To post this for the anti Poppy brigade?

[Jakebullet]

Just posted on Facebook by a poet friend of mine

The whistles could be heard
Along the trenches below
The young men weren't ready
But they had to go
Some held photos
Of loved ones back home
They charged together
Yet died alone
The bulkets n bombs
rang loud in their heads
Yet forward they ran
Running over the dead
A war against tyranny and for freedom they fought
A price was to be paid
Yet could never be bought
But their actions
Should be remembered
Even tho with regret
By wearing The Poppy
LEST WE FORGET

By Billy Isherwood

Love this poem......it's been in his head several days and this morning was finally written down.

The recent footage of the marine was a disgrace He should be tried like any other.

I'm obviously missing some context here, given the deleted posts and references to another thread - but having read Gecko's posts I don't think her views are outrageous. They're quite standard amongst progressive or intellectual circles (note, this is not to label people who don't agree with her "not intellectual"). I'm rather puzzled by the fallout, honestly.

I appreciate the distinction between 1. understanding the need for a military and 2. opposing the military in its current incarnation.

My views on this matter are quite liberal but I wear a poppy to show respect. I am not grateful for this country being led into Iraq or Afghanistan, the world is a far more dangerous place for it. And Tony Blair has blood on his hands.

You know the vast majority of your post is not true Geckos.

DullDebbie, I have used MN for almost 6 years. I have had a lot of laughs, fun and support. I think you are being quite nasty tbh. Gecko's views are offensive to many people, the most offensive ones probably aren't here because her threads are a bit like a string vest!

Bowlersarm thanks for your support.

I'm hiding the thread now.

He has been tried like any other, he has been found guilty. But sentencing in this country is about rehabilitation as much as punishment and I think the likelihood of this man recommitting are slim to none.

My post is entirely true and I hope it can help you see what I have and do believe.

I hope we don't have to go over it together again.

I thought murder was never about rehabilitation in the first instance. I think the chances of someone with those morals committing some sort of offence is quite high.

Well, he will be on a life licence regardless, which is for the best but I don't necessarily think that spending a great deal of time inside a prison will be any benefit to him or to society.

I think people act differently when at war.

The poppy means different things to different people
So I would never criticisise someone for wearing one

But it disappoints me that they might criticise me for not wearing one

And assume that this must be due to apathy rather than a carefully-arrived at belief

Thanks Gecko. I do think we all need to be aware that we are online on a site where thankfully we can discuss most things and you cannot berate someone if they 'offend' you because what offends one won;t offend another.

I agree noddy, I find the suggestion that because I don't subscribe to a belief that our armed forces are 'protecting me' means I am a terrorist, but I won't tell people not to write it because it is up to them.

Marceline

Not true. I read a thread last year w/ IamInvisible, LtEve and Gecko (using another name).

As a result of the calm and eloquent manner in which the first two MNers addressed the cruel, nasty and unreliable rantings of Gecko, I did change my opinions in some respects and acknowledged this. I learned a lot from their posts and have a deep respect for them both. It is possible to change your views through debate. That is how people learn.

Agree I don't post my views on this on here in depth for various reasons as they would be considered extreme from what I see here. Interesting irl my views are quite normal amongst my contemporaries and amongst my family in Northern Ireland i am considered positively mild mannered and a bit on the fence

I am not considered particularly extreme by my group of friends either.

I can see why, growing up in NI, you would have a pretty dim view of the British military.

Geckos48

I can see why, growing up in NI, you would have a pretty dim view of the British military Exactly, Bloody Sunday for one!!!

I was on a thread last week, started by Geckos48, and was most impressed by the sheer, polite patience of LtEve. She seems to have kept off this one. I avoided it when I first saw it, having had enough with the first and, having had a quick read of this, am thoroughly pleased.

Okay, I RTOT. I don't think the things that were said there (though most of it had been deleted...) can really be compared to the things that have been said here.

Per Crowler's post, the anti-poppy campaign/anti-certain aspects of the military situation the UK is currently in views expressed in THIS thread are not at all uncommon and shouldn't be taken as inflammatory by people with military connections.

I should add that most of my concerns with the military come from people I know in the military and it's for the sake of them - and all other members of the forces - that I wish we hadn't gone into Iraq, definitely, and Afghanistan, possibly.

Sorry - I mean I read the thread that Geckos started in the 'In the News' section. It sounds like there have been others.

Well, obviously the posts that are left standing are the non-offensive ones! It's the deleted ones that are key!
Not to mention the deleted threads.

Er...there haven't been any 'deleted threads' and my email from MNHQ acknowledges that I did not personally attack anyone though they can understand why my opinions are causing friction. Making things up really doesn't strengthen your argument. Most of my deleted posts are based on me replying to personal attacks.

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ooh ypu are a one gecko

There have been deleted threads....Under your other name and i know that the person attacked by you actually C+Ped that thread to avoid any disingenuous protests of innocence by those responsible. And you know who you are....

Satin, thank you, appreciated as always.

I kept away from this thread yesterday because I was too busy remembering my dead friends to get involved in another bunfight. I may sound calm and polite, but IRL I feel hurt, disappointed, angry and pissed off and frankly, I don't see the point in taking part in any thread where Geckos has posted tbh. It gets too nasty and the denials and deleted afterwards just grip my shit.

Meaning the person who has had threads deleted because of their nasty comments knows who they are.

This thread did not get nasty because of Geckos. People attacked because of views expressed on other threads.

This thread has mainly been disussing poppy wearing.

Quite, Orlando, in addition to Trish wondering if I was a terrorist