To think school shouldn’t insist that everyone wears a poppy and donates £1

[moonlightholly]

It’s supposedly in a deprived area too - there are constant reminders of the high percentage of pupils with PP.

Also, I don’t think a school should insist everyone wears a poppy - or AIBU?

The many, many people who have been mistreated by members of the British Army could certainly argue that there are plenty of bullies in the services. There are, statistically, going to be nice people in the ranks too. But I would be a bit dubious about anyone who voluntarily joined the army. The way the recruiting officers tend to prey on the poor/under-educated is a little worrying. The resurgence of nationalism and the pandering to it is more so.

My grandfather fought in the war. He was awarded medals, got home and threw them in the bin. He refused to wear a poppy and so I don't wear one out of respect to him. He was disgusted by the fire bombing and the dropping of nuclear weapons and suffered from PTSD, which he had no support for.

20mpsw

Purple Poppy was discontinued a few years ago, and it's a Purple Badge now.

I know, I have the badge and a knitted one that I've had for a few years now.

@Sostenueto well said.
It's about respect for those who fought and those who died. Nothing more

I think I might make my own, out of black card. Then even though you don't have to prove that you are remembering, people will see that you are.
Maybe get your kids to make them, if it isn't the idea of poppies that bothers you.

I'm not a supporter of Red Cross, heard nothing but bad reports about them and their area managers have flash new BMW's so they either pay large salaries or buy the cars for them.
Can't imagine the salaries and cars of the staff further up the chain.

I don’t understand why some people are so hell bent of finding fault with it? Are you just eager to prove that you are sufficiently anti-establishment or something?

This is just you weaponizing your ignorance, frankly.

People who sign up in the modern day and who agree to fight to kill in order, whether they agree with it or not are making their own decision, but it’s not one I respect.

And that’s your choice. But that’s the point. I’m not suggesting whether you should or should not wear a poppy for the conscripts who went down the mines in the Second World War labour shortage or for Lee Rigby.

It’s your choice who you remember, how you remember and why. Everyone is entitled to it in whatever form it takes.

I don't wear a poppy and I don't give money to RBL.

Wearing a poppy is NOT 'remembering' anything, you do not need a poppy to remember, I do not require a poppy to think of my long distant relative, conscripted as a child, and died in the last days of the war, blown up off his motorbike.

Wearing a poppy is to SHOW EVERYONE ELSE that you remember.

I think theres a significant proportion of people who will buy and wear a poppy without more than a fleeting thought about who and what it is they are 'remembering'.

I'll carry on remembering without the aid of a poppy, thanks, and I've no need to demonstrate to others visually that I remember or not, that's my business.

Reanimated my dgd wants to join the Air force as an engineer. He is not into academia but loves jet engines. He is classed as deprived by where he lives. He is now 16 and attending local college to do his courses for mechanical engineering, sitting math and English as he just missed level 5 which he needs to join up. He won't be flying planes but will maintain the planes. The forces gives youngsters a career and focus for the future which is much more than some deprived DC could not get in civilian life
Perhaps you believe in no armed forces. Perhaps if there was a war tomorrow and you or your loved ones were called to serve in some way you would refuse. I'm not sure you would get a choice to go or no but I know I would want an already trained force to be used first before my loved ones were conscripted!

Dgs that should read.

It disturbs me greatly that anything other than total conformity meets with such vitriol (and I think this is a tendency with more than just poppies).

A great deal more, and I share fully in your discomfiture.

A PP upthread commented on how they would have no problem in expressing any sincerely-held view, if asked. I, too. With one notable exception. I'm sure it's not too great a stretch to conclude that many women would stop short of challenging one particularly contentious area of current debate about their own rights and freedoms. Debate isn't permissible; only complete conformity will do. Otherwise, they could find themselves threatened, intimidated, or out of a job.

This is now. In 2019.

IMO, nothing illustrates your concerns with non-conformity to the party line more strongly than this.

There’s a huge. Difference between a Mechanical Engineer and a Mechanic. The latter fixes and maintains engines, the former designs them (if that’s their specialty) and require a high level of academic ability particularly in mathematics and at least tertiary education.

I find the whole “you wouldn’t say that to their face” nonsense weird. I’m not in the habit of lying but obviously I wouldn’t go shouting a

At anyone about what they believe. I don’t after all march around telling people not to believe in this God or that, or whatever.

Wearing a poppy is to SHOW EVERYONE ELSE that you remember

Bingo.

@Dutchoma , try Ssaffa, I'm ex forces and they've helped me a lot!

I think wearing a poppy is even more important now, because we as a society are forgetting what happened in WW2.

Hence the rise in far right parties and racism in this country. The far right have stolen the poppy for their own ends. They should not be allowed to do this.

I couldn't give a fuck whether a person wears a poppy or not. I do, my whole family does, and we always will.

My school just asks for a donation, and the children do so, every year. Last year we raised almost £300 and that is pretty amazing from a school in a horribly deprived area (they also raised almost £200 for HelloYellow last month and over £1000 for Race4Life in the summer - amazing how the families with the least always seem to give the most ❤️)

I used to wear one behind my capbadge and another behind my medals. As did my DH. Now I pin one proudly to my chest and give thanks for the help the RBL has given me, both whilst still serving and since.

I will go to my local parade tomorrow, medals and shoes polished and quietly remember my friends, lost in service and very much missed.

#InRemembrance - Shag, Gazza, Finch and Sal. Never forgotten.

Please can people not speculate or deride my choice to wear a Poppy. I respect your choice not to wear one, please respect my choice to wear one.

The nuclear bombs in Japan DID actually save lives. Read 'Empire of the Sun' - wonderful book.

They may have saved American soldiers lives- but not Japanese civilians......

@TheFairyCaravan

I bet hundreds more have been less happy to see them when British soldiers have committed atrocities in the name of queen and country. As close to home as N.I for example. Unless you sweep that under the rug to preserve your bizarre pride in soldiers who threaten and kill with guns.
I wouldn't be so rude as to tell anyone to sod off but my feelings for the British armed forces are far from gratitude. And like I said, the loss of material possessions in the western world is far less harmful that what soldiers have done over the years.

I think wearing a poppy is even more important now, because we as a society are forgetting what happened in WW2.

But yet many of those who insist on importance of remembering what happened in WW2 seem willing to forget what happened in northern Ireland.

My grandmother lived in Dresden. She was killed, alongside my mother's sister, who was 2. My grandfather was also killed the same night.

My mother survived and was sent to live with relatives in Prague.

She was vehemently anti war, particularly after then living through the Cold War. Military marches and displays of power made her and my father feel sick.

As Churchill himself said "history is written by the victors".

Who remembers all of those innocent people who died in Germany?

I am perfectly capable of remembering those of my family and others who died in the world wars without giving money to the RBL who wouldn't allow my great uncle's name on the war memorial because he was in the merchant not the royal navy and his ship was sunk trying to bring food into Britain rather than shooting at the enemy.
But any one who wants to wear a poppy should do so I just prefer other charities.

My aunt aged 4 was killed in the Blitz.