Poppy

Have a read.

It's a remembrance of Allied soldiers killed in WWI, inspired by Canadian John McCrae's poem, quoted in the Armistice Day thread.

Refusing to wear it based on remembrance of long-dead British soldiers is hopelessly provincial. I suppose those protesters would have preferred we not win that war.

Refusuing to wear it is actually based on what the non-wearers call(ed) a war in NI. They don't mention the fact that Ireland was 'neutral' in the 2nd one (we were 'British' in the first one) and so got all the advantages without the participation.

Do the French/Belgian/Dutch wear Poppys?

Doesn't the VFW or someone sell those in like the Walmart parking lot for a buck every year? I seem to remember it as a kid now that I see it.

The traditional "poppy countries" are Canada, Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand and (to some extent) the United States.

It's unfortunate that some people negatively view a symbol of sacrifice in defense of freedom.

The Dutch weren't involved in WW I.

The old saying "They gave their today for YOUR tomorrow" sums it up.

Those who bitch about it should remember that without these peoples sacrifices you wouldn't have the freedom you enjoy today.

I agree.

But you don,t live in Ireland.

(Firefox goes to ,find, every time I try a quote, apologies)

thankfully. no

My Grandad had some of these geezers shoot a t him while he was under his bed Black and Tan
These people are also comemorated by this Poppy.

Rent The Wind that blows he Barley on DVD to see them in action.

Lovely lads they were.

I've had friends shot at by 'soldiers' hiding behing kids. Go figure.

All this shit only occasionly gets me angry. Unfortuneatly there are many, many whom it effects daily.

They give them to you for a donation

The Resistance against the Beast that was Britain:

Palme d ?r Winner:

Don't wear it.

You want to commemorate someone or something,
do it in a personal way.

Avoid associating yourself with any groups.

If it's not part of your country's tradition to wear a poppy then it would seem strange to start doing so.

You can't really add a disclaimer to a poppy - 'I don't want to include these particular soldiers' - if you feel that uncomfortable you shouldn't be wearing it, or try a white one.

I associate it more with WW1, but weren't the Black and Tans survivors of that war? In which case, technically they are not commemorated by the poppy.

Kramer wouldn't wear the ribbon.

Tell them you are an Alarm fan. (This is ab-so-lute reality)

Oh, they're comemorated alright. This is where it gets sorta messy.

The Wind that shakes
the Barley...............

hey, I remember The Alarm in the 80's. they were erm, shite.

Not appropriate for this weekend of rememberence.
Resistance or terrorism? guess that depend on your religion.

Kramer would know the answer to this conundrum. We all lover K.

I don't wear them, but they are always in my car.
I still have last years on the visor


It is a nice tradition every year to see them out there.
I wish more would help the vets out.
A few years ago they made wood banks.
I bought two of them for my friends kids and they loved them.

What is "erm"?

Not appropriate? On who's terms? Terorism? Religion? Give mme a fuckin break.

km, when YOUR country gets the shit beat out of them, constantly, for 200 years, tell me what's appropriate.
No offence, but really, sometimes i wonder you Brits were thought in school.

Build a bridge and get over it.

You start a thread like this on rememberence day day just to get a reaction. You obviously think that terrorism is ok as long as it suits yours political view.
If the people of NI want to 're-join' the republic let them have a referendum and then abide by the majority.
Personally I couldn't give a F. I'd be happy to see it re united and watch the violence that follows on tv.
But first, scrap the EU then we wouldn't have to let them back in.

Yes, I've seen The Wind That Shakes The Barley - I'm painfully aware of Britain's crimes, thanks. I still have no problems wearing a poppy, or donating to the welfare of injured former soldiers and their families. I completely understand why the poppy wouldn't be worn in Ireland though.

you get me wrong km. anti-IRA me. Hateful selfish robbin' fuckers imo.

my bridge is built, don't you worry bout that. the thread wasn't started to get a reaction, I don't think terrorism is ok and I think the people in NI are actually a bit freaky.

I, though, just like you, will NEVER forget what MY Grandfather did for me.

God will probably punish me for this.

Poppies

(give it a second)











"God, I totally appreciate everything our soldiers did to keep us free"

Yours Truly,
Boss302


Maybe that will get me off the hook.

Atrocities on both sides, there's no denying that.
People wear the poppy IF they wish to remember and support service men/women and their families.
I'm not going to say anymore. Today's not the day to have political arguments, quite frankly I don't care. Today I'm remembering members of my family, and my friends, who are no longer with us.

km, you and your family deserve this day. I support you.

but so do we. I happen to be fuckin' proud of my Grandad, wouldn't you be?

The Wind That Shakes the Barley - it's only about 100 mins long .....at your local Chartbusters.

Thanks Slane,
I DO support you, and in a way your 'dream'. Ultimatley, for lasting peace there has to be re unification. BUT it can only be with a majority decision by the people of NI, otherwise an imposed re unification will only lead to.... well, let's not go there.

Yeah, let's not go there. You're right.

Neither should it be forgotten. Just coz we're the size of Manchester....

btw, it was an English Director for that movie, and your press SLATED him and called him a traitor to the crown.
I sorta forgive them for lack of intelligence.

I'm glad to hear that, because IRA techniques for bomb-building have shown up in Iraq.

Really? Hadn't heard that.

What do White Poppies represent as opposed to red ones?

There are white poppies?

They probably represent cowardice. [cue US comments about the wonderful country that is France ]

Oh, and the Irish Government of 1939 are probably the founders of the White Poppy.

Not gutless because they didn't want war. Gutless because they refused to support the Allies.
Embaressing.

Poppies are sold every year as an act of remembrance to fallen soldiers at war.

The poppy's significance to Remembrance Day is a result of Canadian military physician John McCrae's poem In Flanders Fields. The poppy emblem was chosen because of the poppies that bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their red colour an appropriate symbol for the bloodshed of trench warfare. A Frenchwoman by the name of Madame E. Gu?rin introduced the widely used artificial poppies given out today. Some people choose to wear white poppies, which emphasises a desire for peaceful alternatives to military action. Until 1996, poppies were made by disabled veterans in Canada, but they have since been made by a private contractor.

In England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland the poppies are the flat Earl Haig variety with a leaf. Wearers require a separate pin to attach the poppy to their clothing.

In Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Scotland the poppies are curled at the petals with no leaf. The Canadian poppies consist of two pieces and a pin to attach them to clothing.

In Sri Lanka in the inter-war years, there were rival sales of yellow Suriya (portia tree) flowers by the Suriya-Mal Movement on Remembrance Day, since funds from poppy sales were not used for Sri Lankan ex-service personnel but were repatriated to Britain. However, nowadays poppy sales are used for indigenous ex-service personnel.