Remembrance Day: Minister Refuses To Wear Poppy Because It 'advocates War'

[naomi24]

Should someone who doesn’t understand that the poppy, rather than advocating war, is a symbol of respect for the war dead, be conducting a service of remembrance?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10409297/Remembrance-Day-minister-refuses-to-wear-poppy-because-it-advocates-war.html

[jno]

it's possible to remember the dead without wearing fake flowers.

[boxtops]

Indeed, jno - but it's a national tribute, almost, to wear the poppy at the service... IMO. She obviously never heard of the poppies in Flanders Field....

[jno]

the dead don't care what you wear, but if asked they might have said they were fighting for the right of everyone to wear what they pleased.

[weecalf]

Would we tie a yellow ribbon for our troops coming home .Maybe its a cultural thing.

[naomi24]

jno, but the poppy to her doesn't signify remembrance of the dead - she mistakenly believes it advocates war. She's conducting this service, but doesn't appear to understand why.

[Prudie]

I feel people are missing the point. She has openly said (apparently) that she won't wear a poppy because it advocates war. That to me is a fundamental misunderstanding. Nobody has to wear a dead flower but if you do at least know why you're doing it. Poppies were picked because they were the first thing to regenerate on the battlefields, they happen to be red. If it were dandelions we might wear those instead.

[mikey4444]

100% right prudie. This daft woman seems to unaware of the origin of poppy wearing. Perhaps some Brit in her congregation can take her to one side and gently explain things to her. Afteral, us Brits and the Yanks speak roughly the same language, give or take some finer points of grammar !

[vulcan42]

I wonder if she realises it was the Americans who first used the poppy as a symbol.

[mikey4444]

Perhaps they used poppys in the 1916-1918 war, or the 1914-1918 war as we know it ? They were late for WW2 as well !

[vulcan42]

I think on those two occasions it was a case of better late than never.

[jake-the-peg]

So you think that wearing a poppy is a sign of respect for the dead? Neutral?

How would you feel about German and Japanese military representatives attending the cenotaph and wearing a red poppy?

I'll wear a poppy when I see that day because then I'll know it truly is a commemoration of war dead - not just 'our side'.

People like to say it memorialise those who gave their lives 'for our freedom' and they do like to try and roll out ex-servicemen from the 'popular wars' WWII in particular.

Harder to make the sale of those who gave their lives for Iraq or Suez

I think it encourages those who like to think that flexing our military muscle thousands of miles away show we are somehow still important in the world and if some civilian goatherders happen to get hit by a missile or machinegunned from a helicopter by accident that's just sad but unavoidable.

Sorry but I'm on her side

[jake-the-peg]

Just waiting now to be called 'anti-british'

[Prudie]

Jake not at all, you can of course be on her side - but then don't lead a service of remembrance.

[jno]

jake might lead a service of remembrance for all dead soldiers, and why not.

[FredPuli43]

If a German or Japanese wore a poppy anywhere , I would be happy. Their people lost young men in wars which either they were persuaded or compelled to participate in. In that, those young men were no different from ours.

[Prudie]

I've never thought of wearing a poppy just remembered our side nor just the 2 world wars.

[Sqad]

Well done Jake....i have seen the almost exact spiel from you on at least 3 occasions.......but you are entitled to your opinion.

\\So you think that wearing a poppy is a sign of respect for the dead? Neutral?\\

Yes

\\\\How would you feel about German and Japanese military representatives attending the cenotaph and wearing a red poppy?\\\

Out of the question.
They can find their own way of respecting their dead.

\\\\I'll wear a poppy when I see that day because then I'll know it truly is a commemoration of war dead - not just 'our side'. \\\\

That's OK with me.

\\\\Harder to make the sale of those who gave their lives for Iraq or Suez \\

Of course you are correct......but Suez and Iraq....deaths were on a much smaller scale.

\\\\Sorry but I'm on her side\\\
Don't be sorry...we understand....