Red v white poppies

[Malhao]

AIBU to be unimpressed that the staff at school are trying to sell my kids red poppies without explaining the symbolism behind them?

I don't agree with the concept of war and am contemplating sending them in wearing white poppies (I've explained the difference to them and they both agree with the principles behind the white poppies) but wonder if they'll get picked on for standing out?

I got myself and children white poppies. Others have been genuinely interested in what they mean.

I'm hesitant as whenever I wear one I get offish looks from some people 😑

They’re totally different things. The red poppy raises money for one very specific charity (RBS) which supports current and former service people and their families; it also serves as a memory that we owe the peace we have to the actions of others. The white poppy is a pacifist symbol but doesn’t, as far as I understand , raise money for a specific cause.

You don’t need to “agree with the concept of war” to wear a red poppy, it isn’t correct to teach your children that’s what it stands for in any way, and I rather agree with Michael Morpurgo’s explanation of why he chooses to wear both a white and a red poppy:

"Wearing the red poppy for me is not simply a ritual, not worn as a politically correct nod towards public expectation. It is in honour of them, in respect and in gratitude for all they did for us. But I wear a white poppy alongside my red one, because I know they fought and so many died for my peace, our peace. And I wear both side by side because I believe the nature of remembrance is changing, and will change, as the decades pass since those two world wars."

Yabu to think that people wear red poppies because they 'agree with the concept of war'

@Malhao
don't agree with the concept of war

Red poppies are to symbolise those who died to allow us to have thoughts like yours. If they hadn’t sacrificed their lives where would we be now?

They also raise considerable funds for servicemen and women who protect us and our country

Needed because whilst you don’t agree with the concept of war others do and are prepared to act on that

YABU for the same reasons as pp have said.

I don't think red poppies are pro war.

Though I can understand having a negative association as some newspapers do seem to lean in to the whole "dulce etc decorum est" thing around this time of year.

I buy white poppies every year, and I make purple ones to raise finds for Murphy's Army.

What twaddle. Would you be happy with the school selling white poppies ‘without explaining the symbolism’?

Utter nonsense.

I dont wear a poppy at all in honour of my grandfather who didnt and asked me not to (he served in WWII and his reasons are very valid) but if I did I would wear both the red and the white together.

I meant to say that they are not mutually exclusive.

You can wear a white poppy if you like but just be aware that most people will be thinking 🙄

I particularly like how it’s the school’s fault

Oh dear God, learn some history will you?

OP, what do you think the symbolism of the red poppy is, that hasn’t been explained to your children?

@CatNameChange101

What twaddle. Would you be happy with the school selling white poppies ‘without explaining the symbolism’?

Utter nonsense.

This.

Nonsense.
But also, I bet the school has at least one PSHE lesson or assembly that tries to teach the symbolism. It’s a staple November activity!

Red poppies are absolutely not pro war. They are to remember the fallen. The money raised by the Royal British Legion goes to helping veterans, those currently serving and their families.

If you don’t want to wear a red poppy then don’t, but at least get you’re facts right first.

*your facts right

No other country in the world is doing this poppy thing.However,Britain is a country that is quite ready to involve itself in a war.I find the whole thing totally baffling.And why do we have a populist government now,when we are proud to have fought off a populist leader in the 2,world war???

I don't think you shouid rain on the schools Remembrance Parade

White poppies are produced by a different organisation to the one they have chosen to support. It's like wearing Pudesy Bear ears on Red Nose Day. Allied aim (remembrance of how terrible is war no hiw tragic the loss of life) but a jarring note.

Donate to whichever charity you please, and wear whatever poppy you please. But don't send your DC into school wearing the token of a rival organisation to the one they are supporting. It's jarring and unfair on the DC.

Sending them in with no poppy at all, and declining to donate to a charity you don't support, is absolutely fine

Are you sure they haven't talked about them
My school does age appropriate worksheets chats assemblies etc

@Prattypitel
Nobody cares

The red poppy is a symbol of respect and gratitude. It is not a pro-war symbol and to claim such a thing is crass and distasteful.

The origins of the red poppy were to provide much needed money to veterans and families of veterans who desperately needed help after a war none of them asked for, but many paid a bitter price.

It's evolved somewhat but the RBL and the Earl Haig still support veterans and their family's.

YABVU and rather insulting.

@Prattypitel

No other country in the world is doing this poppy thing.However,Britain is a country that is quite ready to involve itself in a war.I find the whole thing totally baffling.And why do we have a populist government now,when we are proud to have fought off a populist leader in the 2,world war???

That's because the poppy represents a specific charity set up in Britain to support our veterans.

All of the allied countries participate in Armistice commemorations, that we have a charity to support veterans and their families associated with ours isn't a bad thing.

We're also not a country keen for war, but fortunately in some cases our government agrees it's right to support our allies (WW2 for example). Sadly the imperial attitude plays a large part in the conflicts we've interfered with where we should only have supported NATO.