Will you be wearing the poppy this year ?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Azalea wrote: »

No it isn't. It would be wrong of me not to include it. It indicates an awareness that some poppy wearers in this country, like you, have genuine reasons for it. And there are southern unionists (although I personally think it's a bit strange that they live in the republic).

But then there are the CCOB/Eoghan Harris-esque self loathing types with an inferiority complex who fawn over the British establishment and hardline unionists and "wish we were still" part of the empire (well they probably don't really).

Some, some?? You have no idea how many have justified honest reasons for wanting to remember. Your post was still a dig at those wearing a poppy no matter how you wish to cover yourself with tokens.

arybvtcw0eolkf

You'd have to be pretty retarded to think the Poppy Appeal glorifies war.

It helps soldiers and their families who have served during war AND peace.

Sheep Lover

Avery Tight Kindle wrote: »

You'd have to be pretty retarded to think the Poppy Appeal glorifies war.

Poppy Appeal makes its sound like an old dear outside Centra collecting a few euro.

It's a total propaganda tool which is all over British media with the lambasting of anyone who chooses not to wear one. Take football for example, totally politicised for a couple of weeks with poppys sown onto jerseys and military displays before each match. The celebrating of the slaughter of native people in numerous invasions throughout history

To say it doesn't glorify war would be "retarded".

steddyeddy

Avery Tight Kindle wrote: »

You'd have to be pretty retarded to think the Poppy Appeal glorifies war.

It helps soldiers and their families who have served during war AND peace.

No but we're in a country with a long negative history involving the British army. They contributed heavily to the troubles on this island. Some of the soldiers are not people I want to see helped IMHO. Granted they make a small proportion of the army but their actions are still glorified by some in the British establishment.

Berserker

Sheep Lover wrote: »

Poppy Appeal makes its sound like an old dear outside Centra collecting a few euro.

That's exactly what it is.

Azalea

Princeton Square Tadpole wrote: »

Some, some?? You have no idea how many have justified honest reasons for wanting to remember. Your post was still a dig at those wearing a poppy no matter how you wish to cover yourself with tokens.

Read it into it what you want to, but I have no problem whatsoever with people who wear a poppy for genuine reasons.

justchecked

steddyeddy wrote: »

It's not ignorance dude as it's fairly well advertised. It's just not my tradition.

I suppose you didnt even get off your hole and go to mecca this year either.

Some people.

steddyeddy

justchecked wrote: »

I suppose you didnt even get off your hole and go to mecca this year either.

Some people.

I know. Nor did I celebrate Hanukkah or honour the Nepalese army or anything else unconnected with me.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Azalea wrote: »

Read it into it what you want to, but I have no problem whatsoever with people who wear a poppy for genuine reasons.

And that's perfectly fine but don't assume anybody's reasons and lump us all together.

beerpong

My grandfather fought in world war 2 and I won't be wearing one.. The Poppy is a propaganda tool akin to "support our troops" and flag worship in the US.

The British establishment would be better of supporting their troops by not invading lands for private gain, by not sending soldiers out ill equipped, by not abandoning these soldiers when their job is done.

Azalea

Princeton Square Tadpole wrote: »

And that's perfectly fine but don't assume anybody's reasons and lump us all together.

I didn't lump you all together though.

I'll wear the poppy because I'm English. I was brought up to respect the contribution of service people in war and in peace. Not all service people have behaved perfectly throughout history in any nation, but the very vast majority have earned the right to be respected and acknowledged.

It's one day a year, a tiny investment that makes the lives of people who have suffered in the service of their country a little better.

If you don't want to wear it as an Irish person, then there's no reason why you should. You shouldn't assume you know the motivations of everyone who does though.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Sheep Lover wrote: »

Poppy Appeal makes its sound like an old dear outside Centra collecting a few euro.

It's a total propaganda tool which is all over British media with the lambasting of anyone who chooses not to wear one. Take football for example, totally politicised for a couple of weeks with poppys sown onto jerseys and military displays before each match. The celebrating of the slaughter of native people in numerous invasions throughout history

To say it doesn't glorify war would be "retarded".

See I'm reluctant to discuss the poppy with people like you, people I suspect are only aware of the poppy once a year through these threads.

The Poppy Appeal was launched post WWI to help soldiers returning from the war (and not going TO the war).. It also aimed to help the soldiers resettle into civilian life, deal with the effects of combat, find them employment and help the soldiers families through tough financial and emotional times.

It has never glorified war or call men to arms, never. Not once.

The monies raised go directly to the welfare of both serving and ex personnel.

Its completely retarded to believe it glorifies war.

Maybe if you had some experience of war you'd understand this.. Or maybe open your mind to the Poppy Appeal and what it means before spouting your glorifying war rubbish.

RobertKK

Avery Tight Kindle wrote: »

You'd have to be pretty retarded to think the Poppy Appeal glorifies war.

It helps soldiers and their families who have served during war AND peace.

It is used by politicians to glorify the army, not war.

Politicians never accept they were the ones responsible for all the dead, and most of it was needless.

You hear nothing about all the civilians these wars killed, they get nothing.

steddyeddy

Avery Tight Kindle wrote: »

See I'm reluctant to discuss the poppy with people like you, people I suspect are only aware of the poppy once a year through these threads.

The Poppy Appeal was launched post WWI to help soldiers returning from the war (and not going TO the war).. It also aimed to help the soldiers resettle into civilian life, deal with the effects of combat, find them employment and help the soldiers families through tough financial and emotional times.

It has never glorified war or call men to arms, never. Not once.

The monies raised go directly to the welfare of both serving and ex personnel.

Its completely retarded to believe it glorifies war.

Maybe if you had some experience of war you'd understand this.. Or maybe open your mind to the Poppy Appeal and what it means before spouting your glorifying war rubbish.

Does that include helping Irish soldiers Mak?

Sheep Lover

Avery Tight Kindle wrote: »

Its completely retarded to believe it glorifies war.

Really? And the sick and twisted "celebrating" of the war dead is not glorification.

Why doesn't the Poppy support the innocents in war? Not just the ones who committed the murder.

arybvtcw0eolkf

steddyeddy wrote: »

Does that include helping Irish soldiers Mak?

Whats an Irish soldier?.

An Irish men (or woman) who serves in the B.A. (or any other army) is an Irish soldier.

And Irish soldier can also be a person who serves or has served in the Irish Defense Forces regardless the persons born nationality, ie we have soldiers born in various parts of Europe serving here now ~ they're also Irish soldiers.

So whats an Irish soldier?.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Sheep Lover wrote: »

Really? And the sick and twisted "celebrating" of the war dead is not glorification.

Why doesn't the Poppy support the innocents in war? Not just the ones who committed the murder.

Ah you're one of those.. I won't bother with you henceforth, g'day.

Sheep Lover

Avery Tight Kindle wrote: »

Ah you're one of those.. I won't bother with you henceforth, g'day.

Thought so, that usually silences the "our boys" types.

lertsnim

I won't commemorate any foreign armed forces.

Liamalone

Glorifies war, so I'm out.

Sheep Lover

Avery Tight Kindle wrote: »

Maybe if you had some experience of war you'd understand this..

So were you at the Somme or Verdun?

Sheep Lover

Sheep Lover wrote: »

Thought so, that usually silences the "our boys" types.

You just called soldiers murderers ffs.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Candie wrote: »

You just called soldiers murderers ffs.

I wouldn't waste my time.

Avery Tight Kindle

Avery Tight Kindle wrote: »

I wouldn't waste my time.

I won't.

rockatansky

Time of year again.

The problem with the Poppy is that it covers every war involving the British Armed Forces.

Give me a badge/flower/symbol whatever that goes towards the assistance/remembrance of everyone who fought and died on the allied side of World War 2 and I'll wear it with pride. Hell, I'll even go out and sell the things.

Wear something that includes those who carried out Bloody Sunday, Ballymurphy etc.. and you can fu*k right off.

Sheep Lover

Candie wrote: »

You just called soldiers murderers ffs.

I forgot the glory in firing into villages in the Middle East from your helicopter gunship.

foggy_lad

I'll be wearing my poppy and some pansies.

steddyeddy

Candie wrote: »

You just called soldiers murderers ffs.

British poppy or not I would wear it but a substantial amount of the British force are murderers e.g. Bloody Sunday.

Dozen Wicked Words

foggy_lad wrote: »

I'll be wearing my poppy and some pansies.

A bouquet if you will.

foggy_lad

Dozen Wicked Words wrote: »

A bouquet if you will.

more likely a bucket

Pac1Man

I'm not British, so no.

Maybe Russia or Japan have a day of remembrance for their troops and maybe they also wear a symbol commemorating the day (I don't know if they do), but I wouldn't wear their symbol either because I'm not Russian or Japanese.

How is this even a question for an Irish person or any other nationality?

steddyeddy

Pac1Man wrote: »

I'm not British, so no.

Maybe Russia or Japan have a day of remembrance for their troops and maybe they also wear a symbol commemorating the day (I don't know if they do), but I wouldn't wear their symbol either because I'm not Russian or Japanese.

How is this even a question for an Irish person or any other nationality?

I have no idea but apparently we're ignorant for not wearing it or something.

Rabo Karabekian

Candie wrote: »

You just called soldiers murderers ffs.

It would be a long post if s/he went through every death to decide whether it was a justified killing or simply murder. Murder happens in war, just because they're soldiers doesn't justify it.

It gets even murkier when you're fighting an offensive war or a defensive one. But I'm assuming that most supporters of the poppy would see British actions since (and including) WWI as defensive wars. That's something I don't see, don't understand, and so would not be wearing the poppy and never will.

MJI

**** No!

MRnotlob606

No way,My Grandfather fought in WW1 and was in the Royal Navy at the time. But things have moved on, we're an independent Republic today and wearing something that honours another nation's military is very unsettling for me.If anything,we should commemorating our UN peacekeepers who were killed in katanga in the Congo or perhaps those killed in Lebanon.

arybvtcw0eolkf

MRnotlob606 wrote: »

If anything,we should commemorating our UN peacekeepers who were killed in katanga in the Congo or perhaps those killed in Lebanon.

Why 'perhaps' Lebanon?.. Why should our veterans who served and were killed in Lebanon be a second thought to the guys who fell in the Congo?.

And for your information the UN Vets Association and the Organisation of National Ex-service men and women fund raise for our UN Vets.

We also commemorate and celebrate our war dead annually and on every visit to the Garden of Rememberence in Dublin, plus we've a UN plot in Glasnevin Cemetery.

rockatansky

It's good to know that money spent on the poppy could be one day going to help these brave heroes.

citytillidie

play it again wrote: »

Of course , it's very important to remember the people who died so we can live in freedom , free from oppression and dictators, because brave men and women laid down their lives

Was only men in WWI

Pac1Man

Avery Tight Kindle wrote: »

Why 'perhaps' Lebanon?.. Why should our veterans who served and were killed in Lebanon be a second thought to the guys who fell in the Congo?.

Why would you create an argument over that?!

It's quite obvious that the poster meant both in equal measure.

rockatansky

Avery Tight Kindle wrote: »

Why 'perhaps' Lebanon?.. Why should our veterans who served and were killed in Lebanon be a second thought to the guys who fell in the Congo?.

And for your information the UN Vets Association and the Organisation of National Ex-service men and women fund raise for our UN Vets.

We also commemorate and celebrate our war dead annually and on every visit to the Garden of Rememberence in Dublin, plus we've a UN plot in Glasnevin Cemetery.

Slightly over reacting no? I don't think the poster was intentionally trying to differentiate between the two.

citytillidie

Avery Tight Kindle wrote: »

You'd have to be pretty retarded to think the Poppy Appeal glorifies war.

It helps soldiers and their families who have served during war AND peace.

And helped to kill innocent people all over the world

steddyeddy

I'll state my position on this for clarity. I have great respect for any soldier putting their life on the line for their country or for a cause they support. That includes British, Germans, IRA, Americans or whoever. People are people and soldiers are soldiers.

I'm Irish but also my uncle Micheal McLaughlin helped set up the first civil rights movement in Northern Ireland and in fact the first march was organised in his kitchen. His initial marches were a success and he preached non violent solutions. There was talk of some of their demands being met.

Then another march against internment was organised and the parachute regiment slaughtered them several of them and more than that they put an end to the peaceful alternative. My uncle gave up the civil rights movement then as the British army in more ways than one were working against it.

Now you might remind me that funding the poppy doesn't fund events like Bloody Sunday. What it does do is help soldiers returning home from combat. Now I don't agree with Iraq or some of Afghanistan but I have no problem with the majority of those soldiers receiving help. When it comes to bloody Sunday not one of those murderers was charged with murder. That event helped prolong the troubles considerably and there are still some British people (mainly UKip voters in fairness) who think the army were justified. I couldn't in good faith buy a poppy that might go to someone who supported colonialism or the sheer murder that occurred in Northern Ireland. I was taught better than that.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Pac1Man wrote: »

Why would you create an argument over that?!

It's quite obvious that the poster meant both in equal measure.

rockatansky wrote: »

Slightly over reacting no? I don't think the poster was intentionally trying to differentiate between the two.

My mistake so.

so to answer in short.

We commemorate the fallen both in the Congo and Lebanon equally.

We've also lost people soldiers serving in Liberia and East Timor who are also remembered.

lertsnim

Avery Tight Kindle wrote: »

Why 'perhaps' Lebanon?.. Why should our veterans who served and were killed in Lebanon be a second thought to the guys who fell in the Congo?.

And for your information the UN Vets Association and the Organisation of National Ex-service men and women fund raise for our UN Vets.

We also commemorate and celebrate our war dead annually and on every visit to the Garden of Rememberence in Dublin, plus we've a UN plot in Glasnevin Cemetery.

You are only looking for an argument.

CK73

2 years ago when I first came over to live in N.Ireland I had a big poppy on my car. Mostly because I love poppies, as it is my favourite flower and I love the colour red. My car went in to the garage prior to its MOT and when I got it back the poppy was gone. I was told that they took it off before taking it in for the MOT as it might have failed if it had been left on.

Now I know people traditionally think of the poppy in terms of the war, but that is not what it is about any more. The charity looks after serving and ex-servicemen, women and their dependants who are in need, financially or otherwise. They do not have to have been in a war situation to apply for help and often they need help after they have left service. When you consider that often the training involves responding without question and being part of a squad, not an individual, it can be very difficult to adjust, let alone that fact that some leave with mental or physical injury or are widowed.

Would I buy a poppy? Yes, because I love the poppy and I like to help where I can, in the same way I give for red nose day. It does come to something when I can put a pair of antlers on my car with no problem, but a poppy and it meets with disapproval that could result in my car failing an MOT when there is nothing wrong with it.

Jawgap

I generally wear an Irish poppy or a Connaught Rangers lapel pin in memory of my great grandfather.

My family also sends a donation each year to the British Legion for the excellent care provided to a grand uncle who was an Arctic Convoys veteran.

Not everyone would agree, that's for sure

arybvtcw0eolkf

lertsnim wrote: »

You are only looking for an argument.

The day I go looking for an internet argument is the day I'll start licking the inside of my eye lids and cleaning out my ears with my elbows.

Try harder, but I won't be responding to your bait.

timthumbni

Yes I will be wearing a poppy as I do every year. I'm from Northern Ireland and I normally wear the wee pin badges. I don't wear it to offend anyone. For me the poppy represents those who died in the 2 world wars. In particular the Somme for me. I recommend people to watch blackadder goes forth. Very poignant.

timthumbni

It's nice to see this thread like autumn comes around every year. No paranoia in Ireland whatsoever. Lol.