Have you or are you getting a poppy this year?

I can remember at one point that they tried to ban poppies because it is a sign of victory rather than sign to remember the fallen. I did a brief search but cannot find this fact - has anyone else heard.

However I did find this, may be this was it
BBC bans presenters from wearing poppies on international channel (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1634574.stm)

Are the BBC right to do so?

Should it be banned?

You missed an option: "I'm not going to buy one because I still have last year's poppy."

Anyway, I wear one - as far as I'm concerned it's a sign of respect for those who gave their lives for this country.

Remember that you could get white poppys a few years ago? Do they still make them?

Perhaps we should continue to remember until 2018, when it has been 100 years and let it quietly come to rest.

John, perhaps someone should inform you that the past tense of 'buy' is 'bought' and not 'brought'.

Originally posted by alchresearch
Perhaps we should continue to remember until 2018, when it has been 100 years and let it quietly come to rest.

That would be 100 years after the Great War, but there have been many more wars since then, in which many people have died.

As Andy says...Its a mark of respect for the many that gave their lives so we have the country we know today. Many of these young men had no choice......wear one with pride.

Originally posted by Andy
You missed an option: "I'm not going to buy one because I still have last year's poppy."

The whole point of poppys is to raise funds for the widows and familys of the fallen.
You are hardly contributing to that if you don't buy one every year are you.

8) Nah Den Ace.........

Originally posted by Andy
That would be 100 years after the Great War......

What was so "Great" about it?

All wars are crap! It should have been called The Crap War!!!

Regards,

Spacehopper.

Originally posted by The Cycleracer
The whole point of poppys is to raise funds for the widows and familys of the fallen.
You are hardly contributing to that if you don't buy one every year are you.

Agreed. I buy a poppy every year - in fact I usually buy more than one because I keep losing them. However, I know some people do re-use last year's poppy.

Great War - Great as in big, not as in good. It was also called the war to end all wars I believe - could they have been more wrong?

On a kind of related note, do people here observe the two minutes silence on the 11th November? Do peoples workplaces allow this?

As Civil Servants yes we do have a 2 minutes silence at work so do all Government buildings.
Can't vouch for industry though.
I know the bus drivers stop.

I can remember at one point that they tried to ban poppies because it is a sign of victory rather than sign to remember the fallen. I did a brief search but cannot find this fact - has anyone else heard.

Wasn't it more a case of trying to substitute it with the white poppy for peace? I do remember what you mean though.

I always wear one. My Grandad fought in the second and he's still alive so it's quite a big thing in my family (my dad's a historian as well!). When I was little we used to go to the monument in town on the sunday every year...

I think it's not just about a specific war but all the wars and loved ones that have passed on - 2 minutes a year to think fondly of those we've lost isn't much, and I applaud any attempts to continue the practice. The BBC are very much in the wrong IMHO.

I wear one but only on Rememberance Sunday, when I also observe the 2 minutes silence. I observe the 2 minutes silence on the 11th if I remember. 'lest we forget and all that...

Originally posted by Andy
I buy a poppy every year - in fact I usually buy more than one because I keep losing them.

On a kind of related note, do people here observe the two minutes silence on the 11th November? Do peoples workplaces allow this?
I try to buy a poppy each year but I always lose them too. I don't think I've got the knack of securing them firmly with the pin. I always end up with no poppy and just a pin stuck in my jacket. So then I buy another one...

The company I work for doesn't observe a minutes silence on November 11th. Perhaps we should be.

Out of respect for my own grandparents, great grandparents and all those who found themselves battling to survive in miserable wartime conditions, I certainly observe a couple of minutes silence and wear a poppy.

When I was much younger, I kind of saw it as a symbol of imperialism that I didn't want anything to do with. Now knowing a great deal more about the actual experiences my own grandparents went through during WW2, I greatly regret this point of view.

I wear a white poppy for peace.

Some info here (http://www.ppu.org.uk/poppy/new/index_left.html) and a selection of links here (http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=white+poppy+for+peace)

I see the 'brought's have now been changed to 'bought's. Nice one, and not before time.

:thumbsup: i buy one each year....coz i think we should....if it wasn't for them we wouldn't be here now:rolleyes:

Ive got a nice big red poppy and i wear it when im wearing black or red and it ties in well. Its nice to show appreciation and i dread to think what would happen if there was a similar type war now where civilians had to be draughted in.

I remember as a teen I refused to have anything to do with poppy day as I was of the stupid belief that peace should rule.

Completely missed the point of entire thing.

I don't care if you agree with war or not - that doesn't stop thousands of men and women doing what they feel is right for their country and needing a bit more than the regular support available later in life or even as a result of their service.

I will be buying a poppy and I buy one for each of my children to wear too. The money that is raised goes to help the survivors of wars and their families like my grandparents.
The British Legion got him the bed and they also got my grandparents a new fridge - that was safer when storing my nan's iron vaccines. I wish I had been able to help that way myself but I am very glad the Legion was there to help in my place.

Moon Maiden

buy one every year without fail. It's the least I can do to repay all those who gave so much for the likes of you and me.
Now those people are real heroes.

When I was younger and more bolshy than I am today I wouldn't wear a poppy at all, thought it celebrated war. Then along came the white poppy one year and I bought that. Boy did I get abused by the older end of the population.

As I've grown older I see it much differently. I wear a poppy and observe the minutes silence which I find very moving indeed.

Last year my little 5 year old emptied her money box (about £10) and snook the money into school for the poppy appeal. I think that she just liked dropping the money in the box. :rolleyes: :shocked: She had kindly brought 4 poppies home though - one for each of us.

Originally posted by Mo
When I was younger and more bolshy than I am today I wouldn't wear a poppy at all, thought it celebrated war. Then along came the white poppy one year and I bought that. Boy did I get abused by the older end of the population.

As I've grown older I see it much differently. I wear a poppy and observe the minutes silence which I find very moving indeed.


Your experience sounds very similar to my own - detailed earlier in the thread. In actual fact, I now find the idea of a white poppy quite insulting, as it implies that the wearer is somehow superior to all those old folks in red poppies who lived through the nightmare. We should remember that to them, poppy day is not just about paying tribute in an abstract way, but about remembering actual friends and family who didn't make it.

The implication that those who wear a red poppy are somehow in favour of war is also hard to take.

I should add that my mum's parents were pacifists, and my grandad on that side had his own trials and tribulations to go through during WW2. My thoughts are just as much for his memory as for those who were fighting.

It's about respect. And white poppies are not respectful.

i cant believe you put a poll on here about this. the money from the poppy appeals go to the families of those who lost their lives, not just in WW2, but even the war in Iraq.
you should buy one for that reason. just cos you bought one a few years ago, doesnt mean you can wear it this year with pride.

I always buy one.

Originally posted by Lickszz
I always buy one.

glad to hear it:thumbsup:

i cant believe you put a poll on here about this.

And why don't you believe I've put a poll on here about this?

Yes i always buy at least one and wear it on my coat.
They are there to raise money to help those still living after war, and as a show of rememberance for those who have lost there lives in war, and not just the world wars. There are people who will have lost relatives recently in Iraq who will be very happy to see how many people remember the people that give there lives for our country.

I usually end up buying 2 or 3 every year (i lose them so easily)

I never used tobuy one until i was 14/15 and i went on a scholl trip to the Somme.

If you have never been it is hard to describe it. It scared me so that i was pretty nihilistic for a time. It also gave me a healthy respect for people, whoever they are. If nothign else it imprinted on a fairly idealistic mind how horrific death in all it's forms is.

I think the few pounds i spend each year isn't nearly enough to ease the pain that any war causes, but it is a start.

Wilf, in one of his more pacifistic moments