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?

Perfect!

Letter sent to Bath Chronically after removal of White Poppy wreath last year

Dear Editor,
On Sunday 11th November, Bath Quakers will again be taking part in the ceremony at the Bath War Memorial.

With the respectful acknowledgement of the British Legion, we have laid a white poppy wreath for the last two years.

Each time the wreath has been removed in the days after the event.

We are hurt by this action and would like to take the opportunity to explain the origins and purpose of the white poppy.

It was launched in 1933, a few years after the red poppy, by the Co-operative Women’s Guild.

These were wives, daughters, sisters and cousins of soldiers killed and wounded, who were challenging society to prevent this kind of catastrophe happening again.

They were seeking to find other ways to resolve conflict and an end to all war.

Proceeds from the sale of white poppies fund peace education work.

Our white poppy wreath is laid out of respect for all people killed, maimed, wounded and traumatised by war, civilians and military personnel from all sides involved in conflict.

Many people wear both the white and red poppy.

This year Bath Quakers will be laying two attached wreaths, one white and one red, to convey the complexity of this issue.

It demonstrates our respect for the event and all participants, and our compassion for fallen military personnel and their families.

At the same time it confirms our remembrance of all victims of war and our determination to work for the peaceful resolution of all conflicts.

We hope that this year our wreath will be respected and remains where it is laid.

Jane Stephenson and Lin Patterson

Anyone else watching the The Remembered: Britain's Forgotten War Heroes on Channel 4? I am fucking shocked. Here we are proud to be honouring the fallen whilst unaware the black Africans who took part in the war were not even dignified with a grave because 'it was a waste of money'.

I support our armed forces and all they have done for us

@VaperCut

The institutionally racist establishment negating the existence of any non-white person?
Unfortunately I'm not shocked at all.

I find the ‘everyone must wear a poppy’ brigade ridiculous - and this is coming from someone who was raised in the military and who has a military family of her own! have a pin I wear all year round (I always lose paper ones) but I couldn’t give a monkeys if someone on The One Show or whatever doesn’t wear one. I’m fairly sure lots of people aren’t wearing one at the moment of the minutes silence, however that doesn’t mean they aren’t thinking, honouring and remembering.

I don’t enormously like the white poppy, I think it’s a bit of a dick move, to imply the red poppy stands for loving war and people dying. I’d love for my DP to not be deployed throughout the year, to not miss Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, birth of his child etc, but I find the white one disrespectful. Just my opinion.

I don't wear a white poppy, but I don't find it disrespectful at all.

I think the letter C&Pd above explains both its history (created by women who had lost their own husbands/sons/brothers and the quiet respect and compassion that the wearers have for those fighting and affected in a war. Surely focusing on peace in the future is a good thing?

Sorry that should say Unremembered in previous post.

Whatwouldbigfatfannydo
It shouldn't surprise me but watching that gave me the rage. The total disregard for the African Carrier Corps, calling them the 'hands and feet' of the British Army, like they were cattle!

My DGF was part of the British Indian Army in WW2 and was sent to Burma to fight the Japanese. He sustained life-limiting injuries and remained in constant pain until his death in his 80s. He never really spoke about the war, sold his medals to pay for food upon returning home to the Punjab. His friend, also a war veteran, had severe PTSD and suffered nightmares and flashbacks of the battlefield into old age. There was no support or help for people in rural Punjab in those days.

I remember my DGF wept heavily whilst watching the news coverage when Afghanistan was invaded. War is ugly, and nobody knows that better than those who have seen and experienced it first hand. If people want to wear poppies then it's their choice but ffs nobody dare tell me I care less because I choose not to wear one. I will remember EVERYONE who lost their lives in both WWs, including the Indian servicemen, the Africans who were undignified even in death, the 200,000+ Japanese civillians and those injured like my DGF. If we really want to honour the fallen then maybe we should try harder to make peace on the earth and prevent our leaders from causing death and destruction overseas. I reckon that would make our fallen prouder.

no school INSIST that pupils wear a poppy!

the newsletter can make it very clear but it's not a requirement and the school is not going to refuse a kid because he/she doesn't wear a poppy.

@VaperCut

I agree, surely there's nothing more disrespectful to the memory of those from the world wars who had no choice (very different from soldiers of today who choose a profession where killing another human being is a possibility) than the fact that we've learned nothing and continue to go to war because we're a greedy, power-hungry nation with no care for the destruction it causes.

VaperCut great posting.

I don’t enormously like the white poppy, I think it’s a bit of a dick move, to imply the red poppy stands for loving war and people dying

But that is not what the white poppy implies. What it does stand for is as set out in StoneofDestiny's post and, as that states, many people wear both a white and a red poppy.

I stopped wearing a poppy a few years ago when there was so much pressure in the media/online on TV presenters to wear one. I fear that the poppy is starting to be hijacked by the far right.
I still participate in the 2 minute silence and honour my own grandparents, all of whom lived through WW2 (some old enough to be actively involved, some not).