white poppys?

[fluffles]

i like the idea of a white poppy for peace but i want to check - does the british legion or service soldiers find them offensive?

i would like to remember all victims of war and make a statement for peace but i don't want to offend the current or past forces.

can somebody let me know?

thanks.

p.s. see www.whitepoppy.org.uk/ for more info...

Go and talk to families who have lost a loved one nightbynight, and see if they feel any better for knowing your opinion. I'm sure you feel all legitimate in your cosy little life - lots of us have loved ones out there (clearly wasting their lives, from your opinion) who we are very proud of - they are willing to do something about the way they feel about their county.
Which conflicts do you mean? Afghanistan? I totally believe my loved one is where he is needed, and thankfully he believes it too. That's what poppies are about - their sacrifice - he is willing to die for his beliefs, but I'll be sure to tell him in my next letter that you think his beliefs count for nothing.

ARGH - supporting service people does not mean supporting the Government. If in doubt ask many of the service people what their political views are. It is in the sheer fact that they still adhere to the principles of the armed forces that makes them special. They don't choose to just do the 'jobs' they like.

undervalued - hope he is home soon

Well, we all need beliefs to make us feel better and get us through our lives.
I feel for your situation, but I also feel strongly that there is no point kidding oneself.

Kayran - that's why I used to wear the poppy, because I thought that. But then I just stopped because I realised that the 2 are inseparable on poppy day.
And I felt pissed off that a generation that was sacrificed to extremist politics, now relies on charity.

I disagree with the Iraq war and I wish we didn't still have troops in Afghanistan. However, I am grateful and proud that there are brave services personnel who are willing to go to war.

The government would still make these decisions if they thought it was the right thing to do - whether we had a fully functioning armed forces or not. If we didn't, they'd just enlist.

Remembering the people who have been killed in war is NOT the same as endorsing/glorifying/legitimising war.

So on what grounds do you believe there is no threat to the West?

Wearing a red poppy is a statement of respect and remembrance.

It is NOT a political statement.

A white poppy seeks to politicise this simple act of quietness and remembering.

It is self indulgent and look-at-me sloganising.

Well, maybe 'one' needs to move to a country which matches 'ones' views on war.
You don't feel nightbynight, you read about things and make your opinion from there. Have you experienced losing anyone due to war? Have you worried about them night and day? No, you have flicked the pages of a couple of newspapers and feel this enables you an educated opinion on an emotional subject. Sacrifice is emotional, and thank God we have people who feel emotitional enough to join up, demonstrate against the war - whatever. Have you been on a demo with others of your opinion? I bet my arse you haven't - better to sit in, read the paper and spout opinions in the comfort of your own home?

Thanks Kayran

"It is self indulgent and look-at-me sloganising."

Completely agree.

Thank you Ewe.

Who isn't against war? Who isn't in favour of peace?

I thought only early teenagers had random facile pseudo-idealistic ideas that wearing a red poppy = pro-war.

It's immature.

Undervalued - your speculations about me and my life are completely off the mark, I'm afraid.

Are you arguing that wars should be fought on emotion? Dear God.

h - because it isn't. It was a response to aggressive US policies in Saudi.

stuffitllllama I like your directness

stuffitlama, I like your wrongness

nighbynight that's cheating!

nbyn you will grow up one day

The one thing I would say is that we know that at least one person on this thread has a DH in Afghansitan. I think we would do well to remember that whilst being opinionated is not a crime it is not a kind thing to ignore the fact that for one person this debate is not a clinical discourse but an experience they are living day by day. Please try and think how you would feel if your loved one were away from home nighbynight.

I do think some people should familiarise themselves with 'In the Line of Fire' by Musharraf.

Deliberately misunderstanding the point makes you look really clever doesn't it nightbynight? I'm sure that my speculations about you and your life are on the mark - I bet you argue just as 'passionately' about the latest fashions.

Undervalued - please do not get upset. Emotion is part of a conflict - God Forbid we ever see casualties on either side and feel NO emotion.

hf128219 - what is the book about? Why is it important. All this and more please as despite my best attempts I have not read the Sunday Papers on a Sunday (managed a Tuesday about three weeks ago ) for eons so am not as wordly wise as you...

I'm not upset Kayran, thanks. I'm just frustrated at the total lack of respect for the men who have fought for this country - past and present.

stuffit, you may have met some teenagers who didnt believe in poppy day because they were rebelling against their parents, or something like that. I decided that I don't beleive in it any more for the reasons I said below, after studying politics and getting a lot of life experience.

undervalued - nonsense.