To be saddened by 'glamour and bling' poppies?

[LayMizzRarb]

Do people actually not understand what they represent? Am I alone in thinking that the poppy is a symbol of respect and remembrance for the hundreds of thousands of people who die in wars, and not as a fashion accessory ?
It's all very well the manufacturers saying they will give an amount of money per diamanté poppy sold to charity, but at the end of the day, they are still making a profit.

As a recipient of support from, and a member of, the British Legion, I think anything that raises money is good. Every single penny counts. There are still more than enough paper poppies made to keep the veterans that make them occupied. Few people are aware that wreaths are made and ordered all year round for funerals / memorials etc. The support of the Legion is more in demand now than at any time since WWII and literally anything that makes money is very very welcome.

I have a poppy permanently on my car, I have a Buckley poppy, a poppy wreath brooch and an umbrella. None of these stop me buying a paper poppy (or three, I always lose them) every year, or paying £6 a month membership, as does DH. It also doesn't stop us donating money to remember our friends with a poppy cross in the field of remembrance every year.

To be honest it irritates me when people make this same comment year on year. The RBL is a CHARITY it's purpose is to make money to support those who serve/d and their families. It isn't just to remember the fallen, although obviously that is utterly imperative too. They

Agh phone.

The simple fact is they need money all the time, a LOT of it, and paper poppy donations do not bring in enough to enable them to undertake the work that is so desperately needed, and it's needed now, by so so many.

I think it's a great idea as long as people keep giving every year.

Me, DH and our 3 DCs buy the little poppy pins that have the year written on them.

Also DS3 likes to buy the wristbands.

If you support the charity it's strange to be saddened by an effective and harmless fundraising technique.

Them again people also seem to forget that remembrance is not just about the dead, it's also about acknowledging the sacrifices made by the living, those who live in the shadow of their service long after it is over. The Legion is there for them.

"The op didn't say that meditrina. Can there not be a discussion on MN without this sort of nastiness?"

Yes she did - well, not word for word. But she criticised those support brings poppies, claiming they did not understand the significance. As they are sold by RBL, then it is exactly the British Legion that is being criticised.

And yes, I do find it a pity that the British Legion is so misunderstood. that's not nastiness, it is a reflection of my deep sadness that the RBL is criticised for its fundraising and merchandising choices.

I think I've just read that for the 10.00 GBP Buckley poppy, 3.33 GBP goes to the RBL.

I'm abroad & can't see a way of getting hold of stuff anyway!

The OP is criticising items which were introduced by RBL as wrong because the mere wearing of those items, to her, shows a lack of understanding of the nature of Remembrance.

I take the criticism of RBL-endorsed items to mean that the RBL is demonstrating the exact same lack of understanding.

And that is what I think is a shame, for I think RBl have been excellent custodians of what Remebrance means, and carrying it forward into new generations.

But is seems there are some who are not happy with items they endorse these days.

In 2nd para of OP, there is criticism of unscrupulous traders who rip off charity find-raising items. That is of course well placed. But unrelated to the criticism of what style of poppy is worn.

I'm saddened too. It's piggy-backing. I'd prefer all the money to go to charity, no matter how little. I wish the RBL didn't go along with it but I understand that they think it's better than nothing.

I also like the plainness of the paper poppy. Bling ones miss the point.

And if it falls off, you've got a good reason to buy another.

Are the non dated, RBL supported bling ones redesigned every year?

I used to have a lapel pin Poppy and I've lost it.

I always bought paper ones too, but jumping in and out the car they get caught in seat belts and invariably vanish.

Because both my Grandfathers fought in the wars and my maternal grandfather was partially disabled as a result, it would never be simply a piece of jewellery and I guess many people but them to remember those who survived, but are no longer with us.

diddl: yes, partly. Some of the range has the year incorporated into the design.

I wanted one last year but didn't get one. I just ordered one which I'm not sure was the point of the thread.

Wearing a poppy is wearing a poppy. Whether it is homemade, crystal or paper I don't think it matters as long as the person wearing it has donated money and knows what it means.

Now that I have bought a 'bling' poppy it doesn't mean I won't donate. I will.

There are probably people who wouldn't normally buy a poppy but might now because they like to look of the 'bling'

People who really care about the cause and buy the bling will no doubt buy a paper poppy or donate every year as well.

Win win.

I like the fragility and the way paper poppies are meant to be disposed of each year, rather like the lives of the soldiers in WW1. If bling poppies make money for the cause then good for them but I prefer my small modest paper one any day.

I love mine , and still donate every year

Really on the fence here, but this - from diddl is interesting:

If you can afford the money, why not just donate instead of having something to show for it?

Do we actually want to give £20 to the Poppy Appeal or do we want the sparkly red poppy? Does it matter? I really don't know ...

Do folks feel the same about a man with the cufflinks on?

With charity I try to look at the big picture.

Bling poppies are still poppies. They help continue the tradtion of showing your support and they might appeal to new (and younger) audiences which in turn helps to keep the tradition going etc.

There could be implications re spending less, but if you are a supporter I guess you might continue to support by donating as others have said.

And shops (other than the RBL) selling 'charity' items are still raising the profile of the issue again potentially to a new audience. Yes, it would be better to spend money with RBL directly but I would see it better that shop A sells product B with £1 going to RBL than nothing going to them.

I also feel whilst poppy wearing on TV is probably driven by PR etc I feel it is helping to enforce the idea of wearing a poppy and establishing it as the norm which is very helpful to the RBL/the appeal.

I have a Lapel Pin poppy on my 'good' coat year round. DH has one too that is pinned next to his veterans badge. I might do the same next year .

I buy at least 10 paper poppies every year, because I lose them or they get scruffy or eaten by the dog. I have to wear one in uniform and the guys are used to handing one over every morning as I go through the guardroom, simply because I get as far as the gate, look down and "oh shit"

I got DD to take a box of the wrist bands into school last year, much better idea for kids than pins in their jumpers. They went down well so I will probably do the same this year.

The larger fabric poppies are a good buy from the street sellers. They look really good and each year I then attach it to our Christmas wreath. Helps us remember those that didn't make Christmas.

As long as the money is going to the RBL then I don't care about the Bling ones. But I wouldn't buy them anywhere else other than Poppy Shop.