To not buy a poppy

[Hippymum89]

Why is it more important to remember the death of a soldier who died fighting for the country (or so he believed) than the death of every other person who has died?
What about all the others who have died helping others? Were their lives less important? Or the little old lady who died in hospital at the age of 97, she didn't kill any Germans, or rescue people. She lived her life, but doesn't that count?
I think poppys glorify war and therefore murder, so I will not be buying one.

Yes I am Squirrels, and have been for 22 years.

The British Army has approximately 140,000 serving soldiers and approximately 110,000 Reserves (anyone that joins the British Army and leaves by choice before the end of their 22 year contract automatically gets Regular Reserve liability)

What a stupid post.. I am wearing mine to remember my sons friend killed in Afghanistan aged 18..

OP. I suggest you read Birdsong and come back when you're done.

LtEve, MrsD and others are doing a sterling job on this thread so I'll leave it to them pretty much other than to say I'm a bit confused by suggestions here that the Armed Forces role is soley to prevent the British Isles being invaded.

Service personnel do some amazing work overseas, often in warzones, sometimes not, often in very hazardous environments. Much of this barely receives a mention in the press - I wish it did.

Lt Eve - interesting, that's a lot more than the Defence Intranet says!

@squirrel I want to know why the military's feelings must be spared here, when no such consideration is made for many other groups on MN?

Apols for lack of punctuation there. I'm tired.

Because it happened unlike what it says in any so called Holy book

You are a bit confused, since nobody said that.

The british army along with the americans invaded afghanistan almost exactly 11 years ago to defeat the taliban. Hows that going by the way?

Squirrels, HQLF MOSS site. More relevant and more up to date.

Virginia most of us on this thread have been able to voice opposition to the poppy without resorting to provocative and nasty posts.

Maybe that's how you get your kicks but there are people on here who have loved ones still fighting in Afghanistan. By all means, you are entitled to your opinion on the war but you should have some respect.

Don't blame on-the-ground soldiers for the decisions of governments. They fight where they're told to fight.

Nothing nasty or provocative in my posts. I don't blame anyone for anything, I'm just asking questions.

Why should I have respect? For what exactly?

Ethel - like it or not, everyone on MN is supposed to be entitled to the same degree of courtesy:

Whilst this topic does canvass opinions,it is not a fight club. You may disagree with other posters but we do ask you please to stick to our Talk Guidelines and to be civil. We don't allow personal attacks.

It's not just about the military! I have no problem with engaging in civilised debate with people of different opinions, but I object to name-calling and abuse.

Oh God - the annual poppy thread. Buy one or don't. Wear one or don't. partly due to the actions and sacrifices of the soldiers that poppies honour, you have the choice to do what you would like.

Thanks Lt E - will check it out on Mon. :)

I've just returned from a week in the Falklands. I was moved to tears not just by the number of memorials to our servicemen and women who fought for the liberation of the Falkland Islands from the Argentines. I met some of those who were around at the time in 1982 and heard some of their stories.

They are all so grateful for what we our soldiers, airmen and sailors did - for them that they cannot do enough for us. They see themselves as British and they are. It's for that sort of situation that we have an army, an air force and a navy. If we had not had that sort of people during the Second World War, where would be be now?

That's why we buy poppies - except that we don't really buy them. We donate and have one. The money goes towards such worthy causes that I hope the Royal British Legion goes on and on.

Hippymum89 I think you should be glad that you live in this country. If we hadn't had service people during WWII, we wouldn't have the country that we have now.

eTHELB: "I do think that if everyone had stayed at home for ww1 then ww2 might not have happened"

Errr no. Thats competely false. Please do some research: reasons for ww1; reasons for ww2.

I studied ww1 and ww2 at GCSE, A'level and at degree level. And what you are saying is just not true.

Virginia
I do not approve of the war in Afghanistan. However, I am able to recognise that the decision to go to war there was taken by the politicians I voted for (or against!) not by the British Army.

If our elected government makes a choice I disagree with I will and did protest but I will not blame the service personnel who are suffering on the ground for the folly of politicians.

I choose to wear a poppy not because I support militarism but because I think it is good to remember the cost of going to war.

Why should I have respect? For what exactly?

For the parents, children, partners, siblings etc of the people fighting there?

You'll see from upthread that I don't agree with romanticising all British soldiers. But I hope I'm compassionate enough to understand that when talking about current conflict, it's very close to home for some people posting on here.

I just wore a poppy to a funeral. Didn't stop me thinking of the person who passed away as well as remembering others. Does wearing poppies stop us thinking of and respecting others who have past?

Rule unless you met every single person living there how can you possibly know that they all see themselves as British?!

As far as not wanting to buy a poppy you can do what you want it's nobody's business

waltermittymissus and hippymum89

People like you make me sick.

Excuse me? How exactly do I make you sick? Have you read my posts?

Re charities.
Another point about charities is that they have control of funds and can spend it where they think it will do most good.They have no axe to grind and no hidden agenda.Funding coming from the government on the other hand.....