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

[mikey4444]

Daft woman.

[Brenden]

Words fail me, she should not be in the ministry let alone conducting a service of remembrance -

[mikey4444]

It could be that this woman is foreign and perhaps doesn't fully understand what Remembrance Day means to us in Britain, Still daft though.

[dzug2]

Does a red poppy 'advocate' war? Or glorify it? Or point out the stupendous folly of it? Or commemorate the dead?

Well yes, it does all of these things to different people - and sometimes all of them to the same person.

It's all in the eye of the beholder

[Tilly2]

Her congregation should vote with its feet and go to another church that day. I hope no one turns up.

[Prudie]

No she shouldn't. She has the right not to wear one obviously but as she clearly doesn't understand its meaning then surely her service will be meaningless.

[Gromit]

At the end of the day, it is up to her what she wears.

Now that they know her views, it is up to members of the public to decide whether they attend her service or not.

[naomi24]

Mikey, She's American - but surely the clue to the purpose of the service is in the title.

Prudie, my thoughts exactly.

[weecalf]

Why can the lady not have a choice to wear it or not .Why was she asked why she was not wearing it .The people who lost their lives in wars are quietly remembered in prayed and quiet moments of reflection by people who do not wear poppies also . Id be more inclined to ask those wearing it why they are wearing it .

[naomi24]

weecalf, people wear it as a mark of respect for the dead - nothing more than that - but that's something this women doesn't appear to understand.

[mikey4444]

I would support this daft woman in not wearing the Poppy, because I believe in free speech. But she must be aware that her attitude may, and probably will cause offence.

About 10 years ago, I took the 12 and 14 years old sons of a friend of mine up to Town for the day, on the Sunday after Remembrance Sunday. We had participated in our local service, in Surrey as they were keen Scouts at the time.

They were very interested and excited in seeing the actual place in Whitehall that the main ceremony took place. But I had to explain to them how a wreath was there from the BNP party. From talking to a nearby policeman, it turned out that the BNP had placed it there at night, after the official parade.

Not sure if this is relevant to the post but I recalled it this morning.

[JRB]

I wear my poppy as a remembrance of what wars have cost us and as a hope for Peace. However it is her choice as to wear one or not, as long as she is sensitive about expressing her opinion. People are still losing loved ones today.

[naomi24]

oops ... *woman

[douglas9401]

Another colonial who gets her knowledge of history from Disney perhaps?

[mikey4444]

Don't you just our American friends ? I'm still sticking with daft.

[Gromit]

I have just done a search of remembrance day images to see if I could find any of the ministers conducting the service not wearing a poppy. And I found that in most photos I found the Minister was poppyless, as in these examples

http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/southport-news/southport-southport-news/2012/11/07/remembrance-day-services-on-sunday-101022-32183582/

http://www.thisiseast.com/tag/gorton/page/2/

http://www.demotix.com/news/920514/freemasons-hold-remembrance-service-national-memorial-arboretum

So if it is common for vicars not to wear a poppy at remembrance day services and no one has commented on it before, why has this black, female foreign vicar found herself on the pages of the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail?

[sandyRoe]

And a foreigner, to boot. Could they not find a native cleric to conduct the service?

[naomi24]

Gromit, the issue isn't that she's not wearing a poppy - it's her reason for not doing so. Gender, nationality, colour are all irrelevant - but a minister conducting a service ought to know what the service is about - and she doesn't.

[vulcan42]

The red poppy has never symbolised or glorified war,it was chosen as a symbol to represent and honour the dead. Perhaps this minister should reflect on how her "democratic right" was won.

[coccinelle]

It might not be the case of not wanting to wear a poppy but where the money goes in buying a poppy. Just a thought. Haven't read the article so maybe not the case.