to get DD a white poppy to wear at a remembrance service?

[GallumDrawnAndQuartered]

She is 14 and has been selected by the school to represent her house at their service.

DD is vehemently pacifist and anti-war.

Rather than her get in trouble for refusing to go (which is what she is planning on doing) would it be unreasonable for her to go but to wear a white poppy instead of a red one?

What Tangle said.

"She has been asked to represent her house. As such, IMO, she has to represent the views of the majority of her house.

If she feels unable to represent the views of her house due to her personal beliefs then she should talk to her Head of House and explain why she is unable to perform this role at this time.

If she accepts then her views become subservient to those of her house for this service. To wear a white poppy in this circumstance (or, to a lesser extent, no poppy), if it is not the view of the majority of her house, is failing to honour the duty she has been asked to take on."

I myself would add that if your DD thinks it is acceptable to promote her own opposing views as those of her house while representing her house and school, then perhaps she should consider a career in politics.

For example, breaking promises made in manifestos sounds right up her alley!

you really have been dealt a shitty hand,MrsFDV.life is random and cruel

Guacamole

So when was the last time a war was fought to defend our country then? oh the WMD in Iraq that posed such a threat...that turned out to be utter fabrication by a government. Being delusional about these issues does not mean you care more about soldiers than I do. Putting them in the picture and helping them understand they are sacrificing limbs and life for a few greedy recipients is far more useful.

Exactly Elephants. "They died for our freedoms" seems so inadequate a way to remember the conflicts. Many of the dead were not soldiers at all. Or were unwilling conscripts. And most soldiers on ALL sides would have believed that they were fighting for freedom/right/to defend their country (even when fighting an aggressive war - just look at all the rhetoric on both sides in Israel/Westbank/Palestine, or for that matter the invasion of Iraq)

I'm sure very few people sign up with the intention of killing someone, but you'd have to have flown in from Mars yesterday to not know thaht, once joined up, you'll have to kill people if you're told to. Giving up responsibility doesn't mean you're not culpable.

Maybe I'll get a poppy of every colour, like a rainbow. That way I can avoid offending anyone. Except homophobes, obviously.

I have a lot to be thankful for too scottish really. I like to think of us as an incredibly lucky family who have had shitty things happen to us

Feck I sound like PollybleedinAnna dont I

Skeleton - I don't count WWI as a defensive war, do most people? It was a 4 year long massacre basically.

I'd just like to say fuck Haig and the other generals, the callous bastards.

The fact is, most people who die in wars don't die "for" anything. They die either because they are sent somewhere to exchange fire with another group of people against whom they have no personal or idealistic grudge, or because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It upsets people too much to think about that though - people need a reason why someone has died and tell it to themselves over and over again.

I agree with WassaAxoloti-leave it up to her whether she sees the Head of House and steps down -but it really isn't the time for her to make a protest of any sort.

It depends what you join up to do - not all roles within the military are about killing people.

It depends what you join up to do - not all roles within the military are about killing people.

No, but the military is about violence and killing. That is it's role. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad it's there, but don't go telling yourself it's not about the killing (or, more usually, the implied threat of bloody violence).

When the talking stops.....

Also if all soldiers are heroes then you have to say that soldiers who fight in any way (yes inc your enemies) are also heroes as they are doing the same thing, just because it is not with the British Army they are still fighting a 'cause'.

"In two weeks, the sheeplike masses of any country can be worked up by the newspapers into such a state of excited fury, that men are prepared to put on uniforms and kill and be killed, for the sake of the sordid ends of a few interested parties." ~Albert Einstein 1934

The current war in Afghanistan against Al-Qaeda (that is happening right now) is in order to defend our country from the threat of terrorism in my opinion catholicatheist.

"but you'd have to have flown in from Mars yesterday to not know thaht, once joined up, you'll have to kill people if you're told to."

All I'm saying is that this statement is not factually correct.

If you think quoting Einstein makes you appear intelligent you are very much mistaken.

That's a great quote catholicatheist.

Guacamole - I respect that that is what you believe but surely you know that a lot of people don't believe that and also believe that the way the war on Afghanistan is being carried out will actually increase the threat of terrorism?

Heracles, your posts are idiotic. If you can't contribute anything sensible then go away because your posts about poppies of every single colour are quite disrespectful.

Guacamole If you believe that then you are truly one of the 'sheeplike masses' ..Most terrorist threat comes from a branch of whabbisim which originates from Saudi Arabia..so if it was about defending ourselves from terrorist threat then we would be bombing the fuck out of them..oh no we are not are we..no because Saudi is full of western puppet leaders and sell oil at set prices we demand.

You do know that America and Britain funded and trained the Taliban to fight the communists dont you Guacamole?

Look you are not to be argued with you havent a clue. Go back to your daily star!

There has to be a poppy and it can't be white. If she can't wear a red poppy due to her beliefs, then she should really ask someone else to take her place. Many, many people would find it disrespectful.

If you think quoting Einstein makes you appear intelligent you are very much mistaken.

Whereas being sneery and dismissive certainly adds gravitas. Kudos.

GailFawkes - is that because troops can opt out. They will be court martialled but they can refuse to serve.

That's rather the point, rhinestone. The whole thread is a bunfight to see who can be the most righteous. It's essentially dumb.

If the girl wants to go to a remembrance do, wear the remembrance poppy. If she doesn't want to wear the poppy, don't go.

All the rest is just people being shrill and professionally offended.

No it's not about opting out, not all roles within the military are about killing others. I was never ever trained to kill another person - never!