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'd be delighted and proud to have raised a child who could think for herself and who might have a concept that there are other ways to do things.

or everyone should be free to do as their conscience dictates. So much talk of freedom on this thread, and so much decrying of that freedom to make a basic choice.

This.

Nothing about war is cut and dried. Nothing. There will always be aberrations. But the overwhelming narrative of those big wars in the last century was essentially fighting against bullies and tyrants. I wear my poppy to recognise that sacrifice.

They died so that you have the freedom to nit pick and be cynical and misrepresent and make every excuse about why you don’t wish to honour their memory.

Shouldn't we all fight against genocidal bullies and tyrants? Or do we just take the pacifist way and just give in to them?

That’s not part and parcel of being in a sports team don’t talk nonsense. So now people who don’t agree with or merely don’t want to actively support the poppy appeal can’t participate in organised sport in your mind? What on earth does a local football club or GAA club have to do with the British Legion?

You seem more and more ignorant with every post.

Yes, because not wearing a poppy absolutely means that you're down with genocidal bullies and tyrants.

I can recognize the sacrifices of the two world wars without wearing a paper flower.

They died so that you have the freedom to nit pick and be cynical and misrepresent and make every excuse about why you don’t wish to honour their memory.

I choose not to wear a poppy because unarmed members of my wider family were shot on UK territory by UK soldiers. I don't think there's anything cynical or misrepresentation about that.

That’s not part and parcel of being in a sports team don’t talk nonsense.

I said sporting event not team.
It is pretty standard for sporting events to commemorate Remembrance Sunday in some way.

Because it’s part of the national landscape and social unity. Sports teams and youth groups will all be taught to carry on generational traditions. It builds up pride in your national heritage and story, which many cultures and nationalities do.

By all means teach your kids to be critical thinkers in that but it’s scary that so many on this thread want to undermine it altogether.

This article on the Guardian website today is interesting

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/nov/05/has-poppymania-gone-too-far

No, utter rubbish, there will actually be a great many sporting events across the UK which will not be commemorating Remembrance Sunday in any way this weekend.

So your response is to reference the mandatory child soldiers.... Eh interesting argument.

Your soldiers murdered innocent civilians on a fairly regular basis in my homeland.

Your ignorance is absolutely breathtaking.

It's respectful to wear a poppy, or indeed a badge in support of any other charity.

It's disrespectful to assume everyone else shares your views, regardless of their nationality, ethnic background, political views etc.

Okay, if you say so.

Not my experience of years and years of being involved in various sports but okay.

I personally enjoy watching the political and tv personalities trying to outdo each other in their Britishness by wearing bigger and bigger poppies.
That’s a great sport to partake in!

This might be news to you but your bubble is not actually the whole of the uk.

I guarantee you not a single gaa club will be holding a Remembrance Sunday event.

Why is it OK to force people to wear the poppy but not OK when it's a swastika or a yellow star?

It's disrespectful to assume everyone else shares your views, regardless of their nationality, ethnic background, political views etc.

Good job I didn't actually say that then isn't it?
In this particular situation I think it's not unreasonable for the OPs daughter to wear a poppy,

Is it really part of the national landscape if a significant minority don't buy into it, participate in it, believe in it? Speak for yourself, by all means. You don't speak for all.

There are huge numbers of people who actively don't believe in these "generational traditions", and with just cause. Speaking for myself, I abhor any form of pride in "national heritage and story" (some more than others, but all on principle).

I wouldn't ever suggest that someone not to stand for the national anthem, not sing their hymns, not wear a poppy. I defend their right to do all those things. And I also defend my right not to do any of those thing.

Having national pride, and pride in your heritage is not intrinsically better than eschewing it, especially when that pride and heritage is based in abhorrent events and policies.

This might be news to you but your bubble is not actually the whole of the uk.

Neither is yours 🤷🏼‍♀️

Want to undermine what? The British Legion itself have said people shouldn't be coerced into wearing poppies. You are trying to undermine that, and to interfere with people's freedom to not celebrate an army that was to the vanguard of colonial oppression in many countries in the world and shot dead British citizens on what they claim is British soil.

What on earth are you talking about? I’m not the one denying the existence of a whole area of the UK where half the population will actively not be supporting anything to do with the British army.
You’re the one who can’t or refuses to see two sides.

Not at all what I said

But you don't know anything about their nationality, ethnic background or political views. They may be completely incompatible work poopy wearing.

@SerenityNowSerenityNow It is not "part and parcel of being part of a sports team". There are a few well known footballers who did/do not participate. I don't recall them being thrown off their teams for doing so - do you?

We don't force people to do things like this in this country. You do you but it's unbelievable to me that anyone thinks it's ok to criticise people for choosing not to wear a poppy or suggest they shouldn't be allowed to take part in an activity because they don't want to wear something they perceive as a political symbol they dont agree with. What the hell sort of country do you want to live in?