I've never bought or worn a poppy before, but now that I know about the white ones, i think I'll get myself one of them.

Good for you, Liam. And when you pin it on, remember that people died so that you have the freedom and the right to do that.

The poppy can only be a good thing as it raises money for our brave soldiers.I also agree with those that say we should'nt need charities to look after our soldiers,The state sends them to war a should look after them for the rest of their life when they come home.It's also good that we remember what our grand parents did for us to have the life that we have now,I'm pretty certain i would'nt look good in Lederhosen.The white poppy just seems like some ass holes wanting to hijack,insult and be different to the red poppy tbh.Just take it for what it is and appreciate what those brave soldiers did for us.

You should try the lederhosen, it could be a good look for you. We'll need pics, of course...

Lol,I don't wanna get you all excited,I'd have some jealous husbands after me:joker:

Yes Liv -- Everyone should remember. Poppies are not about supporting any war, they are about honoring and respecting those poor soldiers who lost their lives fighting in wars on our behalf.

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

And the equally as sad and poignant:

"When you go home, tell them of us and say: 'For your tomorrow we gave our today'"

From the Kohima Epitaph for those who lost their young lives fighting in the Burma campaign.

Lest We Forget.

Paul, go on, we'll all try to control ourselves...

Kirk, beautiful, if something so sad, so poignant, can be beautiful. You know what I mean.

I always buy one....and I shall be going to the cenotaph this year as it is the first Remembrance Day my grandfather, who fought and was injured in WW2 is not here to go himself :love:

That's very special that you'll be there representing your Grandfather.

I have a nice metal one. Will wear it

I don't wear one but I normally donate if I see a donations tin

Tbh poppies have got a lot more political nuances behind them than they used to - as this thread has demonstrated, it's not just a case of remembering those who died. Until I completely understand what I'm pinning on my chest, I don't want to.

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Only reason for it really is that they only have plastic ones in Scotland so you can't really pin them to clothes.

I don't buy a poppy every year as such, depends if I am out anD about.

I pay donations to the Help the Heroes twice a year through direct debit, one of my chosen charities.

I am eagerly awaiting the arrval of five of those beautiful poppies from the tower, had an email this morning to say they might not arrive until January.

As to wearing a white poppy, lovely sentiment wanting world peace..good luck with that one..perhaps a white dove would be more appropriate as it is the symbol of peace.:shrug:

Yes,I always do.

I saw Caroline Lucas wearing both on question time, it is a wholly political issue war and one that is close to my heart as my grandfather actually served in WW1 ( yes I really am that old) the days of being proud to defend queen and country are they still as valid today as they were then....
Are mothers proud to send their sons to fight as it's for 'the greater good'?
I don't feel today it is as obvious what we are actually fighting for... which begs the question why? I don't feel those in power have as much respect for those who risk their lives reflected in how they are treated on return injured and traumatised either.

..yes I do wear one, I would never think not to..I don't think that any of us have not benefited from a country who some have given their lives for..I usually wear it from around mid-October when we get them at the school...

So your pride in wearing your poppy is greater because people were more patriotic when your grandfather served, regardless of the fact that largely working class men were sent to be cannon fodder in horrific conditions by a government that didn't care. Some were shot for cowardice when they were obviously suffering PTSD and thousands were horrifically wounded and had to rely on charity on their return. But people wearing a poppy in remembrance of someone who died more recently might not be so proud of their dead sons/husbands/fathers because you don't consider the later wars valid.

I am proud to wear my poppy for my Grandfather, for my Father and for my Husband all of whom were proud to serve their country. If people want to use Remembrance Day to score political points, then shame on them.

I really like the idea of a red poppy meaning something to a specific individual, and that's why I wouldn't go around criticising people who do. The white poppy, in my opinion, is not supposed to be a political thing. If you were aiming this at Caroline, she wore both because she wanted to support the people who died while also showing that she doesn't want more people to die over mostly trivial reasons.

Josh... no one wants anyone to die. I'm going to clear up my position for you then I don't want to talk to you about this again. My husband died as a result of wounds received in Afghanistan. He was not a war monger, he didn't want to be at war... so if I want to wear my red poppy in remembrance of him, and be proud of him, and be a little pissed off that the white poppy brigade are hijacking the day, then I will be a little pissed off. If you want a white poppy day, have it some other time.

Hijacking the day?.. The poppy is the sign of remembrance of all those soldiers who fought and died for the country.. if someone wants to wear a white poppy as a symbol of remembrance, which just so happens to be white as a symbol of wanting war to stop so no more people have to die, i don't the issue with that? They're still paying respects to the people everyone else is.

They are not paying respect. They are taking the day and using it for their own political agenda. And actually, didn't you just hear about the white poppy the day before yesterday? And now you're telling me what it stands for?

Have your white poppy day at another time. Knock yourself out with it... and let us have Remembrance Day where the money raised from red poppies goes to support ex-servicemen and women and their families.

So it's your way or the highway then? Because other people have ways of respecting, remembering and honouring that differ from yours, it's less valid that your way?

Last time i checked, that's now how this country works, everyone is entitled to show respect in any way they please, why should people have their 'white poppy day' any other time other than on remembrance day itself? It's all a part of honouring the soldiers, just with a different message, that no more people should have to die.

Nobody is doing this, my point is yes people were then more patriotic, and willing to serve as the enemy was palpable.
I did not say the wars were not valid, it was just not as evident what we were actually fighting for.