James McClean

Appears to have declined the chance to wear a poppy on his shirt. Classy club

 

Good on him.

 

Say what now...

 

Absolute scumbag

 

I don't think anyone should be forced to wear them, but why wouldn't you? ****ing stupid.

 

I dare say as a lad from Northern Ireland its possibly due to our forces involvement in and around his home town. Probably get a load of ****e from his family and friends if he had. Still looks like a bounding ape though.

 

it's a shame that someone as young as him choses not to honour the dead in this way.
it get's me even more angry when scumbags shout 'burn the poppy'... vile ****s.

 

James is a republican and, as such, no doubt sees the poppy as a symbol of monarchical power. Stupidity has nothing to do with it.

 

The poppy is an instantly recognisable symbol of respect for those who've made the ultimate sacrifice in conflicts past and present. As the nation's custodian of Remembrance, the Legion is committed to helping everyone understand the importance of Remembrance, so those sacrifices are never forgotten.

 

Feel free to join me people...

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I used to stand at the Memorial at the bottom of Kensington Church Street with a bunch of ex military guys that I knew and there was always a good turn out with the silence being observed throughout. Some of them won't be around now, but they wont be forgotten either.

 

Yes, I respect that. But in that case if it really is a symbol in memory of the fallen, why isn't Remembrance Day held on the 1st July, the anniversary of the British Army's blackest day? On 1st July 1916 20,000 British soldiers died during the Battle of the Somme, most during the first hour, thanks to the callousness and incompetence of General Rawlinson, Field Marshal Haig et al.

Still, they will never do that. It simply won't do for the upper classes in this country to admit what they are. It's far easier to shower the proles with this sanctimonious bullshit instead. All power to the likes of James McClean for refusing to go along with the herd mentality.

 

as AB has said this is for ALL those that have made the ultimate sacrife
it is held on the same day and at the same hour that the great war eventually ended
not one particular day
_____________________________________________________________________

such a shame that you feel this way, but then again these guys fell to give you that freedom of speech

 

The poppy is a symbol of remembrance for all soldiers; English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh who made the ultimate sacrifice. Soldiers do not start conflicts and Wars, politicians do.
Therefore making political statements against the poppy is ludicrous. I saluted at the Argentinian war graves in the Falklands and paid respects when I visited German war graves. Making a point about the poppy is akin to blaming a car in a hit and run while letting the driver walk free.

 

I wear my poppy with pride but I dont judge people who dont.

 

Bottom line is no one is obliged to wear them and nor should they be slated for not doing so. Personally I do but you should never try to impose these things on people.

Its a personal choice and a complete non issue.

 

I may be wrong but wasn't the poppy originally worn to remember only Allied soldiers killed in battle? Or more like it, Commonwelath soldiers? Ireland may have been a part of the Commonwealth during WWI but many Irishmen were already engaged in a struggle to free themselves of British rule. Hence the poppy to some Irish catholics may be seen partly as a symbol of Britishness (and Commonwealthness), the exact thing they wanted to escape from.

Anyway, feel free to read All Quiet on the Western Front and understand that most soldiers are brave, regardless of nationality.

 

The lad is from Derry. Do any of you realise what the British army have done in Ireland over the years? Its his right not to wear one

 

See above post.

 

This. I also wear the poppy but do not feel the need to insist others must if they do not wish to do so or criticise them if they do not.