....to ask what you think of white poppies (Remembrance-related)?

[PlumpingUpPartridge]

I had been dimly aware of the existence of white poppies but hadn't really given them much thought until DH mentioned them this weekend. I checked out the website and saw this:

linky

I liked this quote:

"In 1933 the first white poppies appeared on Armistice Day (called Remembrance Day after World War Two). The white poppy was not intended as an insult to those who died in the First World War - a war in which many of the white poppy supporters lost husbands, brothers, sons and lovers - but a challenge to the continuing drive to war. The following year the newly founded Peace Pledge Union began widespread distribution of the poppies and their annual promotion."

I am very happy to express my admiration and respect for those who died in wars, but I don't particularly want to see any more wars. I don't know what the alternative is, but I'd like to see more effort go into finding it.

I've been sifting through the threads and noticed some anti-white poppy feeling (along the lines of 'it's disrespectful'). I didn't grow up here so don't have childhood experience to guide me on this. Please can you tell me what you think of it and, if you think it's disrespectful, why?

I'm not a journalist by the way, just curious and trying to be impartial

"The RBL didn't change the song. They didn't even choose the song"

Could you link to something that shows the RBL had absolutely nothing to do with this, and had no say in the cuts? And did not at any stage approve the choice?

Oh how embarassing for them all - first the FB group attributes the song to 'Boyle' then the silly petition demands that the RBL apologises - when it was Stone/Management/Bogle that edited the song.

I do hope that Eric Bogle isn't demonised for this, such a terrible thing to do to an elderly man.

Joss Stones interview on the RBL page for one Hak. Can you link to anything that shows the RBL did have anything to do with it and suggested the cuts?

[post edited by HQ]

Ack. Have reported. Apologies.

I thought referring to posters' previous names was against the MN guidelines?

Oh, ffs. It's a good thing I'm not paranoid.

But at least I'm not...naive.....enough to belive that a big business like the RBL would have a close eye on its marketing material.

I can't see why anyone would demonise Eric Bogle - not his fault that his song has been severely truncated!

The misspelling seems to have been corrected now in any case

This is what Eric says

www.facebook.com/frootsmag

Here's songwriter Eric Bogle's response:
"Was my permission sought when they decided to record this song? - No! !!
Did I know what they proposed to do with the song when they decided to record it? - No! !!
Do I approve of what they have done to the song ? (missing verses, rock’n’roll arrangement, etc) !
No, believe it or not I wrote the song intending for the four verses of the original song to gradually build up to what I hoped would be a climactic and strong anti-war statement. Missing out two and a half verses from the original four verses very much negates that intention."

I would rather wear a white one. I have complete respect for those who fight for us, have been hurt or lost their lives for us. But I hate war and would rather find peaceful solutions to avoid bloodshed on either side. I don't mean any disrespect to soldiers.

Ooh, thank you sunna. Shared!

Sunna

But who is 'they'?

What about this bit, that you missed out Sunna?

fRoots Magazine This was part of lengthier reply where he detailed the situation regarding his publishers rights to stuff, and what's legally possible once something is out there.

And where is the rest of the "lengthier reply"?

They are the people who mutilated the song and those making money from the mutilation.

Sorry - I read it as white puppies - difficult to keep clean so.

Here you are, Fairy

johnhilley.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/poppy-appeal-and-royal-british-legions.html

She didn't 'miss it out' you have taken that from a response to another comment on the thread. The statement posted on the froots page is exactly as she quoted it.

It appears that he probably signed away his rights and therefore they can do what they want. It happens a lot with music/song publishing contracts.

To attempt to pretend that this isn't an outrageous thing for the british legion to be associated with is beyond belief, really.

jezza and they're quite hard to pin onto your coat, the wriggly little bastards

Wow, a great song that has been hijacked by the war apologists. How sad.

At least that Blog shows that it was Joss Stone/Management rather than the RBL that are responsible for the song - so that petition really looks rather silly asking for the RBL to apologise for something a commercial enterprise did

Bogle agrees and understands why she did it as well, he doesnt like it (neither do I) but doesn't think it glorifies war. Storm in a teacup really.

The original is a good song (if you like that kind of stuff) but I prefer 'and the band played waltzing Matilda' - much more meaningful.

Wow, a great song that has been hijacked by the war apologists. How sad.

Yup, that's me. A war apologist. I love wars me. Love 'em

The blog post is very different from the quote. I can see why Frootsmag chose not to use the whole post, it wouldn't gain the same effect from those on the bandwagon, would it?

And what Eve said!

The article quotes Eric's words that appear in the blog post - so not that different.

But RBL sanctioned it by choosing to attach their name to it.....

I can't wait for November 12th at this rate, how depressing life has become that people can't just not do or do something they agree/disagree with.

Wear a poppy or don't, wear whatever you want, Jesus if you want to walk around with a plant pot on your head for the Bill and Ben appreciation society if you really want.

Not everything is a political statement, some people just want to take a few days to remember someone or show respect for others, it does not make them a war apologist or a horrible person.

None so blind as those that do not wish to see.............