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?

@Ginfordinner Absolutely, and I didn't mean to imply that everyone who wears a red poppy isn't wearing one for exactly the same reasons that I wear my white one. Most people who wear poppies, I imagine, do so as a protest against unnecessary waste of life and the horrors of war. It's just that because there is a creeping sense of coercion and militarisation - hence the discomfort on this thread - I choose to distance myself explicitly from that undercurrent. If people are vaccillating about wearing a poppy at all, it can be a good way to show respect.

Schools suggesting a donation amount are irritating and singling out children who aren’t in financially secure homes.

I personally don’t wear a poppy, I will not give money to an organisation who takes money from arms dealers.

My great grandad fought for the British in WWII in North Africa, he was useful during WWII. But during partition his family were the wrong religion, the men (including boys) were murdered by the British forces and some of the women were raped, it was not a lone or unusual incident.

War is an awful awful thing.

You don’t have to performance respect

Perfectly put, 5zeds

My dd’s school is a minimum of 50p donation and we’re not a low income area .
No one is forced to buy them either , that would be wrong

PineappleLumps have you even read the posts on here from people explaining why they don't wear one? Again, not everyone has the same cultural background as you. Even in the UK.

It is indeed powershower. Very thought provoking.

I don't wear a poppy. I do remember the dead.

I stopped wearing poppies when they were taken by some people as a sign of support for British involvement in recent wars, and when the media started criticising those who didn't wear one.

Making it compulsory (or haranguing those who choose not to wear one) doesn't exactly respect the sacrifice of those who died to protect our freedoms.

I don’t think it’s the norm is it? I’ve worked a few schools - ranging from high to mid to low proportions PP and I’m sure in each it was something like a 20p suggested donation - some choose to give more. You can’t put an official price on them.

I don’t really understand why It matters whether your grandfathers wore poppies. They didn’t have to remember, they were there. Totally different

I get upset at how politicised wearing a poppy has become. These “debates” always go the same way. If you don’t wear a poppy you’re spitting on the graves of those who died; if you do wear a poppy you’re a warmongering facist glorifying war.

Wear a poppy, don’t wear a poppy, make your choice. Why can’t people just quietly make their decision without having to throw insults around?

You don’t have to performance respect

I agree. I wear a poppy, but I don't judge people who don't. It should be a choice.

It is to show respect to those that lost their lives in the name of freedom

That's not what the RBL say. It's also to support members of the security forces, including those who murdered people in Northern Ireland. Not something that should be supported, to my mind.

Dyrne,

"Wear a poppy, don’t wear a poppy, make your choice. Why can’t people just quietly make their decision without having to throw insults around?"

perfectly put.

All those that are so adamant that wearing a poppy is the only way to "respect the fallen" - if you want to respect those that didn't fall, and do something useful volunteer at your local food bank, find a homelessness charity to support, help out at a lunch club. Ex-service men and women are disproportionately represented at all these places. You can do something actually practical to thank those that have served this country, many of whom are damaged, homeless and lonely.
I don't wear a poppy, I've tried and failed more than once to get support for ex-servicemen and women from RBL and I dislike the glorification of the military that comes with remembrance these days but it doesn't show any lack of respect on my part.
Please use this zeal for remembrance to do a little something practical.

how can anyone be anti poppy wearing

Let's blame it on brexit. It must be Brexit's fault.

Can anyone who feels tempted to post “How can anyone be anti poppy wearing?” read the thread? Those of us who are anti or ambivalent about poppy wearing have explained why several times!

I don't know wtf people are mentioning atomic bombs in relation to this issue, especially as it was the Americans who were responsible for the decision to drop the first bombs.

I can only guess because if it weren’t for them dropping them the war would have probably continued or even worse the Allies winning and we wouldn’t be discussing poppies in the first place.

how can anyone be anti poppy wearing

Maybe read the thread and find out?

how can anyone be anti poppy wearing

Because they are sold my an organisation that supports still living people who murdered innocent civilians in Northern Ireland during the troubles, with bloody Sunday being the best known example.

By an organisation, not my an organisation.

The British Army you mean?

i dont want to read this thread @spinster

how can anyone be anti poppy wearing

Because they are sold my an organisation that supports still living people who murdered innocent civilians in Northern Ireland during the troubles, with bloody Sunday being the best known example.

This, just this - for me anyway.

Then remain unenlightened.