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

[Whatsername17]

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. I'm 34. I'm not a fucking child. And breathe!

I don't agree with right wingers vilifying folk who aren't wearing one, but I have never met anyone who has actually objected to the wearing of a remembrance poppy.

Those fb memes about it are shared by my more elderly relatives, who think I'm a bit naive when I explain that they are produced by groups with an agenda, and aren't fact.

@Numbsnet - I did a quick Google as you suggested and all I could find described laurel wreaths being laid to commemorate war dead. I will admit to only doing one search with the wording you suggested, rather than different combinations.

I don't think it glorifies war. Yes war is awful but it wasn't what my grandfather would have chosen to do. Wouldn't it be great if there was no war? Meanwhile back in the real world...

He enlisted when ww2 broke out because he remembered ww1 as a child and felt that there was no choice but to enlist. His health was shot by the end of it.

He was just an ordinary bloke who suffered the most unimaginable experiences, including being at the liberation of a concentration camp (where he encountered victims, dead, burned, dying and barely alive).

I know some of the dates and places he served and they were pretty much the worst hell holes that you can't even begin to imagine how you could cope.

I don't see glory in it - just ordinary men and women fighting in a war they didn't choose and thank god they did.

I'm in the southern most tip of Ireland. There's a poppy ceremony (or a couple) in Cork.
I don't care who wears what. But I don't like to be included in your sweeping statements of not being a poppy wearer because I'm Irish. Irish people all have different views.

I’ve never know anyone object to someone else wearing one. I do know a few Northern Irish people who wouldn’t ever wear one themselves though.

I haven't either.

I'm not offended by the wearing of the poppy, although I do choose not to wear one myself.

I'm occasionally a little irritated by some people's assumption that because I'm uncomfortable with the tradition of 'Great' Britain marauding around the world, imposing colonial values on natives, that I am a traitor to my country, though.

I have referred service users to the RBL/SAAFA. Because, justified or otherwise, war fucks humans up.

Duloe et decorum and all that.

But I must have misunderstood because now it seems to be about glorifying war.

No you haven't misunderstood at all. Wearing a poppy is about remembrance. It definitely doesn't glorify war.

British Legion has some dubious friends and bedfellows - so I never buy a red poppy. Occasionally I wear a white one. I never wear a red one as my father (who was in the army in Singapore) refused to - I did not ask why - but I do the same to honour his memory.

I see. As I leave this conversation then, maybe you should reflect on my use of the word "I", then - not us, or we. There are other Irish on here with a similar view, too.

Theymademejoin I agree about the BBC making people wear them : it's a nonsense.

I wear one in remembrance of my great grandfather. He died pointlessly in French mud having survived there for four years.

I would be sorry that you found seeing me wear it offensive. And furthermore your point of view is one I have heard frequently in the past: it's quite normal in left wing circles ime. But I am not going to let that possibility of other people's views on colonialism and the symbolism of the poppy stop me wearing one. Which is, I think, where the original post comes in.

Op I'd cut these Facebook friends a bit of slack.

I hate the fact that if someone with high profile e.g. BBC. doesn't wear one, they are dragged over hot coals

THIS! Someone going on tv this time of year without a poppy is made out to be a isis sympathiser and that is why im starting to get very uncomfortable with wearing a poppy. If i get a small bit of change in a shop i'll throw it in the tin but i wont be wearing one this year.

I'm Irish and I would never wear a poppy but I wouldn't be offended by someone else wearing one as long as they aren't Irish!

Goldfish starting salary for a private in the British Army is just over £18k, given what n be asked to do I don't think it's well paid.

I wear a poppy and don't think it represents a glorification of war, for me it is for reflection and remembrance of those who lives have been lost in war (including members of my family). I've not come across anyone in RL offended by the poppy but can understand that there are some that have valid reasons for not wanting to support. I don't think the BBC should force individuals to wear a poppy, it's very much a personal choice.

I'm not offended by them, but equally, I won't wear one. Mostly in objection to being essentially forced to wear them in school. You shouldn't take the decision away from people.
I do give to military charities though and I will put money in a poppy appeal tin. I just don't like the twee-ness.

I have ideological issues with the messages put out at this time of year with the Royal British Legion etc, but I wouldn’t say I was offended by the red poppy. I’m offended by the actions of our Government and past Governments that it has been used to celebrate, though.

^ this.**

Every year I end up posting this because I'm so sick of people spouting bullshit

No one is offended by poppies.
Don't be a idiot.
It's a lie put about by the far right, to make you think that Muslims will get upset. It's horseshit. Muslims sell poppies. Muslims fought, in huge numbers in both world wars, 50,000 of them gave their lives in the trenches for you, they flew spitfires in the battle of Britain for you. Don't believe people who hold the same ideas as the Nazis. You look like an idiot, and you shit on the memory of those that fought.
No one is trying to ban Xmas either.

I'm Muslim and I wear a red poppy.
In fact so does my dad and he used to sell them (no longer working due to health reasons) but still wears his

We don't want to ban anything lol
Well as far as I'm aware
And we celebrate Christmas
(To an extent- Christmas meal, presents etc heck we've had a tree a few times too!)

I've not really heard of it being 'the Muslims' beyond the handful of gobshites you hear if in the papers. I always thought it was anti Brit sentiment and the pacifists who objected!

Lots of people don't like poppies, but it's a myth that it's anything to do with muslims.

Poppies arouse strong feelings in Ireland/Northern Ireland and many UK people who dislike the glorification of war (including many ex-servicemen) don't like it either.

I am sickened by politicians who lay poppies on 11th November whilst continuing to sell arms to Saudi Arabia and start pointless and illegal wars in Iraq. Can people really not see how the whole poppy day emotional manipulation thing is being used to justify yet more people being unjustly killed?

Lots of ordinary people do the poppy thing for remembrance which is great - but the whole festival has gone much too far.

I don't see it as glorifying anything. It's in remembrance of men and woman who lived through hell fighting for the country.

I know someone who doesn't buy a poppy because they don't support the British Legion (for reasons I can't remember, but I think they were to do with the end of conscription meaning that anyone serving in the army now does so out of choice )

But they aren't "offended" by poppies, they just choose to put their money elsewhere

You don't seem to get my point at all @RavenWings. Put it this way.
If I said "I'm Irish so I get pissed every weekend".

Would you feel like jumping in and saying I don't speak for you? That's what I mean. It wasn't the use of "I" that I take an issue with. It was the "so". Implying that you are Irish so you act that way, which is nonsense.

I am a Poppy Seller. I also work with Veterans, serving and transitioning personnel. Poppies are about regret and remembrance, not glorification. Not one of the men and women I work with thinks war is a good thing. They go because they are told to by people like Tony Blair. They wear their poppies to remember all the casualties of war, not just their comrades.
People died in conflict for others to have freedom, including the right to wear a white poppy if that floats your boat. Personally, I wear a red one. As a Poppy Volunteer I have never has abuse from Muslims or Sikhs.I have had abuse from white poppy wearers. I'm Irish and fully aware of the history of my father and grandfather and their struggles against the British Army,but I wear my poppy to remember them all.

Never ever !