Do you wear a red poppy?

My mum used to buy them regularly but wouldn't wear them. I'd buy one but wouldn't wear it. I don't personally know anyone locally who does wear them I don't think, I think here they are a statement of religion for some people (in my experience)

I wear one yes. As a mark of respect to all the men and women who have fought for our country in the past wars and those who are still doing so. Also to raise funds for the families of those who have died/been injured recently.

I absolutely wear one every year without fail.

It's for a pure and simple reason....to remember those who have fought and lost their lives for all of us, from all walks of life.

I hate it when people bring pacifism into it. People who wear poppy's aren't somehow 'celebrating' war - exactly the opposite. It's remembering the utter sadness of it all by those who are left behind.

WCBHs

I absolutly wear one to share my respect for those that fought for us and to help raise funds for the families.

I feel proud to wear it

That's interesting jaz, where do you live? (sorry for my Hitched ignorance!)

Also: why buy one and not wear it?

I'm wearing one right now. For the reasons CBH and Fluffy gave. It's not a "pro-war" symbol, it's a rememberance symbol.

I haven't got mine yet but I will do and I will wear it. So will Mr G and so will the children who have asked me for money to get one from school but I forgot to give them some pennies.

I've got one pinned on my coat. It's a symbol of rememberance, it's not pro-war, or anything to do with religion.

Being a pacifist does not mean you cant respect people who fought for your freedom.

actually the "pacifist/quaker..so we dont" has annoyed me.

Same! I bought one on Friday night and had lost it by Saturday morning, so annoying! Will buy another one tonight.

Yup without fail.

But as Jaz says, can be problematic in NI.

Me too Nick. The white poppys annoy me by their very existence.

I buy one but often don't wear it as having pins in my coat and picking up my daughter who tends to grab said poppy doesn't work!

I tend to have them pinned to my nappy bag

Yes I wear one in rememberance and thanks. Like others have said, I don't see a poppy as a pro-war symbol and therefore I don't see the need for white poppies.

WSS.

It's less 'pacifist ... so we don't...' and more 'pacifist.. so I do wear a white poppy'.

Many people choose not to wear one at all. is that not more disrespectful?

(BTW as I mentioned I was brought up Quaker but am not a member of the Society of Friends.)

I can understand wearing a white poppy if coming from a position of total pacifism (i.e., if you think it's wrong to get involved in any war, for any reason). You're still wearing a poppy, but making an additional statement. What I don't understand is the argument (which some people I know make) that wearing a poppy is in some way nationalistic or glorifying war. I still wear a poppy to respect and commemorate those who died even when the UK is fighting a war I completely disagree with (of course, many of those who died in the world wars were conscripts anyway).

I do understand not wanting to wear a poppy on the basis that charitable acts shouldn't be advertised. I don't personally agree but I can respect that position.

I can imagine it now. franz and helmet come thundering in with their panzer divisions and the quakers stand and say "we re pacifists". yeah, that would have ensured the ongoing status quo of the free world wouldnt it.

I always wear one every year without fail, and get annoyed when I see people not wearing them.

Agree with Nick about the pacifism thing - very annoying.

Me too. Didn't a lot of quakers/conscientious objectors work as ambulance drivers etc on the front line in WWI/II? Do they not deserve to be remembered? gah.

Always. I actually find it hard to pass a poppy collection box without putting some money in, even if I've already got one. I think it's important to remember those who have given their lives for us and who continue to do so to this day. It wouldn't occur to me not to buy a poppy and I shall be watching the ceremony at the Cenotaph as always on tv (and welling up as usual). I have regular dealings with the military through work and they're a cracking band of men and women whom I really admire and appreciate. It's not a job I could do.

I download the Poppy wallpaper for my mobile every year. As for the white poppy alternative, I really don't see the need for it and it doesn't sit altogether comfortably with me. Those of us who wear the red poppy aren't pro war so for there to be a 'peaceful' alternative seems a bit pointless to me, possibly even offensive to some.

Yes, I do, for the reasons already given.

Jaz, I'm really interested in the religious connotiation thing- I take you mean protestant/ catholic? I'm west of scotland which usually mirrors NI exactly, yet I've never come across this. (i wear one, and am catholic- well, nominally so. ?)

Yes and so do the children both as a mark of respect and to support the charity

another one here who doesnt get the pacifist issue and finds it rather distasteful

The poppy, according to the R.B.L at least is primarily a symbol of hope.

Yes, I wear one, and am slightly taken aback that some people might see my doing so as a pro-war statement.

I understand what Jaz is saying, it can be seen as a political emblem here in NI. I do wear my poppy every year, members of my family died in the WW's so its for them and everyone else who sadly died, got injured etc in all the wars until now.

I would buy and wear one if I could get them here. It might be worth going to the [shudder] british market to see if they are selling them.

I wear one, without fail. The White Poppy thing really annoys me - not because I necessarily agree/disagree with the aims of those who wear them, but because it seems to me that it's jumping on the branding of the traditional Red Poppy. If they wore a white ribbon for example it wouldn't bother me at all. I think to wear a white one is an insult to the people who gave their lives (and were often forced to, regardless of their individual convictions) for our country and for freedom.

Interesting to hear everyone's views. Also it seems more Hitchers than members of the general public wear poppies from what I've seen of people out and about today. Or maybe those that don't haven't replied?

I do think the celebration of armistice day has become 'militarised' as evidenced by the military parades, flypasts etc. A common criticism of the red poppy is that it is all about military deaths, and civilian deaths are all but ignored. Where are the civilian widows in the parades?

It was supposed to be 'the war to end all wars'.... but MPs continue to wear red poppies whilst planning the next one. I'm afraid that detracts from their symbolism for me slightly.

Anyway keep them coming!

Over here, poppy = Protestant. I never noticed these things until I lived here, my parents are both from NI but brought my sister and I up in Edinburgh so although I knew of a few of the religious connotations, there were many more I never would have noticed!

Sorry I'm in NI. I see how worthy the cause is and don't mind donating money to it at all but I know some protestants who wear it as a badge to show they are protestant (much like wearing a union jack or a rangers scarf or something I suppose) with no regard for the cause itself which I find sad and also puts me off wearing one. If I see someone wearing one around here I guess I automatically assume they are protestant which is in itself pretty sad I know.

I'm not saying all protestants do this, I know some of them are lovely ?