Poppy wearing

[HappyAgainOneDay]

I was in town today and waited for a friend who didn't turn up because she'd forgotten for half an hour. Opposite me in a shopping Mall was a poppy table and two servicemen behind it. I began to look at people passing and was amazed at the huge number of people who were not wearing a poppy. Far more were not sporting a poppy than those who were.

I then realised that those without poppies were mostly on the younger side of the population - say, 40 and younger. Do they not realise what we are remembering? Yes, the poppies represent those who died but the general reason for the charity now is that the funds collected go to service people who've lost limbs or are otherwise disabled. The families of those who never came back are also helped. AIBU for thinking that more should wear a poppy with pride?

RBL is a charity doing good work, but lots of charities do good work, and I have to choose which ones to donate to. I'm still grateful for the sacrifice made by so many people, even if I don't donate.

Irish footballer James McClean, who plays for Wigan, has had to publish a letter explaining why he does not want to play in a poppy-embroidered shirt. That's a pretty good example of how ridiculous the poppy-shaming has become these days.

Teenage ds keeps losing or forgetting to put on his poppy but what you wouldn't know is that last week we were in France and Belgium visiting Flanders and the Somme and he chose a grave in each cemetery we visited to place a RBL poppy cross on. He also walked around reading the names on many of the graves. So we have contributed and we have remembered but you might not see him wearing a poppy.

I donated but didnt bother with the poppy.

DD donated at school and she didn't bother with the poppy either.

Two seperate days. Both completely independent from each other, no one has influence over the other - both had the same outcome. Neither knew about the others choice until yesterday.

Oh great, so I have been judged then for not wearing one as my hand made one bought from mil who made them for the charity was on my other coat?

I hate this... My great grandfather was a prisoner of war and barely survived at 5.5 stone on his return. I do support it but I have a million other things to remember too.

I would just like to add my disgust at poppy shaming. Imagine if every politician and BBC presenter HAD to wear a symbol of any other charity or cause?

For what it'w worth, one of my grandfather's was conscripted to the Navy, hated every second and didn't get to have the life he wanted, the other joined the navy to avoid the mine. MY great uncle had to face the humiliation of being a Bevan boy sent down a mine rather than be a soldier which he got a lot of grief for from people who didn't understand. I think RBL do a good job, but they don't own Remembrance.

I've bought 8 so far this year and have either lost or washed most of them. I'm saving the last one for Sunday because much as I think the charity is brilliant and I'm happy to support it, it's getting ridiculous now!

I have given the children money every day this week for poppies, 1 each has lasted until home time. I finally got round to buying my own yesterday morning, it had fallen apart by 11.30 this morning (noticed as I dropped ds1 back at school after a hospital app). I now have my poppy brooch from last year on, but that is on my main coat. If I go out in my hoodie, I won't have one on, but that is laziness of not changing it over.

DH and I each wear a poppy from the 28th October until the 20th November every year. DH is 26 and I am 24, however, DH is in the army so we both appreciate the importance much more than a lot of others. I wish I saw more people wearing poppies.

Irish footballer James McClean, who plays for Wigan, has had to publish a letter explaining why he does not want to play in a poppy-embroidered shirt. That's a pretty good example of how ridiculous the poppy-shaming has become these days.

Very true.

But look at the comments on, for example, the Daily Mail page. The one place a lot of people would expect to see the readers taking part in this 'poppy shaming'

The top rated comments are overwhelmingly in favour of him being able to choose without anyone passing comment on it.

So who - other than the media and perhaps some unsavoury individuals/groups - are doing the shaming?

I've certainly never witnessed any first hand on the streets.

I don't wear a poppy. I bought one. It's on the mantelpiece. But I don't see why it's become such an obligation to publicly show off your poppy wearing.

The British legion must make a fortune from people like me who keep losing the paper ones and replace them. I got a brooch last year but can't get a 2014 one anywhere.
I am very disappointed that neither of my dc's secondary schools sell poppies. Their generation really need to understand the sacrifices made for them to have freedom and democracy.
Did anyone watch the 'Passing Bells'? I had tears in my eyes watching my 12 year old's reaction to what the trenches were like. It really opened his eyes.

My poppies fall off or get torn by my handbag after a couple of hours. I've been known to buy 2 or 3, and still lose them. Nothing to do with not showing respect.

I have a poppy wristband, not a paper poppy. If you saw me in the street you would probably assume I wasn't wearing anything poppy related (and might judge me for that) but my wristband is under my coat cuff.

Its very sad that someone in the public eye needs to publish a letter on why they won't wear the poppy. It should be nobody elses business who does or does not wear it.

I don't wear a poppy as it's not really a thing here.

However I do pay a fair amount of tax that is used to pay for veterans to go to college for free, to get some of the best healthcare available for free, and to receive good pensions.

TBH I think that's a bit more useful than sticking a quid in a tin for a piece of paper and plastic that will fall apart.