Will you buy and wear a poppy?
 

In the year that marks the centenary of the start of one of the costliest conflicts in our history, The Royal British Legion is encouraging everyone to support the Poppy Appeal for the memory of the fallen and the future of the living.

The Legion created the Poppy Appeal to help those returning from the First World War. A century on from the start of that conflict, we're still helping today's Armed Forces families in much the same way, whether coping with bereavement, living with disability, or finding employment.

When you donate to the Poppy Appeal you help:

bereaved families to Live On
wounded Service men and women to Live On
younger veterans seeking employment and housing to Live On
older veterans needing age-related care to Live On

http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-...d/poppy-appeal

http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglopheni...4/08/tower.jpg


or do you think it glorifies war and does not move us on as a society - should we learn about why we go to war and how humans are essentially warlike animals?

I always wear a poppy,and hope it helps in some small way.Really want to see that display in London.I don't think it glorifies it so much as it's nice to remember them.

Maybe I'm being a bit controversial, but to me those needing assistance after a family member has served their country should be looked after by the country without needing a special appeal to achieve it.

Fine with the remembrance side if it, but the government (we) should pay for it by default.

fab - saw babs and stacey on news this morning promoting it. love it.

Yeh I get those pin badge ones instead of the plastic ones if I can.

I always buy and wear Poppies but I do agree with you BitontheSlide. It's a disgrace that they don't receive all the support they need from the State. It infuriates me that St Dunstans has to rely on public donations to exist too - we seem to have ample tens of millions to squander elsewhere on those that not only have never fought for this Country but actually desire it's downfall.

£300,000,000 a year to Ethiopia


http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...ip-in-ethiopia

I'm not allowed to wear one at work, but i would buy it and wear it when i go out.

This is so FKing infuriating. Who is responsible for formulating these insane policies? What's more sickening is that it's the tip of a very large iceberg.

:shrug:Why can't you wear one at work?

It's a food factory.

Oh.... Hygienic reasons. Thanks Vanessa - thought it might be another insane PC reason. :wavey:

I would still buy one. It's a good cause.

I will give money to them
But not wear a poppy


like that ITV1London news caster does not
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...42_634x447.jpg

Yeah, I hate the ones with no pins though.

What's the point? Where you meant to put it?

I'll probably wear a white poppy, yes.

I have a poppy yes, what are the white ones for?

The white ones also promote pacifism (against any new wars to prevent more lost lives). They were introduced because there are some people who wear red poppies that want us to fight more 'to make our country proud'. As little deaths as possible is best in my opinion.

Yes, of course. I will never not.

W..what?! No-one in their right mind would wear a red one to state that they want more war.. It contradicts what the Poppy is meant for- To remember whom we lost in wars.

:umm2:

:facepalm:

I always put money in the poppy box but i don't wear one, they have a little parade close to where i live......it always makes me cry:( i always feel sad for the loss of life.....

Probably your most ridiculous post ever.

WHITE POPPIES ARE FOR PEACE

The idea of decoupling Armistice Day, the red poppy and later Remembrance Day from their military culture dates back to 1926, just a few years after the British Legion was persuaded to try using the red poppy as a fundraising tool in Britain.

A member of the No More War Movement suggested that the British Legion should be asked to imprint 'No More War' in the centre of the red poppies instead of ‘Haig Fund’ and failing this pacifists should make their own flowers.

The details of any discussion with the British Legion are unknown but as the centre of the red poppy displayed the ‘Haig Fund’ imprint until 1994 it was clearly not successful. A few years later the idea was again discussed by the Co-operative Women's Guild. In 1933 the first white poppies appeared on Armistice Day (called Remembrance Day after World War Two). The white poppy was not intended as an insult to those who died in the First World War - a war in which many of the white poppy supporters lost husbands, brothers, sons and lovers - but a challenge to the continuing drive to war. The following year the newly founded Peace Pledge Union began widespread distribution of the poppies and their annual promotion.

http://www.ppu.org.uk/whitepoppy/

I would wear both, but I've never seen a white poppy on sale anywhere.

TBF to Josh here, the white poppies are sold and worn as a symbol for peace.

I understand the motives behind the white poppy tbh and used to quite like the idea (still sorta agree with the premise, I just don't think it's that necessary). In the same way that the Union Flag has become quite appropriated by nationalists, the poppy has imo become increasingly associated with a jingoistic brand of patriotism and been exploited for cynical political purposes instead of purely lamenting war and its losses.

I've gotten over my issues with the red poppy now though because I realise that even if the above is true it doesn't take away from the meaning and poignancy of the red poppy and also that it doesn't have to necessarily stand for one thing. It can be a very personal symbol that holds different connotations for different people, an act of remembrance doesn't need to be politicised and there doesn't need to be a distinction between pacifists and non pacifists, red and white.

After the formation of the White Poppy in the thirties, how very fortunate for everyone here enjoying their freedom of speech and expression, that the "No More War" message wasn't adhered to. No one wants war, but sometimes you have to fight for a cause. Had there been 'No More War' we would probably be speaking German now. Well, not you, Trumpet, you'd probably have a smattering. And I wouldn't be here at all, and neither would any of my family.

No one wants war less than the people who have to fight them but sometimes it is necessary to take up arms. Luckily, there are people willing to do that, and sometimes give up their lives for our national freedom and I think that one day a year, it's not too much to ask to show them some respect and remembrance without someone wanting to hijack the message that is simply... We Will Remember Them.

tbh, if World War One wasn't started then Hitler wouldn't have gone on to WW2. Germany wasn't responsible for WW1 however they were forced to take all responsibility which led to anger and the anti-semitism etc.

Some people just want to stick the boot in at everything nowadays.

I am fine with a red poppy and I don't want any more wars either.

preach, mother****ing preach...

Seriously, I swear people think all these wars are caused because some 'white guy' thinks YAY I THINK ITS TIME FOR A WAR!!!!!!!!! Yay lets kill people!!!!!111

The thing is, sometimes whether we go to war or not, people are killed in the most horrific ways possible. Sometimes it takes a war to stop these things from happening.

Its awful that we have to go to war... especially in this day and age where we've come so far. But when there are people who threaten to kill us in our very own countries, it's sometimes necessary.

Is that right.

Gavrilo Princip is responsible for the Holocaust?

hew new?

It's a frickin' education on here sometimes, innit.

Hope you're having a splendid birthday. I'm coming round later to give you the bumps.

:idc:

I found out after the last time you came that "no one" has to be tied face down to a bed to get the bumps, not even "proper ones" as you called it.

And I put the "you know what" in the bin anyway as the dog chewed trough the straps

:clap1::clap1::clap1:

Always buy one but I never wear them.

Yes Anti War