Ban the Poppy

I have never seen a poppy in this country.

no thanks - its ok

I had expected this to be about drugs. Phew

Go to the fields of Normandy and south Belgium. Visit the cemeteries, read the names of the fallen. Notice the many Irish names. They are the names of our great grandfathers and great uncles. They are men who left young families behind with the hope of making a better life for them. They ended up making the ultimate sacrifice.

So maybe get over yourself and leave people commemorate their family member the way they wish to.

Why has it been years since I had a poppy seed muffin. They’re delicious

the country is a democratic republic. So no, banning something on the basis of you not liking it, being offended by it... isn’t democratic behavior... and not in keeping with the constitution or values of our democracy, a person should have the ability to do as they wish within the law.

Couldn't care less about someone choosing to wear a poppy, I don't even care if they wear a poppy to taunt (which I'd say is incredibly uncommon, even in the North where that sort of taunting is more common). I'm not a big fan of enforced poppy wearing, and absolutely condemn those receiving abuse for choosing not to wear a poppy.

As with every year, much ado about nothing.

Yes you are.

My father served in WW2 and helped ensure that you don't currently speak German. A great unkle died at the ripe old age of 19 in WW1, and is burried on Lemnos in Greece. Incidents in Northern Ireland just don't matter in the scheme of things, as I see them - not even seedlings, let alone small potatoes.

I don't have any time for it, and I've nothing but disrespect for anyone who chooses to wear one. And even less respect for any Irish person who wears one because they were told to by the BBC. But no, anyone who wants to wear one - especially in Ireland - should be encouraged to do so. It's a good way of spotting a dickhead before they open their mouth.

You’re a very sad man Burt if you use the wearing of a poppy as a means to judge someone’s character. Says more about you than them to be honest.

The thing is in Ireland we have a good understanding of how the british military has carried out many brutal atrocities on this Island. To wear a poppy is to commemorate members of all the armed forces of the UK, which includes any members involved in said atrocities.

I would certainly understand why any Irish person would refuse to wear a poppy.

On the other hand in England, the population don't really seem to know, or don't really want to know about the ill deeds of their milatary forces. The British public look up to their milatary as heroes, especially when thinking about events such as WW2.

So when it comes to anyone refusing to wear a poppy they just look at it as the ultimate insult to the heroes who lost their lives fighting for freedom during WW2. They dont really get or understand what brutal atrocities the British armed forces have carried out against the people of Ireland.

I wont judge anyone for wearing a poppy, as im sure they have their own reasons, just as no one should judge anyone for not wanting to wear a poppy.