Let's not turn a thread about rememberence into an argument gents, just agree to disagree
Remembrance...
- Thread starter Stalker62
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BenBhoy
Well-Known Member
Agreed - but you can see just on here how hostile people can be at someone choosing to wear one.
You may want to reflect on why (which has been explained already), unless your post was just your usual need to have the last word on something....
Moving on....
That is because wearing a white poppy is directly introducing politics into Remembrance Sunday.
In case you are not already aware, the Peace Pledge Union (PPU) admit this on their own website. They make the argument that, when the Royal British Legion (RBL) says that the wearing of a red poppy is to "show support for the armed forces", this is in and of itself a political statement. They then go on to say that, since "making a commitment to peace is political", the two are equivalent.
This ignores the fact that one organisation is political in its purpose, whilst the other is not.
The Poppy Appeal is run by the Royal British Legion. The RBL is a charity. Charities are required by law to be independent and cannot have political purposes. In 2023, the last year for which they published figures, the RBL raised £39.3m through the Poppy Appeal, which represented 26.7% of RBL's total fundraising in that year, which amounted to £147m. The RBL spent £180.6m in 2023, including £48m on care homes and £53.2m on welfare services.
The White Poppy campaign is run by the Peace Pledge Union. The PPU is not a charity, but a non-governmental organisation (NGO), whose stated purpose is to promote pacifism and nonviolent solutions to conflict. NGO's can, by law, be political institutions and can encourage political participation. In 2020, the last year for which they published figures, the PPU raised £142,479, of which £46,384 came from the sale of white poppies. That same year the PPU spent £107,933 on staff costs and - from what is in the report - none of the money raised was spent on welfare for those affected by wars and other conflict.
As I also pointed out above, and counter to the PPU's assertion, wearing a red poppy does not mean that "choosing to remember only UK and allied military personnel is just as political as choosing to remember all victims of war". The UK was a relative latecomer to the wearing of a red poppy, and the tradition of doing so continues in many other countries.
So by all means wear a white poppy, if that is what you feel best portrays your feelings about Remembrance Sunday. However also understand that, in doing so, you are making a political statement, whether consciously or not.
That way you may find it less strange the next time some old lad verbally attacks you outside the church!
Morkai
Well-Known Member
Well said!
Of course, being verbally attacked then let's him play the role of "the poor victim", which I suspect is part of all this (typical liberal crap, trying to claim the moral high ground, and making it all about themselves).
BenBhoy
Well-Known Member
Grrr trying so hard to stay respectful & keep this thread decent... Think I'll stay here on the moral high ground & say no more.
I didn’t see any attempt to Refute any evidence pointed out to him about the white poppy.
Just wah waaaah wah , it’s hostile.
I actually expected much better from him.
As I said , wear what you want but remember it was British servicemen ,some just mere children that laid down their lives to afford you the right to do what you want…
And yet, vocalize about being on the moral high ground (eye roll). Smdh...how narcissistic of you...
BenBhoy
Well-Known Member
Well yes, something else I particularly do not wish to do. I wasn't going to bring this part into it. If the red poppy was purely about remembering those who sacrificed so much then maybe I would. But when it starts saying it's about supporting the armed forces in general, then I simply can't lend my support to that.
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
BenBhoy
Well-Known Member
Apparently not...
Morkai
Well-Known Member
I dont wear a poppy, never have, don't attend any of the events on Remembrance Sunday, it's just something I've never done.
I do however make a point to be present when passing the local cenotaphs, not out of some romantic way, just to acknowledge what those young men endured.
Can't recall how many times I walk by the one in the village, it never becomes background scenery.
I do however make a point to be present when passing the local cenotaphs, not out of some romantic way, just to acknowledge what those young men endured.
Can't recall how many times I walk by the one in the village, it never becomes background scenery.
And do you perhaps begin to understand why those old lads at church, many of whom I would guess would be members of the RBL, might then see the white poppy and those who wear them as being unsupportive of the armed forces?
And why wearing a white poppy on Remembrance Sunday might therefore be seen as somewhat provocative, and as an effective slap in the face to those who are there to remember their friends and comrades who lost their lives when answering the call of their country?
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
I have been very lucky to travel the length and breadth of the UK (for work and pleasure).
What has always struck a chord; no matter how far North, how far South, how far East or how far West I go, there is always (and I mean, always) a memorial to the War Dead, in every Town, Village, or Hamlet.
It never fails to move me.
The west coast of Scotland is particularly ingrained in special operations executive history.
Little memorials in the most remote and random places.
Morkai
Well-Known Member
You see the amount of names on them compared to the sizes of the villages. The number losses to the families must have been huge.
I see family names on my local ones that I still recognise.
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