15r03lcha1 · 06/11/2025 16:50

Behave yourself. Buying a red poppy isn't funding future wars. Do you always make shit up? Funds raised from the sale of red poppies goes to support veterans.

I've no idea where white, black, purple etc poppy funds end up.

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No I do not ‘always make shit up’.
you can read, I hope, the British legion say a percentage goes to veterans and the rest goes into the British legion- eg the military. Which of course contributes to future war.
it’s not difficult to understand, but perhaps it is for you.

Umy15r03lcha1 · 06/11/2025 16:50

SundaySunday3 · 06/11/2025 13:05

As a pacifist and member of the PPU, I wear a white poppy.
if you would like to commemorate all those killed in past war but also not fund future warfare & stand for peace, join the PPU ✌🏼

White poppies stand for three things.

🤍 Remembrance of all victims of war, including both civilians and members of the armed forces. We remember people of all nationalities. We remember those killed in wars happening now, as well as in the past. We also remember those who are often excluded from the mainstream, such as refugees and victims of colonial conflicts.

🤍Challenging war and militarism, as well as any attempt to glorify or celebrate war. White poppies encourage us to question the way war is normalised and justified. They remind us of the need to resist war and its causes today.

🤍 A commitment to peace and to seeking nonviolent solutions to conflict. By drawing attention to the devastating human cost of war, white poppies highlight the urgency of our ongoing struggle for peace.

Behave yourself. Buying a red poppy isn't funding future wars. Do you always make shit up? Funds raised from the sale of red poppies goes to support veterans.

I've no idea where white, black, purple etc poppy funds end up.

butterdish93 · 06/11/2025 16:40

To support and respect veterans who are living with mental and physical Illness. Especially the youngish ones whose lives have been changed beyond all recognition and struggle to adapt back to normality and family life. There are young soldiers who have been so malnourished that they have lost their eye sight. Most of them have PTSD. Many struggle to stay employed. It’s not glorifying war. It’s acknowledging and supporting the huge effect this has on young men

Umy15r03lcha1 · 06/11/2025 16:36

oiolehnvn · 06/11/2025 12:49

Is it a class thing? We live in a 'naice' area in London and lots of people seem to wear them.

Maybe you could set foot outside your naice little 'burb and see what the rest of the population are up to.

ropework · 06/11/2025 16:31

None of the OP's British friends wear a poppy, yet almost everybody in her "naice" neighbourhood wears a poppy. I call BS. But I did love her view that all war is "very very messy".

Original poster
oiolehnvn · 06/11/2025 16:06

@BreakingBroken thanks, noted

OP posts:
jessycake · 06/11/2025 16:06

I do because my grandad served in WW1 , another relative was killed in the same war & most of these were volunteers or conscripts , it is about loss and sacrifice.

BreakingBroken · 06/11/2025 15:58

Naice is a sarcastic comment and certainly doesn’t mean nice or middle class.

Northerngirl821 · 06/11/2025 15:47

I don’t wear one and I’m a veteran. I hate the way it has been misappropriated and used by the right to spread hatred and division eg all the lies about how muslims/the left/ethnic minorities want it to be banned, anyone not wearing one is disrespecting our country etc.

I still donate, go to remembrance parade, observe the silence etc. but for me the wearing of the poppy has been politicised and no longer carries the same meaning.