Remembrance Day: Minister Refuses To Wear Poppy Because It 'advocates War'

[naomi24]

Should someone who doesn’t understand that the poppy, rather than advocating war, is a symbol of respect for the war dead, be conducting a service of remembrance?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10409297/Remembrance-Day-minister-refuses-to-wear-poppy-because-it-advocates-war.html

[ToraToraTora]

it does not advocate war anyway, it is merely remembeing those that died in them, ironically so that brainless mental cases like this can have freedom to make these choices.

[naomi24]

Jake, //So you think that wearing a poppy is a sign of respect for the dead? Neutral?

How would you feel about German and Japanese military representatives attending the cenotaph and wearing a red poppy?//

Yes I do – and I would be happy for our former enemies to wear a poppy to remember their dead too.

[vulcan42]

It wouldn't worry me, and I imagine a lot of other people, if Japanese or Germans attended the Cenotaph wearing a poppy. It's worn to commemorate those who died in wars and as written on the Cenotaph "The glorious dead", it doesn't as far as I know have in brackets "only if you're British".

[Sqad]

vulcan......it should say....." only to our Allies."

in my opinion.

[Hypognosis]

I don't understand Sqad's "out of the question" stance on former enemies also wearing the poppy.

Wasn't it doubly sad for the Germans and Japanese that they were conned into fighting for one madman's ideology or their 'glorious emperor', respectively?

The minister in question is going to wear a white poppy. Does anyone know the supposed significance of this or where the collection money goes?

[jno]

white poppies:

http://www.ppu.org.uk/whitepoppy/

[Prudie]

or you can wear a purple one to commemorate animals who died through war.

[Sqad]

Hypo

\\\\I don't understand Sqad's "out of the question" stance on former enemies also wearing the poppy. \\\\

To me, the "Red Poppy " is a British idea to remember the "victorious" Allies of the two world wars....it is that simple.

The "losers" can have whatever symbol they like to remember their dead more appropriately in their own country.

[Kromovaracun]

She says she will wear a white poppy instead, which lots of other people also do.

I don't see the problem.

[vulcan42]

The problem I have is, whereas the money raised by the red poppy appeal helps the armed forces community, any profit made by the white poppy manufactures goes to self promotion.
//To me, the "Red Poppy " is a British idea to remember the "victorious" Allies of the two world wars....it is that simple. \\
sqad, I've never seen that written before. The red poppy was always to commemorate the dead, it never specified whose, and to raise money for the British armed forces community.

[Sqad]

vulcan......you are quiet correct.......i am giving you my interpretation of the "Red Poppy"........not necessarily the correct one;-)

[Kromovaracun]

that's very true... a friend of mine did have his cake and eat it, by buying a red poppy and then cutting out a petal-shaped piece of paper and using that to replace the red one.

[Hypognosis]

@Sqad
//The "losers" can have whatever symbol they like to remember their dead more appropriately in their own country. //

Oh? So if they like the poppy, then they can wear it too? No problem, then.

Or are you trying to say that the poppy is a 'prize'? That only "winners" have "earned the right" to wear the poppy? Is that it?

Everyone lost WWII - except perhaps the Americans.

[Sqad]

Hypo......

\\\\Oh? So if they like the poppy, then they can wear it too? No problem, then. \\

Yes, if they are so short sighted to choice the "Red poppy."

\\\Or are you trying to say that the poppy is a 'prize'? That only "winners" have "earned the right" to wear the poppy? Is that it? \\

That's it.......like the Ashes in cricket or colours at school.

\\\\\\Everyone lost WWII - except perhaps the Americans.\\\\

Maybe, then it is up to the losers to decide if they want to remember their dead or celebrate being losers.

[Baldric]

Hypno, you mean this?

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/5694498/On_Remembrance_Day_spare_a_thought_for_the_despicable_White_Poppy_appeal/

[anotheoldgit]

The British Legion should conduct a Drum Head Service outside the church.

[anotheoldgit]

Does anyone know if there is any reason why some presenters on TV wear a poppy with no leaf?

[Hypognosis]

@Sqad,

I think the concept of 'winners prize' is how this minister views it - hence her pronouncement that it 'glorifies war'.

@Badlirc,

Yes, I meant that. Annoyingly short article to use up one of my 20/month viewing allowance on but that's not your fault/problem. :-/