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?

When I was young, the poppy was solely a symbol of remembrance. There were still many veterans of WWI alive, and WWII was still relatively fresh in the minds of many. And the idea of 'remembrance' captures the complexity of the emotions we might feel about these conflicts - sorrow, anger, sadness, gratitude, pride.

Today there are no veterans from WWI and fewer and fewer from WWII, so the RBL increasingly needs to make a case for its charitable purpose which is primarily about their current work supporting military personnel today. And against a backdrop in which a new and extremely successful charity (Help for Heroes) is suddenly operating in territory which RBL previously had to themselves. So in attempt to remain relevant we see less talk about remembrance, more about pride in 'our boys', and solemnity replaced with 'bling poppies'.

This is perfectly understandable behaviour from RBL - they do important work and need to show the public how they are still relevant.

However whilst I think we do have a moral duty to remember, I don't think we have a moral duty to support the RBL any more than any other charity. And as the profile of the poppy becomes less associated with the act of remembrance I don't think we have a duty to wear the poppy to signify that we remember.

I wear a red poppy. I will never wear anything else. This year, for the first year, my DC did too.

For a number of reasons.

The most important one is because of the people who choose to fight today (although I think saying 'choose to fight' is over simplistic as I said on the other thread).

Thanks to them, my DS is unlikely to ever face the horror of conscription.

No one serving today buys into the 'our heroes' bullshit. That's the media. Agaiin.

I note with interest the colour of poppy that Joss Stone wore at the RBL Festival of Remembrance.

Lest we forget.

Well said meoverhere !

It makes me laugh a bit that people get in their high horses, saying they won't wear a poppy because the military of today chose to join but in the past they were conscripted. Conscription started in 1916, WW1 started in 1914, so are you sifting through who is worthy of Remebrance there too?

I competely agree with moreoverhere. My DS1 (and DH) did choose to join, so most people's kids don't have to!

TheFairyCaravan. I'm sure your ds and dh did not choose that career so that others didn't have to. They undoubtedly chose that career for many reasons just like everyone else chooses their career. I respect people who choose a career that serves others: nhs, army, firefighters etc. I just can't stand the public hero worship. You don't get that with other jobs that serve the public. I am sure your family members do an extraordinary job and I respect that. They keep us safe, just like the police, firefighters etc.

Loving AesSedai on one thread claiming we should be grateful we don't live in a Nazi state, and on another stating she's voting UKIP!

I don't need to go to the Falkland Islands to understand how grateful they are HappyAgain, I have a family member who served in the task force.

Doesn't actually make any difference to the Belgrano arguments, or those about whether people should be pressurised into wearing poppies whether they want to or not.

My son was at the Wigan/Bolton game on Friday. James McClean was roundly booed and heckled. I think his letter is very well expressed and perfectly reasonable.

I wear a poppy on 11th November only, never on any other day, although I would if I were attending a memorial service on the Sunday nearest 11th.

I hate the concept of "Poppy Day"- it's Remembrance Day FFS - & "Poppy Season" - that's spring/summer while they're flowering, surely

I don't feel worthy to wear a poppy and nor do I feel right telling anyone else whether to wear one or not.
I give to RBL and stop what I'm doing on the 11th at 11

I donate almost every time i see someone collecting. I take my poppy but rarely wear it. I remember and donate but do not feel the need to show off my poppy/poppies. The reason i donate is because I am grateful and wish to add my pennies to the collection, the reason I do it several times is to show support to those who take time to sell them - it's not easy to see people walking past you (for whatever reason) especially if it's freezing or wet.

No one should feel forced or bullied into wearing a Poppy. I sometimes wonder if the "Poppy pests" understand what the symbol really stands for?

I'm genuinely baffled as to who these 'poppy pests' are? Many, many posters on the thread stating why they wear theirs but node negating those who choose not to.

Admittedly, I don't use FB, Twitter etc so am I missing something?

I've found this thread really interesting. I have always worn a poppy as a way of connecting with and reflecting on an important part of our history, and more recently in remembrance of my Grandfather and Great Uncles (all now dead) who all fought in WWII. I'm not a churchgoer but I like to attend the service at the local war memorial and observe the 2 minutes silence.
This year for the first time I have felt slightly uncomfortable about it without knowing quite why, and some of the comments here have really brought that into focus. The balance seems to be tipping in favour of a jingoism and celebration of the military that I don't want to publically support. I will consider not wearing a poppy next year (or wearing a white one) although I will happily still donate to the RBL and observer the silence.

Tinkly, agree re James's letter. So well written and actually very moving.

I've never worn a poppy and I never will. Luckily I don't watch the news or read newspapers so I've managed to avoid it entirely. I haven't read most of this thread either, except some of the posts from Deadcert. I don't think pacifists should wear poppies, people who want peace in the world should not be sentimental about war. We need to remember the good in humanity not the evil.

I don't wear a poppy but I put money in the tub. The paper ones (held on with a pin) fall off. I've lost a load few so I give up trying to pin them on. I don't really need a poppy to remember.

I don't agree with James McLeans stance.

I donated and have a poppy but I have small children who want cuddles or sometimes need to be carried and don't really want a pin where it might scratch or stab them and the poppy tends to get a bit creased.
It doesn't mean I don't remember or donate, I just find the paper poppies a pain in the arse. I'd wear it if I was attending a memorial service and I'll wear it on the 11th but that's it.
Just because someone isn't wearing one doesn't mean they don't support it. There's also nothing wrong with not donating either, it's entirely up to the individual. Nobody should feel shamed into it.

Why not behoove ? Should he be forced to wear a poppy ?

I wonder if this poppy wearing 'obsession' is in fact purely as a result of lowering to lcd of traditional and new media stds. I'm sure majority are accepting that it's a personal choice. I'd imagine that many r disgusted at attitude to James McClean- hard to see how anyone could find his views offensive. but the media will whip up some objectors etc. ..

I prefer to form my own opinions which are not based on media hype. I dislike media hype intensely actually, including the 'all soldiers are heroes' and 'all nurses and teachers are angels' hyperbole.

The Irish ambassador laid a wreath yesterday at the Centotaph service in memory of the Irish fallen. That is the example to set, reconciliation.

yep and as representative of Republic of Ireland that's fine and a good thing to do and generally welcomed. However James McClean is from Derry and therefore his experience is very different and also worthy of respect. And I think his letter is also a good 'example to set'.

The Irish Ambassador laid a laurel wreath, not a poppy wreath beehove

James Maclean shouldn't have to write a letter. But having Fenian yelled at you by thousands can't be that pleasant. It was certainly bloody horrible standing in a crowd of it next to "Fenian DH".