wearing a poppy

spend_or_save

Just a vent really,

I was at the local cenotaph today paying my respects to those who fought in the great wars to give us our freedom.

When on 2 separate occasions I was given a verbal dressing down for not wearing a poppy.

I have my own opinions on the poppy and choose not to wear it, I would never dream of criticising anyone who feels differently and wears it with pride.

The great wars were fought to maintain our freedom, how people can now decide this excludes the freedom to choose whether to wear a poppy or not Is beyond me and seems totally hypocritical!!

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

I did not wear a poppy today. I wore the RAFBF T shirt instead!

I was asked by a friend why I do not stand at the cenotaph either, I cannot be bothered to stand with self ingratiating politicians either!

JReacher1

If you're not prepared to wear a poppy and you go to the cenotaph then you are going to be verbally told off as it shows a lack of respect.

zagfles

spend_or_save wrote: »

Just a vent really,

I was at the local cenotaph today paying my respects to those who fought in the great wars to give us our freedom.

When on 2 separate occasions I was given a verbal dressing down for not wearing a poppy.

I have my own opinions on the poppy and choose not to wear it, I would never dream of criticising anyone who feels differently and wears it with pride.

The great wars were fought to maintain our freedom, how people can now decide this excludes the freedom to choose whether to wear a poppy or not Is beyond me and seems totally hypocritical!!

It doesn't exclude that freedom, does it? Were you forced to wear one? Were you arrested for not wearing one? Were you thrown into prison, beaten or hung?

Freedom includes the freedom to express an opinion. Even if you disagree with that opinion.

spend_or_save

JReacher1 wrote: »

If you're not prepared to wear a poppy and you go to the cenotaph then you are going to be verbally told off as it shows a lack of respect.

How is it disrepectful?

I was at the Cenotaph paying my respects, how can that be disrepectful? Would staying in the house but having a poppy on my jumper make more respectful?

spend_or_save

zagfles wrote: »

It doesn't exclude that freedom, does it? Were you forced to wear one? Were you arrested for not wearing one? Were you thrown into prison, beaten or hung?

Freedom includes the freedom to express an opinion. Even if you disagree with that opinion.

No I wasn't forced or arrested, but I was verbally abused while at a cenotaph paying my respects.

As I said before everyone is entitled to their opinion, and the freedom to express I'm not sure that should stretch to verbally abusing strangers who may have a different believe to yourself though!!

Andypandyboy

So did you explain your views on wearing a Poppy?

JReacher1

spend_or_save wrote: »

How is it disrepectful?

I was at the Cenotaph paying my respects, how can that be disrepectful? Would staying in the house but having a poppy on my jumper make more respectful?

Going to the cenotaph on remembrance Sunday without wearing a poppy is as disrespectful as turning up to a funeral in a pair of shorts and a t shirt.

There is nothing wrong with not wearing a poppy if you don't believe in it, however if you turn up somewhere where one should be worn then you are opening yourself up for a verbal dressing down.

DandelionPatrol

JReacher1 wrote: »

There is nothing wrong with not wearing a poppy if you don't believe in it, however if you turn up somewhere where one should be worn then you are opening yourself up for a verbal dressing down.

Looks like the fascists have taken over and are saying where poppies should be worn.

That kind of pressure that people 'should' wear poppies actually devalues the poppies worn by everyone else, because you don't know who is wearing them because they want to and who is wearing them because they have been bullied into it.

98% compliance with no pressure speaks more loudly than 100% compliance under overarching social pressure.

JReacher1

DandelionPatrol wrote: »

Looks like the fascists have taken over and are saying where poppies should be worn.

That kind of pressure that people 'should' wear poppies actually devalues the poppies worn by everyone else, because you don't know who is wearing them because they want to and who is wearing them because they have been bullied into it.

98% compliance with no pressure speaks more loudly than 100% compliance under overarching social pressure.

I have no problem with people not wearing a poppy. There are many reasons why people disagree with wearing one and some of them are valid reasons.

However if you turn up at a cenotaph on remembrance Sunday then you are going to be criticized by people who see you there as you are being disrespectful.

kingfisherblue

Although most people wear a poppy when attending a Remembrance service, I consider it to be personal choice. There were a couple of people today who didn't wear poppies, but it didn't bother me - they might have chon not to wear them, they might have meant to but forgot, or they might have lost them (those pins are useless!).

Incidentally, although we were in the town hall square, we weren't near the cenotaph. Although we were part of the parade (Guide leaders), we were near the back as the arm d forces and other organisations were also represented, and it was a large turnout. The public were further back than we were.

Surely on Remembrance Sunday, we should be more tolerant?