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Original poster

To ask if anyone in rl has ever actually met anyone who is 'offended by a poppy?

489 replies

Whatsername17 · 29/10/2017 12:52

My Facebook feed is full of memes declaring that people are going to 'wear their poppy with pride and they don't care who they offend'. My nan is the latest culprit and I've called her out on it. Cue lots of her friends spouting racist bollocks about people not being able to sell them blah blah. My nan spouting shit about what a good heart I have because I can't see the bad in people. Angry I'm 34. I'm not a fucking child. And breathe!

OP posts:
theymademejoin · 30/10/2017 12:07

@GerdaLovesLili - I wouldn't agree that it shows contempt for the victims of war from other nationalities, more a disregard. I do think that disregarding other victims can lead to jingoistic attitudes that can perpetuate a mentality that results in war. Remembering all who have died as a result of conflict humanises the "enemy" and leads to a more inclusive and empathetic attitude, which will hopefully make war less likely. Although with politicians in charge, I wouldn't hold my breath on that one!

theymademejoin · 30/10/2017 12:10

@limitedperiodonly - of course they can't prevent you thinking what you want. However, purchasing and wearing a poppy is publicly supporting a cause with a specifically stated agenda. Your inner thoughts can't change that.

limitedperiodonly · 30/10/2017 12:20

I disagree with war and I don't support any army

Most people disgree with war, but that doesn't mean to say there haven't been just causes or people fighting in conflicts who deserve our support

ConferencePear · 30/10/2017 12:20

I wear mine in memory of the men who died and the incompetence of the politicians who sent them to die.
I don't understand why people think Muslims would be offended by them. In WW1 my great-uncle, together with his Sikh and Muslim comrades were ordered to attack even though they had had no water for 24 hours. Before long they were ordered to retreat leaving their wounded comrades behind. My great-uncle was one of them. I wear my poppy not only in honour of his bravery, but also of the incompetence of the politicians who sent him and his comrades there.

limitedperiodonly · 30/10/2017 12:25

theymademejoin You're right. I wasn't thinking straight. I know see what you mean

NameChanger22 · 30/10/2017 12:26

I don't believe there is a just cause for war. I can't think of one.

NameChanger22 · 30/10/2017 12:28

Obviously lots of people don't disagree with war, or they wouldn't join the army in the first place. Joining the army is a choice.

ConferencePear · 30/10/2017 12:40

Joining the army is a choice now. It wasn't in WW1 and WW2.

TheFairyCaravan · 30/10/2017 12:43

You do know that the army don't just go to war don't you NameChanger? And in the same vein, you do know that the military isn't just the army? There's the RAF and Royal Navy too.

limitedperiodonly · 30/10/2017 12:43

I don't believe there is a just cause for war. I can't think of one. Obviously lots of people don't disagree with war, or they wouldn't join the army in the first place. Joining the army is a choice.

Have you ever heard of the Nazis. Namechanger22? On balance, most people would think that was a reasonably good cause. Cost billions of lives though.

And as for joining the army by choice, have you heard of conscription? Have a little google of both.

Rebeccaslicker · 30/10/2017 12:51

Not to mention that for some young men there really weren't that many career options. Bit unfair on the families and dependants left behind!

Everanewbie · 30/10/2017 13:08

Sorry Namechanger22, perhaps we should have left the nazis to take over the world? Maybe sitting round a fire singing cumbaya would have convinced them to stop killing anyone not fitting their idea of s master race, and taking over any land they could?

Fekko · 30/10/2017 13:51

My grandfather joined up when Britain declared war on Germany. He felt it was his duty.

Battleax · 30/10/2017 14:15

I don't believe there is a just cause for war. I can't think of one. Obviously lots of people don't disagree with war, or they wouldn't join the army in the first place. Joining the army is a choice.

Have you ever heard of the Nazis. Namechanger22? On balance, most people would think that was a reasonably good cause. Cost billions of lives though.

Or Conscripts? Have you heard of them? Millions of them died in WW1. They didn't have a choice (or not an easy one).

Do you understand "millions of them died"? Have you tried to imagine the scale? Do you know who those young men were and how they came to be there and whose idea the whole thing was?

Educate yourself a bit. Read about conscription and conchies and white feathers and shell shocked teenagers being shit for desertion.

And then maybe show a bit of respect.

Battleax · 30/10/2017 14:16

SHOT for desertion.

Sorry I'm quite angry about that post.

BarbarianMum · 30/10/2017 14:22

Mine too. 1914 - he was 16 years old. And German. Funny old world, eh?

Fekko · 30/10/2017 14:24

This was WW2!

Battleax · 30/10/2017 14:27

Mine too. 1914 - he was 16 years old. And German. Funny old world, eh?

No it was tragic and futile and caused by a handful of privileged men. Like all wars are. But ordinary men in all sides did what were asked to do and many lost their lives.

The Poppy Appeal is about honouring their sacrifice. Nothing whatsoever to do with glorifying war, or jingoism or supporting the army.

theymademejoin · 30/10/2017 14:31

@Battleax - the poppy appeal is about honouring the sacrifice of British (and allied) troops. @BarbarianMum 's grandfather's sacrifice would not be included in that group.

BarbarianMum · 30/10/2017 14:34

Well, to be fair, he fought at the end of WW2 as well. Not by choice that time though.

I buy poppies but I'm quite sceptical about the justness of many wars, even the ones we win. WW2 is an exception in that sense, you'd be a bit deluded to think it wasn't worth fighting - although it's possible that it could have been avoided altogether had the Treaty of Versailles been drawn up less punitively.

user1471450061 · 30/10/2017 14:35

I can't understand why it can't be a personal decision to wear one. James McClean doesn't wear one and the abuse he receives is disgusting. Picking on someone because they don't follow the herd is unnecessary and frankly bullying.

Battleax · 30/10/2017 14:36

I'm going to look that up to see if it's actually in the Poppy Appeals stated purpose they because it's certainly not the spirit of it.

Everyone was very aware in 1918 of all the losses; The scale and the futility on all sides.

Emillee · 30/10/2017 14:38

Obviously lots of people don't disagree with war, or they wouldn't join the army in the first place. Joining the army is a choice.

Often (certainly in the 80s or early 90s), the choice for many was the military or the dole queue.

When Iraq and Afghanistan weren't on the horizon, and the military offered (usually) young men with very few qualifications the chance to travel and earn a trade, I personally can see why it was a choice many took.

RavenWings · 30/10/2017 14:38

The Poppy Appeal is about honouring their sacrifice. Nothing whatsoever to do with glorifying war, or jingoism or supporting the army.

But the money from the poppy appeal goes to support ex servicemen of a particular army - not all those who were involved, and not people involved in just world war two. It's not supporting all sides.

I agree with the world war memorial part, just not other aspects.

QueenLetizia · 30/10/2017 14:40

I'm sure it's been said before now four pages in but in Ireland it can be seen as jumping on a British bandwagon or something but my grandfather did fight in WW1 so I don't think it is inappropriate to wear a poppy and in fact I always did growing up. Haven't bought a poppy in the last few years because I think that whoever fought in those wars is long gone. I've been to that unmarked grave in France and I was about 17 or 18 and I was never so moved in my life. The loss of life at war is profoundly moving even though they would all be gone, on all sides.