What does the poppy mean to you?

[dl8860]

The original intent behind the poppy when it was first introduced was for it to be purely as a symbol of remembrance and respect for the fallen. This remains on the Royal British Legion's website as the meaning of the poppy.

But nowadays, it looks like more and more people are shying away from it, as they perceive it's becoming more of a general symbol of support for the British armed forces and all of their endeavours. Which following the war in Iraq, people are becoming more and more uneasy with.

I feel like I can't help but agree that the original meaning is being overridden, especially when we see things like this:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-43892289

And the RBL frequently refer to the poppy appeal as support for all of the armed forces community, rather than purely a regretful commemoration for those who have lost their lives.

We also see more 'poppy facism' these days, with public figures being shamed and abused for not wearing poppies.

So do you see it as a way purely to remember the dead, or to show your support for the armed forces in general?

 

[chroniclard]

I just stick a few quid in the box and dont bother with a poppy. Its been tainted a fair bit by the poppy facists and hate groups like Britain First/Facebook.

 

[antijoke]

The original intent behind the poppy when it was first introduced was for it to be purely as a symbol of remembrance and respect for the fallen. This remains on the Royal British Legion's website as the meaning of the poppy.

This is what it will always mean to me.

 

[cheesyboy]

I usually buy one but don't wear them.

Helping with the causes the money supports is ok, but I don't subscribe to the reverence of wars.

To be honest, there's some cognitive dissonance there. I probably shouldn't buy them either.

 

[NoobCannon]

This is what it will always mean to me.

+1

 

[dowie]

I just stick a few quid in the box and dont bother with a poppy. Its been tainted a fair bit by the poppy facists and hate groups like Britain First/Facebook.

That’s like saying the Union Jack has been tainted, if anything that attitude contributes towards it too.

 

[PlacidCasual]

It reminds me of the family members who fought in the Second World War. It reminds me of the millions who died in both wars so that freedom would survive. It reminds me of the folly of the past and the price that others paid.

 

[adolf hamster]

Its a symbol to remember the poor sods who had to die in the name of political idiocy, and its for all sides, not just our lot, because thinking our lot is any different to their lot is the reason the whole damn lot had to die in the first place.

 

[EGuitarStar]

A symbol of remembrance and respect for the fallen.

+1

I do donate but choose not to wear the poppy.

 

[dowie]

Its a symbol to remember the poor sods who had to die in the name of political idiocy, and its for all sides, not just our lot, because thinking our lot is any different to their lot is the reason the whole damn lot had to die in the first place.

That's dubious, slight irony there given your user name but do you really think that say the Nazis/SS were no different to the allies?

 

[Angilion]

That's dubious, slight irony there given your user name but do you really think that say the Nazis/SS were no different to the allies?

I think it's worth bearing in mind that the vast majority of the German soldiers in WW2 were neither nazis nor SS.

There was even one battle in which German soldiers, American soldiers and French resistance fighters fought on the same side (against the SS).

 

[adolf hamster]

That's dubious, slight irony there given your user name but do you really think that say the Nazis/SS were no different to the allies?

I think they were the product of what we did to germany after the first world war, you keep kicking a man when he's down then you're surprised when he finally gets back up that he's not so civil any more.

 

[Avenged7Fold]

I put a few quid in each year but don't waste a paper poppy. Recently though I have given the White Peace Poppy guys more of my attention. It isn't an opposing symbol but rather stands for all casualties of war including civilians and promotes an idea of pacifism, with the proceeds going towards anti-war campaigning and education.

Legion and Peace Pledge guys say that the symbols neither compete nor conflict with each other, despite some of the more vocal facebook types implying one symbol undermines the other...

Symbols like these are often personal to the person, so i find it absolutely ridiculous when one person tries to tell another that the symbol they are wearing means they believe xxx and yyy.

 

[dowie]

I think it's worth bearing in mind that the vast majority of the German soldiers in WW2 were neither nazis nor SS.

There was even one battle in which German soldiers, American soldiers and French resistance fighters fought on the same side (against the SS).

I specifically referred to the SS not the German Army for that reason as the distinction is then much clearer.

That aside they, in general, were also the aggressors.

I think they were the product of what we did to germany after the first world war, you keep kicking a man when he's down then you're surprised when he finally gets back up that he's not so civil any more.

I don't think you can blame all of it that, certainly not things like the holocaust.

As far as that conflict was concerned our lot were responding to a dictator who had invaded various allied countries on the continent, that IMO makes our lot better than their lot as we were in the right. Our lot could have stayed out of the conflict and allied ourselves with Hitler had we wanted to - would you have preferred that option?

 

[adolf hamster]

I don't think you can blame all of it that, certainly not things like the holocaust.

i think we can, it planted the seed that got hitler into power, and once he was in power then it turned to fear that kept him there.

every country has it's lunatics, but it's only when people's backs are against the wall do their crazed ramblings get listened to.

 

[Ocean Breeze]

It’s long past time to move on from the war.

Then you think about the all the innocent civilians Britain has killed waging wars here and there. Nobody thinks or remembers them.

I can’t wear a poppy. Too much hypocrisy and BS in this world.

 

[wedrum]

The poppy Gives me a mega high

 

[rebel rebel]

I donate, buy and wear one every year. For me its to remember the fallen hero's of WWI and WWII.

I don't like that it's a become a symbol for all the recent wars.

 

[krooton]

Not a lot, but then I didn't grow up here .

 

[KingOfTheDaves]

I use to wear one, but not in the last few years.

And I won't untill the 'chattering, outraged of society' stops jumping down the throat of any media/public figure who chooses not to wear one. The poppy should be a choice to wear, otherwise it loses meaning.