Remembrance Day and the Poppy Mafia : Sun Nov 11, 2012 1:49 pm  

Yesterday I took my children into Leeds city centre to do a bit of Christmas shopping. When I got there I noticed an unusual amount of military personnel milling around - sea cadets, TA volunteers etc - selling poppies for Remembrance Day.

As my eldest has been learning about WWII at school, I gave him 50p to go a buy one from a stand. As he was having his poppy pinned to the lapel of his coat, the two squaddies manning the stand asked me in an accusatory manner, "and where is your poppy, Sir?" I said that I didn’t have one. They responded by telling me about their colleagues in Afghanistan who were dying to save me. It got really quite intimidating and I ended up walking away before my son had managed to give his donation.

I was quite taken aback by this. I have actually donated to the British Legion this year through work, but I certainly don't think it is appropriate to judge or criticise people who choose not to wear a poppy. In my opinion it is the thought that counts, not the money or a piece of paper. I support our armed forces and observe my own quiet reflection each Remembrance Day. What happened yesterday was really quite wrong.

I've mentioned this to a few friends and they got all defensive and militant – “Why not just wear a poppy?”…… “Lest we forget about the fallen heroes”…….

When did Remembrance Day descend into a farce whereby everyone tries to 'out-respect' one another?

Re: Remembrance Day and the Poppy Mafia : Sun Nov 11, 2012 4:47 pm  

...or, you could have just got a poppy.

Re: Remembrance Day and the Poppy Mafia : Sun Nov 11, 2012 4:55 pm  

Cronus wrote:

...or, you could have just got a poppy.

That's besides the point, nobody should be belittled like that just because they don't choose to wear one. I rarely do, but that doesn't mean i'm disrespecting our fallen soldiers.

Re: Remembrance Day and the Poppy Mafia : Sun Nov 11, 2012 5:01 pm  

100% Wire wrote:

That's besides the point, nobody should be belittled like that just because they don't choose to wear one. I rarely do, but that doesn't mean i'm disrespecting our fallen soldiers.

Ok.

Or, he could give over trying to be controversial and just wear a fooking poppy.

I understand what he's saying but really, get over it. I also suspect there's a little more to his victim story.

Re: Remembrance Day and the Poppy Mafia : Sun Nov 11, 2012 5:03 pm  

100% Wire wrote:

That's besides the point, nobody should be belittled like that just because they don't choose to wear one.

They should when they are encouraging their child to buy one.

Re: Remembrance Day and the Poppy Mafia : Sun Nov 11, 2012 5:19 pm  

Is it wrong to wear a home made poppy ?

Re: Remembrance Day and the Poppy Mafia : Sun Nov 11, 2012 5:21 pm  

Cronus wrote:

Ok.

Or, he could give over trying to be controversial and just wear a fooking poppy.

I understand what he's saying but really, get over it. I also suspect there's a little more to his victim story.

My guess is that the irony is lost on him (or not?). Especially this; " It got really quite intimidating and I ended up walking away".

Re: Remembrance Day and the Poppy Mafia : Sun Nov 11, 2012 5:22 pm  

PS I actually agree with Kirkstaller on this one, its a personal choice to buy or wear a poppy, if you've bought one then its not compulsory to wear it, "None of your business" would have been a satisfactory answer and if they want to get a bit arsey and speak of their friends out in Afghanistan then I too would not have given them my business, their "friends" out in Afghanistan are there through personal choice and FFS you're already offering to support the cause.

Re: Remembrance Day and the Poppy Mafia : Sun Nov 11, 2012 5:28 pm  

Another take..............http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/11/08/remembrance-day-poppy-armistice-ted-harrison_n_2095394.html?utm_hp_ref=uk

Another take..............http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/11/08/remembrance-day-poppy-armistice-ted-harrison_n_2095394.html?utm_hp_ref=uk

Re: Remembrance Day and the Poppy Mafia : Sun Nov 11, 2012 5:56 pm  

If people ask me I just say I don't wear any symbols or give to charities. No point engaging in debate with these types that are just trying to point score by showing how great they are by wearing a poppy.