why do you wear a poppy?

[oiolehnvn]

Lots of red poppies around us at the moment. Disclaimer I am not British but come from a country that is currently waging a war, in fact technically two countries that have been in the news for waging wars and have always been uncomfortable with people supporting or celebrating our army. I am therefore puzzled as to why the Brits wear poppies ever year. If you choose to wear one, what's your rationale? Equally, if you do not - what's yours?

Exactly. Where on earth do people get such obvious fallacies from?!

I share your concerns, but still wear mine (not all the time - just at remembrance events) because they fucking can’t take it from me.

I may have issues with decisions certain governments make, but I wouldn't class maintaining an army as funding war. By that logic we should have no army and no defence spending.

Poppy racism?? How does this manifest and where are people experiencing this actually living please?

The British Legion is not the MoD. It is not the military. It is an organisation that supports veterans.

If you have any kind of 'proof' that the sales of poppies are funding wars, please post it. I've read the website and there is nothing that indicates it at all.

ETA and the families of veterans.

Can I suggest that you find a way to explore some of our country some more? There are really good value ways of doing it - even from London you can make day trips on a bus or train to some great places and meet some lovely people.

The British Legion isn’t the military! It’s a charity helping veterans, ex-servicemen and their families. All the money goes to that. Where does the white poppy money go?
And how can someone think the RBL is ‘the military’? Mind boggling.

In fact, they are pretty much what the red poppy represents…

Poppy racism? I've heard it all now.

Exactly. I think @SundaySunday3 is the one finding things difficult to understand, not @Umy15r03lcha1

One second asking the question on ChatGPT would give all the answers.
They gave their today for our tomorrow.
Says it all.

Yep. I don't think the OP created this thread to 'learn' anything.

On Remembrance Sunday, despite having many, many relatives who served in both world wars and other conflicts, my thoughts often go to this man

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CharlesSorley

Captain Sorley, 20 years old and shaping up to be one of the most talented poets of his generation (he is well worth a read @oiolehnvn , like the other lost war poets he is certainly not glorifying it)

They mean supporting current service people, not the MOD

Indeed!

Russia has a long history of honouring their war dead, so OP is being very goady.
Tomb of the unknown soldier in Moscow anyone?

I wear a poppy to remember my grandfather and father who fought in WW1 and WW2, respectively, so that we could live in a free country. I still have all their medals.

I'm Irish I won't wear one - I gave money to the man at the door but I won't wear the symbol. I also think it's a bit crap that people who fought for their country have to rely on charity for support.

Isaac Rosenburg is my favourite. he was a British Jew (from Whitechapel) @oiolehnvn his poems may speak to you. He didn’t survive.

Agreed. But that’s true of all charities - they pick up the slack.

With respect - this is an incredibly one-sided take at both wars. You do realize they were WORLD wars with innocent people from a multitude of nationalities killed, raped, mutilated, and robbed of their future??

Yes, even countries not in the Allied Forces.

I suggest you revisit the history corner in your local library.

There were plenty of other countries involved in the two world wars, and in other wars the UK have been involved in.

@Acafan Couldn't have said it better myself!

I've finally got around to buying myself a white poppy. Because I want to remember all who've been lost in wars. I hate war.

Lots of people, the majority men, fought to give us the freedoms we have today. Many lost their lives at a very young age. We should never forget the sacrifices they made yesterday, so that we have our tomorrow. I contribute to the poppy fund that supports our veterans, and the poppy is a small way of showing that I am thinking of those lost souls.

I don’t wear a poppy because I have no family links with the military so Remembrance Day feels like someone else’s commemoration and one to which I feel no personal connection. Wearing a poppy would feel like insincere virtue-signalling. I do donate a few quid to the poppy seller, though. I just don’t take the poppy.

Where does the money for white poppies go?
I hate war too, but I value the work the RBL does. Are funds from white poppies as well used?