Do you wear one and if so why?

[Accyexplorer]

I'm sure most of you are aware it's that time of year again when folk are wearing poppies.
The 11 November marks Armistice Day, ending the First World War.
This day and Remembrance Day (the nearest Sunday to 11 November) is reserved as a day of respect and reflection for those who have served (and those who continue to serve) in the Armed Forces.
The traditional symbol of this day is the 'red' poppy, I think it's suppose to represent the carpet of poppies that grew amongst the churned earth of No man’s land.

You may ask yourself 'who wouldn’t support such a selfless cause?'.....

..Well i personally associate the poppy with war and bloodshed and think it's a shame that a charity has to support our troops when clearly it should be the MOD.Therefore I feel uncomfortable wearing one as it rubs against the grain of my ethics (just my personal choice no disrespect ).

I recently heard of a growing number of folk who now adopt an alternative symbol (a white poppy).
Allegedly, this white version of the traditional red one symbolises the belief that there are better ways to resolve conflicts than killing folk (I may get one but I doubt it).

Anyway, "do you wear one and if so why?"

[Margaret Pilkington]

Yes....I do wear a poppy.......an enamel one.
I bought it a few years ago but I still contribute each November without taking a new poppy.
I consider my contribution to be the subscription for wearing my more permanent poppy.
Why do I wear one?
Well, it is for me, a way to respect those men and women who went and fought for the freedoms that we, as a nation enjoy.
I do not see it as being about war and bloodshed......but about respecting the memories of the fallen.

All those who wear a white poppy in the belief that it will single them out as being against war......that there is a better way to resolve international issues need to be a little more realistic.......and less subject to the politicisation of our history, had there been any alternative to the wars don't you think the concerted effort of world leaders would have found it.......wasn't there much made of the efforts to avoid conflict.....and still there was war.

We cannot change what happened in the two world conflicts......and no way does the wearing of a poppy signify that you are pro war......it just signifies that you remember and respect the fallen.

[Margaret Pilkington]

'lest we forget'

[Accyexplorer]

More education is needed imo M,so those atrocities never happen again.
The best way (in my eyes) to respect those who have already died is to recognise why they died and what they died for and also to educate future generations about said reasons so they 'refuse' to participate any more. Though I fear this would not be as easy as I think

[Margaret Pilkington]

Education?
What kind of education are you suggesting?
Doesn't a Remembrance Day focus the mind on what went before?
Do you really believe that Hitler and his ilk could have been stopped by pleadings.
And how do you refuse to fight for your country when you are conscripted?
Your answer really shows that you, yourself have a very simplistic view of things and a poor grasp of what actually went on.....so you really need to educate yourself about the history of the two conflicts before you come and tell us that there has to be a 'better way'.

I grew up seeing the aftermath of WW2.....with a father who, because of his involvement in that conflict, was too ill to support his family.
I was lucky. My father survived. Many children lost their fathers. How can I forget this...or the fact that he fought for freedoms which we take so much for granted.
So my poppy is for the memory and respect for those men who gave everything for their country.

[cashman]

I have always worn a poppy since being n adult, i have never needed any education to wear one, think thats a bit of a daft question.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Cashy that is because we are the generation who lived in the aftermath of one of the great conflicts and usually knew someone in our family who had also been involved in the one before as well.
Our education was living with the day to day consequences of those conflicts....there is nothing in the world like practical experience....it beats book learning into a cocked hat.

[Accyexplorer]

In my eyes there is nothing at all honourable about war. Imo war is something that we (as human beings) should be ashamed of.Sadly, since the days of Blair, the unthinking masses have become conditioned and brainwashed to glorify war or so it seems.

Call my way of thinking what you will M, I'm of the firm belief that we are all part of 'one race' and killing others because they occupy another part of the planet is simply a display of savagery.
I'm also trying to understand why dropping a bomb on a family who are 'no threat' to us and blowing them to pieces is any different a terrorists who blows up innocent folk.
The former kills whilst dressed in a smart uniform after being brainwashed to see people as the enemy and not as human beings, the latter kills wearing normal clothes after being brainwashed to believe that those they are about to kill are the enemy and are different in some way.
The former takes his orders from his military commander. The latter takes his orders from his religious extremist commander. Both tend to obey unconditionally.
The end result is the same. We glorify and justify one and condemn the other.

People keep bleating on about Hitler to justify wars. Perhaps if they understood that the UK was arming the Nazis and the situation wasn't as black and white as the victors who wrote history make out, they may start to question things a bit more.
This link is worth reading to understand how Western companies profited by selling weapons to the Nazis during WWII:
https://libcom.org/library/allied-mu...ny-world-war-2

War is solely about profit. And then there were Finland's Jew people who fought on the side of the Nazis. And plenty of other facts folk won't have learned from any of their biased history books.
The Jews who fought for Hitler: 'We did not help the Germans. We had a common enemy' - Telegraph

[cashman]

I doubt very much if many think war is honorable, I used to think yeh were just poking wi a stick, I have revised judgment now n think yer stupid.

[Accyexplorer]

Originally Posted by cashman

I doubt very much if many think war is honorable, I used to think yeh were just poking wi a stick, I have revised judgment now n think yer stupid.

Cheers C,at least your honest....perhaps I'm both stupid and a stirrer

[Less]

Originally Posted by Accyexplorer

perhaps I'm both stupid and a stirrer

For once I can totally agree with you, except, there is no perhaps about it, you confirm it with every post you put on.

The Poppy is to remember and honour the fallen and the survivors of the conflicts, not to honour the wars that they fought in.

What a shame that you attempt to belittle other peoples wish to remember those that sacrificed themselves to give us all a chance of a better future.

Notice that, to give us all a chance, that includes you, without their sacrifice you, I and just about everyone else would not be here now.

Can't wait for your next thread full of nonsense, you do put a little bit of effort in to making sure whatever the subject you will offend someone with your prattling.

[westendlass]

My grandad, William, was shot, patched up and sent back to the trenches twice in the first world war. He was one of the lucky ones, he survived. I wear a poppy in honour of his and all the people that bravely fought so that we could live in freedom. Remembrance Sunday is the day when we can show our respects for all those who fought and are still fighting (and dying) so that we can still enjoy that freedom. The money raised by selling poppies comes from a grateful public and shows our support and thanks.

[DaveinGermany]

Originally Posted by Accyexplorer

it rubs against the grain of my ethics

Mate, your ethics are like fog it seems, sometimes thick & impenetrable other times wispy & of no substance!

I personally give something where & when I can to (military charities) RBL & help for heroes as a matter of principle. The main reason being respect, for those who've served, are serving & will serve, it's those people who're prepared to give their absolute all, including their lives so people like you & I can live ours in freedom & peace.

I also served & hopefully my small ontribution, although not major headline news hopefully made a difference & helped to keep the lives of others free & peaceful too.

[Gordon Booth]

Originally Posted by Accyexplorer

.perhaps I'm both stupid and a stirrer

Only 'perhaps'? You flatter yourself.

[DtheP47]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

'lest we forget'

And let's not forget either that the vast majority of poppies are made in the UK by disabled military veterans. If that's not a good cause to support I'm a chinaman.

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