Poppy on kids sports kits

[HelenHen]

This seems to be a big thing now, but seems very unfair.

How can a kid choose to not wear a poppy if its being handed out by their coach before a game?

Not everybody chooses to wear a poppy, for whatever reason... many people do and that's totally ok... but it seems harder and harder for kids to make the choice.

I bet the OP wouldn’t object to other “political” statements. What a surprise that you don’t like the poppy.

Remembrance Day is important and it sound like if you’re not going to instil value into your child’s life, at least let the sports coach give it a go.

It’s disrespectful not to wear a poppy.

If it matters to you / your kids, have a word with the coach beforehand. I agree it’s a bit much for the child to do, perhaps, so you can do it for them. I’d hope the coach would be fine with adjusting to a more flexible approach.

It really isn’t.

What political statement do you imagine wearing a poppy makes?

It’s part of the kit, if it bothers u that match don’t let yr child play. U live in UK.

I did mention DS but he is older (12). I have no issues with him deciding for himself. He is very into politics and could definitelytalk about apartheid and human rights in china 😂). If he wanted to wear the poppy I wouldn't even try to stop him. Who knows maybe he'll bring one home in the next few days 😂 (just to fucking spite me if anything 😂 )

DD's whole team will be given one. She won't want to wear one, but she also won't want to feel like she's going against everyone.

My daughter has only recently started playing ‘proper’ football games and we’ve never really had much to do with the sport before that so I didn’t know it was a thing until the weekend!

I don’t tend to wear one but my husband does. They were handed out before the game and my daughter said ‘no thanks’ and carried on. I have no idea why she said no and when I asked her about it she didn’t like the colour (she’s only 4 😂). No one said any thing and quite a few of them turned it down. No one minded! I hadn’t really thought about it again until this thread!

It's not part of the kit though.

Aw bless her 🥰 that's good to know that it wasn't a big deal. I fear it could be like the celebrity witch hunt we usually get this time of the year.

Personally I think it's ridiculous. My father was in the military, I grew up mostly abroad on a series of military bases. I carried flags in the base Remembrance parade multiple times for various groups and the only time a poppy was non negiotable was as a cadet. One of my dc has also played football on Remembrance Sunday, he's never been offered a poppy.

If it's something you're forced into, it's pointless in my opinion. It needs to be a choice.

It is simply ignorant not to wear one in the UK.

Yep, some I'd be ok with... some not.

However I wouldn't presume to think that the whole team (of kids) should be ok with the ones that I like. Nor would I hand them out and expect them to wear it. It's bizarre behaviour, whatever the emblem.

No, it's really not. Other views are acceptable!

No no no no no. It would NOT make her "petty and ridiculous".

War is not as black and white as goodies v baddies and the good old British won freedom for all. It's really not.

Also, if you're really going to go down that route, freedom means freedom of choice, which includes not wearing a poppy if you choose not to.

You can respect those who died without having to wear one specific symbol. It's cultist to say everyone has to do a specific thing on a specific day.

Absolutely. That's the thing... I have no issue with anyone else wearing them. It should always be a choice. Those who think we should all be wearing them are just terrifying

Well, I know people use this site from other countries, but the fact that this is a big thing for you suggests you are part of the UK where it is a done thing. The fact that you have said the poppy has made its way to your house before and schools and grandparents put their views into your children, and that the sports coach is using them too suggests you are in an area where Remembrance Day is significant. Therefore I’m assuming you are based in England and not elsewhere in the UK or abroad.
Therefore you know that Remembrance Day is an important day in this culture and part of British values.

So maybe you could respect that for a day.

@JaneDoeHere other posters have offered nuanced and intelligent perspectives. You're just saying, 'ignorant' or 'disrespectful' with no thought past that. It's just name-calling designed to make people shut up and do what you want. Do you honestly think that's a good thing to teach children?

I talk to DD about war and all the issues and nuance and grey areas. She can make her own mind up. But if she wants to refuse, she should be permitted with no hectoring.

Therefore you know that Remembrance Day is an important day in this culture and part of British values.

I'm British. I didn't vote for that.

There is refusing and quietly sitting it out but to make a big fuss over it just seems silly.

OP has said the child’s not getting kicked off the team. So just don’t make a deal out of other people wanting to show their respect.

Well I’m British and there’s a lot of things I didn’t vote for but does that mean I need to be disrespectful of every thing that I don’t agree with. There comes a point where you need to politely accept things. Remembrance Day is important and children should be taught about it and encouraged to wear a poppy. If they really can’t fathom why it’s important then they need to be taught to just respect others wearing jt and a two minute silence. It’s not much to ask to tach manners if nothing else.

It's uneducated clowns with this opinion that the ghosts of the men, women and animals that died must wonder why they bothered. What an attitude.

This.
If you don’t like it, (or your kid doesn’t- although they probably couldn’t care less and just want to get on and play) there will be other teams.

Its like not saying amen at the end of a school prayer.

Or, not crossing yourself in a catholic school.

Or, not bringing lunch into the room designated to children who are fasting during ramadam.

You just do these things to show that you respect others beliefs even without doing it yourself.

It would be outrageous if a parent said I don’t want the school to say amen after prayer. Just tell your child to sit quietly. It really is easy to be respectful of others.

@TerrysNeapolitan I bet you a million quid I have more education in military history than you do.

(and ghosts aren't real)

I have made it clear that I have no issues with anyone else showing respect. I will do the silence if I'm out in public.

I am just asking that others also don't impose their views on me.

Is that so disrespectful?