Poppies on Shirts

Cheers Sku, I'll keep a look out too. Given my ever expanding gut I suspect that Dunne or Ned should be top of the list......

 

With regards to McClean, his stance is as intransigent as any other in the NI divide and despite 'the peace', the inbred hatred of the past 40 odd years will never change for many who lived through it. The sensible, pragmatic option just doesn't exist for some, but as I mentioned many from both sides of the Ulster divide fought for the British Army in both wars, you'd think he'd show some respect for their memory.

The poppy itself is recognising those of the British & Commonwealth countries who died in many wars, hence the wreaths that are laid at the Cenotaph by all those countries' representatives. I personally would also respect those of the other countries we fought against as many were young conscripts who had no choice...

 

Maybe I'm just someone who thinks that if you are gonna do something as important (to me anyway) of putting a poppy on your teams shirts, then it should be done properly and not (so it seems to me anyway) as a possible after thought.
As I say, I thought Readings looked a lot better and classier.
Nice to know you don't give a **** though.

 

Be interested to hear the Irish R's thoughts on this story.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22425684

Including whether the reporting seems biased....

Swords, there is also a 'white poppy', which I actually saw someone wearing at a rugby match yesterday, which was promoted by the Co-op from the early 30s, standing for peace and an end to all wars. The British Legion and many surviving servicemen wanted nothing to do with it, as I guess they thought it down played the sacrifice of those who fought and died.

 

Its still a bit vague though isn't it mate? No disrespect to you man, you've explained it better than anyone has. But its still not clear what conflicts are included and which ones are left out. Its just a question I've heard many people ask over the years and no-one has been able to give a definitive answer.

I guess its just one of those things.

 

Different times back then mate. No doubt it was a cold house for many of the volunteers who returned home. There was something like 50,000 men from the Free State that fought in the British Army during WW2 and many more in other Allied armies. I don't think its a coincidence either that the Minister responsible for the pardon is a Jew.

That's correct. The Irish Government lay white wreaths each year at this time rather than red ones. Maybe many other Countries do likewise.

How was your poppy received in Belgium by the way Stanley?

 

As I understand it, the red poppy is the symbol of lives lost by Britain and the Commonwealth in ALL wars and conflicts up to and including the present day.

 

That's the most unambiguous answer I've had yet. Can anyone corroborate that? I'm determined to finally nail this down after years of conflicting answers and contradictory statements.

I'm not going to allow another Remembrance Sunday come round with the same confusion over the poppy's official meaning.

Enough is enough.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/remembrance/how/poppy.shtml

Remembrance Day is the day when we remember all those who have given their lives for Britain and The Commonwealth since WW1 till the present day.

Jeez........do you want a diagram?

 

I was thinking of posting a link to the British legion website, but its crap on the history and meaning of the Poppy appeal and remembrance, which is a shame.

Swords, the Belgians don't seem to wear poppies themselves, but were all very knowledgeable about why Brits/commonwealth people wear it. Sadly there is a lot of poppy themed tat on sale in Ypres I seem to remember.

 

Perhaps you can understand my confusion when even you have just contradicted yourself in your last two posts. Its gone from "ALL wars and conflicts up to and including the present day" to all wars "since WW1 till the present day". I knew your unambiguous answer was too unambiguously good to be true.

This is precisely my point. Nobody seems to know and those who are certain that they know, haven't a clue themselves.

If you could do up a diagram that makes any sense out of your last two posts, I'd really like to see it Colly you Wally.

 

FFS, I said earlier on I knew about the history of it etc. I'm just looking for what it officially represents.

If you're trying to wind me up COL, you're doing a bloody good job of it.

 

...

 

Personally, I don't have strong views on the poppy.

I am proud I come from a neutral country and I am proud my country will never take part in any war. I am proud that our army undertake U.N. peace keeping duties rather than fight wars.

I am also proud that Thousands of Irishmen fought with the allies in the first world war when we were part of the UK.

If people want to commerate those who died, that's fine. If they don't, that's fine too.

 

Those people died to give you the choice mate.

 

It's from the 1st World War to the present day.

 

Yes I know Col. I respect those who fought to give me my choice.

I don't agree with any war.

My Grandfather fought in the British Army in WW2, the Sussex Regiment.

I would prefer my country to remain neutral in any dispute.

 

Don't drag this down into a scrap COL because these debates have been as clean as a whistle up to this point. Once you start that, the ghosts of history come storming out and nobody wants that. If its since WW1 up to today, there are a number of conflicts a lot of people would not agree with, not least the relatively recent invasion and occupation of Iraq. Its one thing fighting for freedom like in WW2 and to a lesser extent WW1 but its quite another becoming the invading army yourself. That's where the poppy issue gets muddled.

Best leave it at that before this develops into something it shouldn't.

 

I wish I'd never started this thread.......I didn't want to start the old 'poppy debate' 'cos it's all been done before.

 

Here's my youngest son Evan with Cissé's shirt from last season.