Do you wear a red poppy?

Yes I always wear a red poppy, I'm also get involved with selling them each year as well.

It's about remembrance and raising funds for the veterans and families of those who fight and fought for my freedom and way of life. I've never heard the religion thing before.

I haven't got mine yet but H is getting me one today while he is out and about. It's respect and remembering those who faught, not agreeing with war on any level.

If you can't find any over there, make a donation online at www.poppy.org.uk and I'll happily pop a couple of poppies in the post to you, FtG. ?

Yes, for the reasons already stated on the thread. I don't see it as making any statement to agree/disagree with war, just as a mark of respect for people who are/were braver than I can imagine.

I wear one, I tend to buy it from the British Legion chaps in town. My four year old has taken some money to school today so he can buy one. We've talked about why people wear them and what it means, I'm a bit surprised how much he understands but I'm proud that he's asked.

Represented by WI, MWA, LoBW and various other non military organisations who chose to parade/lay poppy wreaths.

I buy one every year, without fail. I've worn one since I was at primary school. It annoys me when I see people who aren't wearing them.

That's completely unfair - I don't think you can assume anything about why someone isn't wearing one.

Why does it annoy you? I'm puzzled by this.

I doubt I'm the only one but it wouldn't occur to me to buy a poppy.

So is the Hitched consensus that it would be 'more respectful' for me not to wear a poppy at all or wear my white one?

TBH if I wanted to make a contribution to the RBL I would just do so without wearing a badge. I prefer to make my contribution to 'dead servicemen and their families' the same way I do to other people and families who have been injured or bereaved: by paying my taxes and supporting our state welfare system.

I'm interested in the amount of anger against white poppies. The RBL doesn't have a problem with them, and I quote "What you wear is a matter of choice, the Legion doesn't have a problem whether you wear a red one or a white one, both or none at all. It is up to you."

ONE: good point, but the money raised doesn't go to them, does it?

Poppy's aren't just about remembering the dead from WW1 (although of course if from then where the poppy symbol was taken up)...it's about all war dead - even from last week, around the world.

I'm slightly amused by your statement about MP's wearing them while 'planning' their next war. Wars aren't really 'planned' (although the war in Iraq can be a bone of contention). The second world war for instance wasn't a 'plan'.....it was a worldwide neccessity, unfortunately.

I'm not angered by the white poppy thing, but it upsets me that some people might see me wearing a red one and automatically asssume that I am supporting war. For there to be an alternative, that view (that the red poppy wearers are pro-war) must be fairly common, and that makes me sad.

I hope that makes sense.

I don't like the white poppy's because (to me) it's like the wearer is saying "Oh no, a red poppy is too bloody and violent for me. I'm going to show I care and I'm peaceful by wearing a white one".

The red poppy has incredible significance to Flanders and the battle of the Somme...the white poppy just says to me that the wearer has totally misunderstood the whole idea.

I buy and wear a poppy every year (in fact i normally end up losing the original and buying/several at least another 1). I do so as act of rememberence for all those who lost their lives fighting for our freedom, be it my great grandfather who died in WW1 (fighting in the French army when my grandfather was not even a year old), my grandmother's first husband who died in WW2 (leaving her and my barely 3 year old uncle alone to run a farm on a small occupied island) and for all those men and women who have lost their lives in the many wars since, right up to the present day.

I wouldn't have the courage to go and do what they did/are still doing so I think it only right that i show them some respect and donate a little to their memories and to help those families left without loved ones today.

Blimey, that's a bit strong, isn't it? Who's to say they haven't donated already? I've lost the one I bought on Sunday. They come off so easily when you remove your coat. I'll get another one but can't guarantee I'll always remember to switch it from coat to coat or to transfer it to my indoor clothes once I get inside. Doesn't mean I don't support the cause.

As for R-A's comment about preferring to support via the Welfare State, that argument could be used for virtually every charity cause, surely? It is painfully obvious that the said Welfare State is already stretched to breaking point and is failing so many people. I would rather alleviate that strain a little by donating direct to a cause I feel strongly about.

Well I'm glad I am amusing you. Unfortunately I would disagree with you and say that wars now in the main are planned; at least the ones in my lifetime have been (Afghanistan as well as Iraq, potentially Iran). The recent use of our military force to invade other countries is one of the strongest motivators in my own attitudes towards war and peace.

I think war is devastating and I feel awful for anyone, military or civilian, who has died or been injured in one. Which is why I prefer to give my money to the Peace Pledge Union who campaign for 'active peace' - an ongoing and dynamic process of mediation and conflict resolution, rather than just an absence of war, so that there is a greater chance of having a future world without war.

i think thats quite insulting in many ways.

I agree with you here, which is why I mentioned Iraq. I do know about the world you know so am aware of Afghanistan etc, I was just trying to be concise!

Re 'planning' a war, I was meaning more about your comment which came directly after mentioning WW1...that that was supposed to be the war to end all wars and then the MP's sat down and 'planned' some more wars. WW2 just stuck out there to me like a huge sore thumb.

I've never yet met anyone who hasn't felt that war isn't devastating for anyone. My father was in the RAF during the Falklands conflict. He was lucky enough to not be hurt but has personally known many people who were. The worlds would be a wonderful place without wars.....the fact that they've been a part of mankind's history since we crawled out of the ocean still doesn't stop us from dreaming.

I just feel that wearing a red poppy is the smallest thing you can do. Sometimes a show of rememberence and respect means more than just money.

I think first and foremost I should point out that I've never actually clapped eyes on one.

Were the subject not by turns emotional and pathetic and be tempted to find the wearing of a white poppy in November funny. It's not, it is as others have stated plainly disrespectful. If one feels that non combatants are undervalued by the poppy appeal, or that Remembrance in some fashion promotes war then why 'borrow' all the trappings of that event in order to push your own very small (in terms of representation) agenda, if not to ride on the coat tails of official events or to attempt to undermime them?

Tell ya, what. Change the emblem to something other than a poppy (really, it's comical) and sell them at any other time of year and I'll buy one. Peace is a good cause. Trying to undermime charity... Isn't.

I wear one to remember the heroic souls who fought and died for us over the years. I've become more aware of it since meeting and marrying my H - up until the last couple of years his Dad has marched on remembrance day in London. He comes up specially from rural Wales.

This is a man who struggles to walk with a stick yet stands around in the cold for hours before marching to commemorate his colleagues - he's a veteran of the Suez Canal conflict. His association led the parade off last year - he was gutted to not be with them but he is just not able to march any more. My H is considering doing it in his place.

I'd never been to the parade before meeting my H - I wept openly watching it for the first time and felt ridiculously humble.

Also, H's nan is being cared for in a british legion nursing home so buying a poppy (or several) goes towards her care.

I respect R-A's view but as with Nick, find it slightly insulting. Of course remembrance day is militarised - most of the people who died were in the military.

However, there are huge numbers of civilians who march - land girls, women's institute, etc etc - ONE named others. Can I suggest you come to London one year and watch the parade, or watch it on TV? It might give you a more rounded view on what it's about and who is taking part.

Well I for one have donated and not taken a poppy before...my dad used to do the same thing and he fought in a war.

I think that is a generalisation...my reason for not taking a poppy was similar to the other charities that give out momentoes when you pop money in. That there isn't a finite resource and that someone might genuinely want to wear a poppy. Not saying I didn't ,just that I had donated and I was happy with doing that.

Not sure I have explained that very well, it sounded much better in my head!

Thank you for the link - I shall make a donation. Don't worry about sending one though - a virtual one will do me fine ?

I totally agree with you, the welfare state is overstretched and should not need to be propped up by charities.

The difference between the RBL and other charities, is that whilst newsreaders etc and actively banned from showing any other support for particular charities (at the BBC), they are lambasted for not wearing a poppy (John Snow).

It is also the only symbol the police are allowed to wear on their uniform.

There is a disparity with other charities in that regard.

When I do collections quite a few people don't take a poppy. Obviously I don't ask why, but those that offer an explaination have similar feelings as yours. I don't think you can assume that someone not wearing a poppy doesn't support the cause, my H is in the army, he sells poppies, but never wears one with his civvie clothes, only his uniform. I've never asked why tbh.

But the difference is that it's not just a charity is it? It's a huge symbol of rememberence of the men and women who have lost their lives in wartime. It goes deep into the psyche of our nation. Grief, loss, respect, rememberance, thanks.....I cannot understand why anyone finds that hard to understand. Yes, it's raises money but it's much MUCH more than that.

I entriely agree.

Have you thought about why that might be?

Erm.... let me just go back in time to 1926 and tell that to the war widows who set up the Co-operative Women's Guild and invented the idea of white poppies.

I have never, ever come across anyone who has associated the wearing of the red poppy with being pro-war. And I'm a lot older then most of you Hitchers.

In fact, if you talk to many of the veterans who wear their poppies with pride, they'll say they're anything but pro war, but did what they did at the time because they felt it was right and their duty. So I do not worry for a moment that when I'm wearing my poppy, strangers are looking at me and thinking: "She's a war lover". That, to my mind is just silly.

As for why some people don't wear poppies .... there could be lots of reasons and frankly, there's no reason why they SHOULD wear a poppy. It's a free country, isn't it? How do you know what the absence of a poppy signifies?

I'm not ignoring you Nick but I don't know which bit of my post you were referring to, so I can't really respond.

But why can I not feel that with a white poppy, or without a poppy, or at other times of year than November? Of course I can, and I do. I probably think about war more than most of the general public and try to engage with local and national things I can do to improve conflict resolution.

To be pedantic - if you are saying that the wearing of the poppy is more than just the donation, surely you should also be in conflict with thos eon this thread who have said they donate but don't wear a poppy?

(BTW: I'm enjoying talking to you Fluffy, even if you do find me impossible to understand. You come across as very intelligent and thoughtful).

Aha... The Peace Pledge Union... Aye.

There's no need to go back in time, really. You can catch yourself on anytime. (and I don't suppose it's worth pointing out that they argued that much about the white poppy concept that it was 1933 before one actually appeared?).

Or that if the idea had caught on a 'militarist' like myself would be sitting here in shiny boots having my skivvy type my posts. Unfortunately not to you as Mr. Hitler was dischuffed with the S.O.F......

Come to that I think a few of the Quaker ideals were probably at odds with the tenets of the Comintern also.

Y'know what Eric Blair said about sleeping soundly in yer bed....

Yes of course you can contribute to any charity you want, at any time of the year, wear what you want and feel respect for all those who have lost their lives....BUT you seem to be saying that you find it irritating (sorry if that's puts the wrong word in your mouth) that the wearing of a red poppy on a certain designated day of the year is expected, and that well known figures in the public eye should be expected to wear one is somehow unfair. What I'm saying is that the wearing of a red poppy on this day has a huge signifcance to most. It's called Rememberance Day for a reason.

If we're being pedantic then yes, I feel a bit strange about people donating and not wearing a red poppy. However it's their choice to do so, as it is yours to wear a white poppy. I just don't hold with that view.