Will you wear a poppy 2013?

old hippy

It's that time of year again where mass debates ensue over paper flowers, pensioners, prisoners of war, the struggle, lillies et al. I noticed the first advert this morning at the bus stop today.

Will you be sporting one?

Captain Farrell

oh for fuck's sake, not again.

Legs.Eleven

old hippy wrote: »

It's that time of year again where mass debates ensue over paper flowers, pensioners, prisoners of war, the struggle, lillies et al. I noticed the first advert this morning at the bus stop today.

Will you be sporting one?

Does anyone in Ireland ever wear one?

weldoninhio

No

kfallon

Not a chance!

Where was your bus stop?

bumper234

Yes i wear one every year

uch

Terrorists symbol, definitely not

kneemos

kfallon wrote: »

Not a chance!

Where was your bus stop?

Wolverhampton.

NTMK

No

no one should really give a **** if you do or dont tbh both sides of this debate are as bad as each other imo

Nodin

old hippy wrote: »

It's that time of year again where mass debates ensue over paper flowers, pensioners, prisoners of war, the struggle, lillies et al. I noticed the first advert this morning at the bus stop today.

Will you be sporting one?

Nope.

I won't be wearing one as I do not care either way, but I do not understand why it is so hated that Irish people might wear them. Like it or not, thousands of Irish people died in World War One and World War Two, so why would you not remember them?

old hippy

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

Does anyone in Ireland ever wear one?

Indeed they do.

old hippy

uch wrote: »

Terrorists symbol, definitely not

LOL

old hippy

kfallon wrote: »

Not a chance!

Where was your bus stop?

London, innit

Sunnyisland

Yes.
No.
Maybe.

Crooked Jack

Deleted User wrote: »

I won't be wearing one as I do not care either way, but I do not understand why it is so hated that Irish people might wear them. Like it or not, thousands of Irish people died in World War One and World War Two, so why would you not remember them?

By all means remember them, but thats not what the poppy is about.

Nope, I won't be wearing one. That's my choice, if someone does decide to wear one, that's up to them.

No doubt we can look forward to outraged stories in the news over the coming weeks about some goon who was sent home from work because he wouldnt take one off or wasnt let into a club because he had one on.

joes girls

No ......

The Backwards Man

Nope, and I wouldn't wear an easter lily either.

old hippy

Captain Farrell wrote: »

oh for fuck's sake, not again.

Captain, my captain. You joined in June, for all you know this important, life changing topic was cruelly ignored last year

GLaDOS

I don't, I wouldn't judge somebody for wearing it though.

biko

I won't wear one but if others wants to wear a poppy, or easter lily for that matter, that's fine by me.

Crooked Jack

Crooked Jack wrote: »

By all means remember them, but thats not what the poppy is about.
.

What is the poppy about to you then?

donvito99

I saw on last nights news that people attending a memorial service for victims of several Shankhill terrorist attacks were wearing poppies. I

In October. It used to be a one day thing. Next thing will be Britons wearing poppies guiltily all year round.

General General

kneemos wrote: »

Wolverhampton.

Frank Skinner says that he loves Wolverhampton, as he always feels fashionably dressed while walking around the city centre..

Nodin

Deleted User wrote: »

I won't be wearing one as I do not care either way, but I do not understand why it is so hated that Irish people might wear them. Like it or not, thousands of Irish people died in World War One and World War Two, so why would you not remember them?

...if only I had a bot.....

Anyhoo - because the poppy is about more than WW1 and II. The money goes to aid ex-army personnel. That's people involved in colonial repression across Africa and the middle east, south east asia etc. And yes, some for those who served in NI.

Crooked Jack

Deleted User wrote: »

What is the poppy about to you then?

It's not what it is about to me. It's what it is about, full stop. It commemorates all those who died in the British Army and honours those who continue to serve in it. According to their own website the money raised from poppies goes to "support the British Armed Forces past and present." Fuck that.
Now I know other countries such as Canada have their own poppies but here it's different, here its for the British Armed forces and all their squalid little campaigns, not just WW1 and 2.

131spanner

realies wrote: »

Yes.
No.
Maybe.

I don't know,
you repeat the question?

Gaillimh1976

realies wrote: »

Yes.
No.
Maybe.

Atari Jaguar ??

Crooked Jack

donvito99 wrote: »

I saw on last nights news that people attending a memorial service for victims of several Shankhill terrorist attacks were wearing poppies. I

In October. It used to be a one day thing. Next thing will be Britons wearing poppies guiltily all year round.

Yep, a lot of people in the north wear them purely as a political statement.

old hippy

Nodin wrote: »

...if only I had a bot.....

Anyhoo - because the poppy is about more than WW1 and II. The money goes to aid ex-army personnel. That's people involved in colonial repression across Africa and the middle east, south east asia etc. And yes, some for those who served in NI.

Yes indeed, there's no denying that but there's many decent men and women who have served in the armed forces over decades.

Guy:Incognito

****ing ridiculous. I should be able to go for a pint anyime I choose. Closing the pubs because of the church is stupid.

Nodin

old hippy wrote: »

Yes indeed, there's no denying that but there's many decent men and women who have served in the armed forces over decades.

....you could say the same about the KGB. 'nasty job but somebody had to keep the poles in line', 'decent chaps, harsh but fair'.

old hippy

Nodin wrote: »

....you could say the same about the KGB. 'nasty job but somebody had to keep the poles in line', 'decent chaps, harsh but fair'.

That's a rather silly comparison, Nodin, as well you know. I have friends and family who have served in various armed forces around the world and they aren't monsters, you know

paulbok

No, It's a British amry commeration symbol so I wouldn't wear one, same as I wouldn't wear one for the American, Canadian, Brazilian or Iranian army.
Nothing against the British commerating their own, but like another poster mentioned, do they have to start wearing it 4/5 weeks in advance? Dilutes the idea.

jjdub1

My great-great grandfather was killed in Gallipolli in August 1915, 3 days after he arrived there with his battalion, straight from training. I find what happened him and many like him incredibly sad - something that was hidden away and not talked of for generations - yet he was remembered and commemorated by the war graves commission (funded by the poppy appeal) when they were considered pariahs in their homeland. I have no issue with the poppy or anyone who wears it.

old hippy

paulbok wrote: »

No, It's a British amry commeration symbol so I wouldn't wear one, same as I wouldn't wear one for the American, Canadian, Brazilian or Iranian army.
Nothing against the British commerating their own, but like another poster mentioned, do they have to start wearing it 4/5 weeks in advance? Dilutes the idea.

It's like Xmas. Getting earlier every year. There does seem to be a bit of pressure, perhaps to wear them. I've never been asked over here if I wear one but I imagine if I was, say, on telly or in the local conservative club I would. Actually, my local does have a mix of political believers and some wear it, some don't.

Nodin

old hippy wrote: »

That's a rather silly comparison, Nodin, as well you know. I have friends and family who have served in various armed forces around the world and they aren't monsters, you know

As I said, the job was to keep the locals down. They did it everywhere from Burma to Kenya to Aden to Egypt. The money doesn't go to the ones the locals made friends with on facebook, it goes to ex servicemen full stop. As a result, they won't get a bean from me.

uch

old hippy wrote: »

but there's many decent men and women who have served in the armed forces over decades.

And an equal amount of Crazy Cúnts too

kneemos

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

****ing ridiculous. I should be able to go for a pint anyime I choose. Closing the pubs because of the church is stupid.

Saint Patrick and his Shamrock.

Ban the weeds.

o1s1n

jjdub1 wrote: »

My great-great grandfather was killed in Gallipolli in August 1915, 3 days after he arrived there with his battalion, straight from training. I find what happened him and many like him incredibly sad - something that was hidden away and not talked of for generations - yet he was remembered and commemorated by the war graves commission (funded by the poppy appeal) when they were considered pariahs in their homeland. I have no issue with the poppy or anyone who wears it.

My great-great Grandfather also died in the first World War (I believe it was in France. Unfortunately there's not that much info).

It was actually during the closing stages of the war. My Great-great Grandmother was expecting him home, but got a letter instead.

The fact that he was fighting for the British army always left my family a bit confused as to how to handle it. Terribly sad situation alright. In the end it just came down to him providing for his family during very hard times.

Crooked Jack

old hippy wrote: »

That's a rather silly comparison, Nodin, as well you know. I have friends and family who have served in various armed forces around the world and they aren't monsters, you know

You dont know what they did or didnt do out there. Im sure the families of those who shot people up on bloody sunday dont think their fathers and sons and husbands are monsters.

DEFTLEFTHAND

old hippy wrote: »

It's like Xmas. Getting earlier every year. There does seem to be a bit of pressure, perhaps to wear them. I've never been asked over here if I wear one but I imagine if I was, say, on telly or in the local conservative club I would. Actually, my local does have a mix of political believers and some wear it, some don't.

It should be a personal choice though. I think pressure to do so in certain quarters has creeped in over the past few years. Like you mentioned people in the public eye such as television presenters all seem to wear them, Professional footballers also on their jerseys, for instance James McClean caused a bit of a stir in Sunderland last year when he refused to sport one.

gobnaitolunacy

No, none of our lot were in the BA and I don't feel the need to wear an Easter Lilly either. If someone's family fought in WW1 or 2 or whatever, fair enough.

Just a thing: all the poppy-bullying on the Beeb is a bit much, if a presenter or someone doesn't want to wear one during Nov they shouldn't be looked at as if they have two heads and turn it into a witch hunt.

mitosis

No. It is a British day of observation. Why should we ape them?

Why is Poppy day now 720 hours long?

Seaneh

Great Grand Father fought in WWI, he refused to wear one, so I don't see why I should wear one.

Karl Stein

No. The British Army have a shameful history on this island.

Nodin

mitosis wrote: »

No. It is a British day of observation. Why should we ape them?

Why is Poppy day now 720 hours long?

My own guess is Afghanistan. It'll be interesting to see the attitude after the final withdrawal.

old hippy

Crooked Jack wrote: »

You dont know what they did or didnt do out there. Im sure the families of those who shot people up on bloody sunday dont think their fathers and sons and husbands are monsters.

Ach, it always comes down to bloody sunday. You cannot judge all soldiers by one horrific case.

beakerjoe

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

Does anyone in Ireland ever wear one?

Id imagine some scummers hoping on someone if they wore one.

ynwa14

Yeah.

I remember the past three years living here in Ireland I've worn one, and waiting at the bus stop or wherever, there's always some old idiot who decides to either give me a lecture about it or ask me if I even know WHAT it means, to all of which I usually reply that yes I do and if they don't stop judging me for it I'll quickly text my uncle and ask him to send them a picture of the two fake legs he's forced to live with after losing his own serving for the british army not even 4 years ago.

So yes I'll wear a poppy to show my support for the armed forces the same way I spend most of my free time fundraising for charities like H4H so that injured soldiers get the treatment and compensation they deserve.

Sob stories dont just work for X Factor, they also make judgemental idiots feel reallyyy bad about themselves.

old hippy

beakerjoe wrote: »

Id imagine some scummers hoping on someone if they wore one.

Because we're known for being a broadminded, tolerant lot, who respect other peoples' traditions and sacrifices?