White Poppy

Me neither.

Neither have I.

D'you think albertotech thought this thread was entitled 'White Puppy'?

PPP I have never seen anybody wearing a white poppy either.

Cute dog.

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Don't know where I have been all these years, but I have never encountered a white poppy as a symbol of remembrance.

If you get white poppies from the PPU, you get lots more information to hand out to your friends. We got a dozen poppies one year and gave them to friends on the understanding they would donate to the PPU.
An advantage about wearing a white poppy is that people always ask you why, and where you get them from.
The manager of one of the cafes in York asked about them and ordered them.

"The Silence of Memory: Armistice Day, 1919-1946" by Adrian Gregory
(Bloomsbury) has some interesting info on the poppies, both red and white. It's a newish book (published last year I think).

It explains the link to the anti-war movement, the Peace Pledge Union and the Co-Operative Women's Guild - though obviously the poppy issue is a small section as it covers much more. Some really powerful first-hand accounts of Armistice day and some interesting cartoons too...

The Peace Pledge Union still sell the white poppies and have some info about them on their website:
www.ppu.org.uk/whitepoppy/index.html

Ah yes. Thanks, marmight.

GrandmaH - yes, it's a purple poppy, and wear one of those for the animals

Yes, trisher, you could well be right, but that is how the establishment see it
( on a personal level I have no worries about colour of poppies.)

Am I right in thinking there is also a poppy for the animals that died?
I seem to remember reading that somewhere but I've never seen one.

But a lot of those servicemen rosesarered especially in WW1 did not believe in the war and wanted peace. I think they would be horrified to see and hear the jingoistic atmosphere. A wreath of white poppies would be a reminder of their beliefs.

Jon Snow Bags

And likewise one can join the gang wearing a red poppy and have no sensible thought in one's head at all.

One can remember those killed and regret the necessity for war (or the actuality of war if one doesn't think it was necessary) without wearing any poppy.

Which newsreader was it who refused to be bullied into wearing a red poppy before Remembrance Day?

I think it is something to do with pacifists often only wearing a white poppy , trisher, and the red poppy is the symbol used for remembrance of all the servicemen and women, who fought and died in the wars.Therefore, placing white poppies at the cenotaph would not be right.

I always wear a red poppy and a white poppy together. I find it prompts people to ask me why I do it, and I'm always happy to explain: for me the red poppy is a symbol of respect for those who died and for those who mourn them; while the white poppy is a reminder that we need to continue working actively for peace in our time.

Why should a symbol of peace not be with a symbol of remembrance , those we honour with the red poppy died for peace

I respect the red poppy and its association and meaning, but I would like to see more of the white poppy. it has an equally long history but is seldom promoted or seen for sale. I think it would be a much more meaningful service on Remembrance Day if a white poppy wreath was placed amongst the red ones. If only because many of the men, women and children who died in our wars and continue to die in other wars would, if they could, speak out for peace.

I too can understand wearing a white poppy for peace on 21st September. But on remembrance day, for me, the only appropriate poppy is a red one. I wear this with pride, remembering my grandfather who fought from 1915-18, dying at the early age of 56, due to the gas attacks and shell shock he suffered during his time in the Infantry. Also for my second cousin who died of wounds in North Africa, but most of all for my father who was killed 5 weeks before I was born. Like others I was sent a wooden cross with a poppy attached which I put on my father's grave, where he lies buried with his companions in the Netherlands, when I visited it last October .

At the risk of getting jumped on, I have to say that I always find remembrance day very difficult. The sadness at the appalling events of the two WWs and other wars and those who died should be remembered, but there are some events associated with it that tip over the edge a bit towards jingoism and I hate to see fly and marchpasts of weapons - there is such a fine line to be drawn here. I cannot fully identify why it all gives me the creeps; it is a gut instinct.

I suppose for me the white poppy says let us remember those poor souls who were slaughtered in war, but let us also remember that we have our part to play in trying to make sure it does not happen again.

I wear red and white, for me they mean - I honour your memory, I thank you for giving up your life to bring peace and I share your hopes of peace

I understand why some people choose to wear a white poppy, in fact some friends do so. I wear a red poppy and don't see myself as a war monger, war supporter in any way. My grandfather's survived WW1 though as with all families, some relatives didn't. My father was a Royal Marine and survived WW2. The three of them always wore red poppies, and we all stood around the radio or tv to honour the silence in Remembrance Sunday. I wear my poppy in memory of those who haven't survived wars and in memory of my lovely grandfathers and my father. I'd feel I was letting them down to be honest, if I wore a white one along side my red poppy. I don't criticise others who take a different view. Yes rosesarered, those poppies at the tower were wonderful, very moving.

the red poppies at the Tower of London last year were amazing.