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?

The United States has Memorial Day on May 28th. It honors the men and women who have died in service during war or peace times. We wear the red poppy on that day.

I'm American, I never saw anyone wear a poppy until I moved to the UK. So this is not an issue there. Btw Memorial Day is not the 28th.

@ SexyNeckbeard.your comment shows,you have very little understanding of german history.I had grandparents/parents who had to flee from a populist government.their traumatising experience has taught me to be very very weary of any onset of governments who tell lies,are corrupt and disrespect others in general.No, Boris Johnson is not a Hitler,but if you would know more about history,you would not have made your remark.I know british people,who recognised the potential danger.Just wearing any colour poppy is pointless,unless you know the history and always be weary of the start of something very horrible.

I’m sure there were people in the war who didn’t agree with the concept either.

We wear white poppies to remember all victims of war. I think it’s important not to celebrate killing or nationalism and don’t want to give money to veterans of recent wars (I’m thinking especially of the illegal Iraq war which was clearly morally wrong from the start).

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

this

@Justcallmebebes

I think you need to go back to your history books and also realise how offensive many people find this. I'm proudly wearing my red poppy today in memory of my grandfather and great uncles who all fought in the wwii. Not all of them surviving.

Lest we forget

The problem is the red poppy symbolises different things to different people. It's not just the world wars, it's all conflicts the British army were involved in. The charity presently supports retired army personnel. Even while acknowledging and appreciating the sacrifice made by so many in WWI and II, not everybody considers the British army a force for good. Most Irish people don't, for example. And today in Britain wearing a poppy has, in some situations, become not really a choice, but a requirement. And that's a problem.

Why a poppy? Why not some other flower?

I have always known it to be a poppy as the colour represents the blood shed by so many people to keep us safe.

@Franklyfrost

..and don’t want to give money to veterans of recent wars (I’m thinking especially of the illegal Iraq war which was clearly morally wrong from the start).

So are you blaming the veterans themselves for the Iraq war, or in some way they personally should still suffer the consequences of a decision made by politicians?

I refuse to wear a poppy because I refuse to support Britain’s role in its illegal wars, namely the death and destruction it left behind in Iraq. The poppy has also been hijacked by the far right, which also makes me uncomfortable. Unfortunately what started as a simple way to honour the dead in the world wars has been manipulated into something else.

^Why poppies for Anzac Day
The red poppy has become a symbol of war remembrance the world over. People in many countries wear the poppy to remember those who died in war or are serving in the armed forces. In many countries, the poppy is worn on Armistice Day (11 November), but in New Zealand it is most commonly seen on Anzac Day, 25 April.^

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

The first bit is why everyone used to support wearing of poppies.
The second bit is why many people now find it questionable. I don't want to support what British forces (to take just two recent examples) were doing in Afghanistan and Iraq. Tens of thousands of civilian deaths at our hands, in Afghanistan and for what. In Iraq, hundreds of thousands.

There are 365 days in a year

1 of those days commemorates the end of the First World War.
1 of those days commemorates casualties of all wars.

They are a political statement when worn on 11th Nov/Remembrance Sunday. How many people wear White Poppies on the other 363 days, especially 19th Sept (World Peace day?)

Iraq was illegal… but that isn’t the serving military personnel’s fault. They could hardly down tools and walk home when it was declared illegal.

OP you may find the following very well researched you tube video useful and informative for yourself, your chlildren and as a resource

@butterpuffed

Why a poppy? Why not some other flower?

I have always known it to be a poppy as the colour represents the blood shed by so many people to keep us safe.

You’re wrong. The red poppy has nothing to do with the blood shed. It’s to represent the red poppies growing in Flanders Fields

White poppies are a political statement when …, that should read.

@GraceandFrankie

I refuse to wear a poppy because I refuse to support Britain’s role in its illegal wars, namely the death and destruction it left behind in Iraq. The poppy has also been hijacked by the far right, which also makes me uncomfortable. Unfortunately what started as a simple way to honour the dead in the world wars has been manipulated into something else.

Poppies don't support war. They don't glorify war.

They have only been manipulated into something else by people trying to make out that they are both of those things.

I’d definitely raise my eyebrows at the white poppy. As the wife of a serving solider who sacrifices a lot I think they are a little insulting. The red poppy doesn’t glamorise war, it acknowledges the huge sacrifices past and current serving personnel make for the people of this country.

Was it really only 12 months ago people were calling for the Army to do more and more during the pandemic?

Incidentally RBL now has a specific fund for veterans and serving personnel affected by Covid.

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

Well from your comments it’s not like you’re capable of explaining the symbolism either @Malhao

OP I hope you’re at least reading these responses and giving them some thought.

The poppy isn't just about remembering ww1 and ww2 veterans. If it was, I wouldn't feel so conflicted about wearing one. It's supports every British soldier who has been involved in a conflict since the world wars. That includes the soldiers who were involved in the troubles in Ireland.

so what is the conflict there? young men who died in war - they don't choose to do that, you know. The poppies go to the RBL who cover some costs (not all and not nearly enough) of looking after the ones who weren't killed. But still have problems resulting from being in those wars. Where's the conflict? you think a chap who lost his legs in Afghanistan is less deserving? There are, i think, pretty much no WW1 veterans left, and the WW2 ones are dying out. But there are plenty of ex-services who need help from the RBL.

White poppies are an alternative, as are the purple ones. I think there are black ones too? They are not compulsory. But people's understanding of what the purchase of a poppy represents is too low.

@Prattypitel

@ SexyNeckbeard.your comment shows,you have very little understanding of german history.I had grandparents/parents who had to flee from a populist government.their traumatising experience has taught me to be very very weary of any onset of governments who tell lies,are corrupt and disrespect others in general.No, Boris Johnson is not a Hitler,but if you would know more about history,you would not have made your remark.I know british people,who recognised the potential danger.Just wearing any colour poppy is pointless,unless you know the history and always be weary of the start of something very horrible.

The fact you think it's OK to compare the current government to the nazis, whoever vague you attempted to be (probably thinking you were being really clever), just shows you have nothing of value to say. Again - one of the most ridiculous comments I've ever read on MN.

I also wear the purple ones. I knit and crochet my own, give some away but we all donate. Surprisingly no-one has asked me about the significance of the purple one

Red poppies have been politicised by the RBL, I choose not to wear one. Fewer and fewer people wear them now anyway

[quote notimagain]@Franklyfrost

..and don’t want to give money to veterans of recent wars (I’m thinking especially of the illegal Iraq war which was clearly morally wrong from the start).

So are you blaming the veterans themselves for the Iraq war, or in some way they personally should still suffer the consequences of a decision made by politicians?[/quote]
They weren’t conscripted. If you take a job like being a soldier these days you’re aware of the risks and have made an active choice to be involved in killing other people.