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Original poster

Where can I get a white poppy?

290 replies

Ellbell · 01/11/2006 01:27

Some time ago, I used to wear a white poppy (for peace) at this time of year. I haven't seen them for some years now. Does anyone know if they are still produced and where I can get one? Thanks

OP posts:
MamaG · 01/11/2006 20:26

Wow Soupdragon - you put what I wanted to put, but in a much better way than I ever could.

[admiring emoticon]

Mirage · 01/11/2006 20:38

I would not dream of not wearing a red poppy.My mum lost 2 uncles in WW1 & my dad an uncle in WW2.I wear it in rememberance of them & all the others who fought for our freedom.

I can't watch the rememberance ceremony without crying.

Mirage · 01/11/2006 20:38

sorry that should have been two great uncles in WW1.

Schhh · 01/11/2006 21:16

I used to wear a red poppy to remember those who died. Then I realised that the govt was milking public sentiment at poppy time to support their little wars and conflicts, so that rich people can get even richer on the backs of human misery.

pooka · 03/11/2006 09:53

Ummm. Not sure how wearing a red poppy to remember those who died during conflict actually makes people more positive about even more war and conflict. I think that wearing a red poppy makes one more reflective about the human loss involved rather than more gung-ho and keen to repeat all the misery.

Surfermum · 03/11/2006 09:58

Absolutely no offence taken Ellbell, please don't worry .

SoupDragon · 03/11/2006 16:50

I deliberately bought a red poppy today because of this thread (usually I wait until someone brings them to my door). It was sold to me inthe shopping centre by a little white haired man with a string of medals. I guess he would have been in his late teens/early 20s during WW2. He certainly wasn't pedalling glorious war.

Heathcliffscathy · 03/11/2006 17:11

i agree with a lot of what NQC has said. I have 2 grandparents that fought in WW2 and other wars. surely the thing that is offensive is the FUTILITY of war. those lives are indeed wasted lives. war is abhorrent. and the wars we are waging at the moment particularly so. a white poppy honours the dead (the poppy bit) whilst emphasising the importance of non-violence and peace (white). it is not offensive. like i say, those offended by it i think are projecting onto it lots of other pain i think.

i think it is difficult to argue that the pomp and costumes and royalty associated with remembrance sunday are not a glorification of war.

SoupDragon · 03/11/2006 17:13

Costumes?? Would they be the military uniforms or the people dressed up as large disney characters prancing along at the back of the parade?

SoupDragon · 03/11/2006 17:15

For a parade that truly is a glorification of war you only have to look at the old traditional Russian (new year ?) parade when they used to march and display all the assorted tanks and weaponry. There is a clear difference between that sort of parade and a parade of military etc marching to remember the dead.

Heathcliffscathy · 03/11/2006 17:16

full military dress costume is a way of glorifying the armed forces. pomp. orchestra. etc.

southeastastra · 03/11/2006 17:17

eh? really?
and why do you say that they wasted their lives?

SoupDragon · 03/11/2006 17:18

It's dress uniform not a costume. A costume is something you wear to dress up as a stuffed chicken.

Heathcliffscathy · 03/11/2006 17:18

soupy, surely the fact that it is a poppy is remembering the war dead. with the emphasis on peace. i don't see how that can be offensive. for every veteran that is offended i'm sure there are many more that are not.

SoupDragon · 03/11/2006 17:19

I did look at BabyDragon when I bought my poppy and wonder what her life would be like if WW2 had not been fought and Hitler had prevailed.

Heathcliffscathy · 03/11/2006 17:19

a dress uniform is a costume though. it is not utility wear is it. i would find it far more appropriate and less glorifying if veterans and soldiers wore their normal uniform for the event.

SoupDragon · 03/11/2006 17:21

The point of the red poppies is their colour as well though isn't it? The field of red poppies growing over the fallen dead or something? Wearing a white one is taking the symbol and turning it into something else. Something it never was.

Heathcliffscathy · 03/11/2006 17:21

lets face it is it all part of the same horrific con: if you give your life to us, if you have no autonomy for as long as you are in our army, if you sacrifice your relationships, potential, lives, sanity...we'll give you a nice costume and 'honour' you once a year to make you feel taht it was all somehow worthwhile.

southeastastra · 03/11/2006 17:21

my fil fought in burma. he gave all his medals away. i don't think glorifying is a word many veterans would appreciate tbh.

NotQuiteCockney · 03/11/2006 17:22

Hmmm, I agree that dress uniforms do glorify the military. Regular uniforms are a bit scary, though, I think I would be disturbed to see something that looked like a military occupation ...

SoupDragon · 03/11/2006 17:22

It's the uniform they would wear to a military funeral so it's highly appropriate for the Remembrance Day parade. It doesn't glorfy war at all - surely wearing their "fighting clothes" would be glorifying war far more.

Heathcliffscathy · 03/11/2006 17:23

absolutely southeastastra. that's why i know that most veterans wouldn't be offended by the white poppy. far from it. i know my grandad wouldn't have been. he served at monte cassino. pretty grim.

Blandmum · 03/11/2006 17:24

To nit pick, they do not wear their dress uniform for parades (the No 5 uniform) They wear their Parade ground uniform (No 1).

The RAF parade ground uniform is essentialy the same as the thing they flew wearing in WW2

It isn't a 'costume' and they waer it out of respect for those who fell.

My dh will be wearing his, and will be remembering those friends of ours who have died. It isn't about glory, it is about rememberance.

SoupDragon · 03/11/2006 17:24

"lets face it is it all part of the same horrific con: if you give your life to us, if you have no autonomy for as long as you are in our army, if you sacrifice your relationships, potential, lives, sanity...we'll give you a nice costume and 'honour' you once a year to make you feel taht it was all somehow worthwhile."

Oh come on!! That is (IMO) complete and utter nonsense.

Heathcliffscathy · 03/11/2006 17:28

a suitably humbling post mb. i'm being polarised into a position (by myself i might add). all i'm arguing is that wearing a white poppy seems to me to be part of remembering but in a way that emphasises peace.

and i do feel personally that there is a lot of pomp and circumstance around on remembrance sunday which does not actually focus our minds on the mundanity, the profound pointlessness and horror of war. which is i think what we should be focussing on. i think in terms of the first world war that is inarguable.