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!

What difference does it make if there is someone who is utterly offended by poppies

Or who hates them

Or who worships adores and glorifies them?

how does it impact or detract in any way from your own feelings about it, and about remembering wars and their dead?

some people on this thread have similar feelings to me. Others are very different. As long as no one imposes their view, or makes it mandatory, who cares?

Please point out to me exactly where I said everything is about Ireland?

Of course it isn't. There's plenty of people I'd have no issue remembering by wearing a poppy. But those who were against Irish freedom are a dealbreaker for me - if I happened to be Canadian, or British, or Aussie that probably wouldn't be the case.

I really don't see why that's so difficult for some posters to understand. My cultural view is different to other people. Like I said before, it's a bit colonialist to expect all people to respond the same way.

I know quite a few pacifist types, ones who might wear a white poppy. None of them are offended by red poppies, and most of them wear both red and white poppies together.

It's just an excuse for casual racism, most of the time. Outside of NI friends I don't know anyone who's offended by them. I disagree with the Poppy campaign and won't wear one, but it doesn't offend me that others do.

I wear my white poppy with pride like my granddad, a D-Day veteran did. He stopped wearing his red poppy in the 1950s when it suddenly became a catch-all for every soldier who died in a British conflict ever, which my granddad didn't agree with. I've got to admit, he's right - it rubs me up that it's commemorating all the armed forces ever. I can't wear one whilst it commemorates the people who committed atrocities on Bloody Sunday or in Iraq, but that's my personal view.

Most of the time people like to suggest it's Muslims who have a problem with the poppy, but outside of one or two isolated incidents I don't think that's ever been the case.

While England has a lot to be ashamed about in relation to Ireland the Irish did not cover themselves in glory in WW2.

Ex-fucking-scuse me!!!! What an absolute ignorant and bigoted statement.

Ireland was barely recovering from it's wars of independence, civil war and the Anglo-Irish Trade War of 1932-38. The country was in absolutely no fit state to go to any sort of war, especially not in defence of a country that it had been an enemy of one whole year before. The country was barely limping by thanks to British imperialism.

And yet, without aid from the Irish Meteorological Society throughout the second world war the D-Day Landing would have happened on June 5th and been a near certain loss, making either a German victory likely or leading to atomic bombs being used in Europe. Not only that but throughout the war Churchill was prepared to re-invade Ireland. The British have no moral high-ground over Ireland in the second world war.

Especially considering the Allies' decision to not act on intelligence provided by Jan Karski in 1942 which could have saved millions and millions of Jewish lives. WW2 was not a war of villains versus heroes, it was a war of the worst villains versus lesser villains who feared a loss of power with tens of millions of civilians (of whom I also count conscripted soldiers and the young men groomed from childhood to fight) caught in the middle.

(I should add that I've attended our local Remembrance Service for 20 years and lay a wreath, wearing a red poppy on Remembrance Sunday because that service is to specifically commemorate the war dead of WW1 and WW2 from our area, which I have no issues with.)

Yes, I have met people who've been offended by it, one a very lovely elderly Muslim man, who felt it was a symbol of British Imperialism. I've also met a few black people who feel the same way. Their feelings were real.
Maybe the white peace poppy is a better way forward.

I always wore a poppy when lived in England but now I live in NI it’s too divisive to wear

Well, as a Quaker I wear both the red and the white poppy. I've never received any flack for the red poppy. I get a lot of grief every year for the white.

The red poppy is meant to be for remembrance, never again etc.

But the money from its sales goes towards servicemen and women who have voluntarily chosen to join the armed forces in the many years since conscription ended.

I do not wish my charitable donations to go to these people because I think they join knowing their actions will lead to the deaths of others, which is something I cannot morally agree with. Only in war is murder seemingly justified. I understand this viewpoint is found to be offensive to many, and I apologise if it upsets anyone, but it is something I feel strongly.

I also can't see how red poppies really support the 'never again' if they are worn by those actively engaging in war, and politicians who have been blatantly warmongering. Does this not upset those who wear the poppy for remembrance?

Should conscription start again for whatever reason I would feel very differently.

A lady came to my door selling poppies. I said no thank you with a smile, she said no problem. I'm obviously quite the hooligan.

@cosmicpineapple don’t be disingenuous. You weren’t asking a question.

“It is the symbol of rememberance and inspired by the poem. It was sold by the Legion to raise funds to support those who served and their famalies.
The poppys only connection to war is the funds raised by its sale go to help vets who served in wars. Thats it. Nothing more to it.”

Is what you said, in response to your question. As you already provided your answer, I didn’t get the impression you were actually interested in reading any of the numerous responses that had previously explained an alternative point of view.

This kind of inability to understand why the poppy might be a problematic symbol (and has been for a long time, that’s why the white poppy was created) is why I have come to the conclusion that it’s not something I would wear.

This was the advert that fully put me off wearing a Red Poppy, btw. There's no need for stuff like this, in my opinion.

Never. Neither in Australia nor Britain.

I'm German and don't feel offended - surely we'd have the most reason to feel like our nationality is a problem. (Although I do tend to minimise the accent on remembrance day when I'm around elderly gentlemen, just in case they aren't too fond of the Krauts )

A lady came to my door selling poppies

Are you sure?
Poppy sellers are not allowed to go door to door.
Never have been.
They can only be placed in business or buildings or on the official poppy day (different for each city) they can sell them in the city centre on the street but only on that day.

reet the opening line in my post was a question to theymad hence the ? And they kindly answered.

You have a problem with me so I suggest you ignore me as I will you.

I wouldn't say offended by poppies but I do know people who don't support the poppy appeal - Jehovah's Witnesses have nothing at all to do with it.

An ex colleague was offended by them, and wouldn't take part in the minutes silence. Although to be fair he didn't intentionally make noise to ruin the silence he just continued working as normal (typing etc). He wasn't born in England though.

My DP is Muslim and wears a poppy.
I’m an atheist pacifist and don’t.

It doesn’t mean I don’t respect the sacrifice my grandfather and all the other soldiers made.

But how you mark it should be entirely optional/personal.

I'm Irish. My grandfather fought in the Easter uprising. I wear a poppy to remember all who have fallen, in all conflicts. All races,all colours,all creeds. All remembered.

I’m Irish. I choose not to wear a poppy for many reasons. I do not feel in the least bit offended by those who choose to wear poppies and have no issues taking part in a minutes silence etc on the day.

I do get offended when people decide to tell me I should wear a poppy, or that I am being disrespectful not to wear one. Working with the public I have been asked on more than one occasion to do so and have politely declined; unfortunately people do take offence at my decision not to wear one. The fuss that occurs when a public figure elects not to wear one irritates me too- surely it’s a personal decision, not an obligation!

There's no need for real life BabychamSocialist? Why?

I personally know children who are growing up without their fathers who have died in recent conflicts.

Some years I've worn both red and white poppies. More recently I've worn the white on its own, because I want to commemorate everyone who's suffered and died as a result of war, not just service personnel. The white poppy doesn't rule out commemorating service personnel, but is inclusive of the gazillions of civilian casualties, and also the sacrifice of conscientious objectors (which was significant here in WW1 and WW2, and continues to be in other parts of the world).

I've noticed, though, that I'm much more likely to be called on to account for choosing a white poppy than I ever was for wearing a red. And certainly the only abuse I've ever had has been for wearing the white. I think people who post the sort of stuff in the OP are deluding themselves that they're doing something brave and heroic when they most definitely aren't.

I generally wear a poppy, but I have mixed views. I’M absolutely not offended, but I don’t like the general tone of patriotism = nationalism = military force that seems to follow them now. It isn’t a new thing, when I was younger I was always horrified that the poppy donations went to the Haig fund (a general who referred to his front line fighting men as donkeys). So basically, I wear my poppy and remember the dead of too many wars but I give my money to Combat Stress and Help for Heroes.

The only people I’ve met that have issues with the poppy are certain Glasgow Celtic supporters...