White Poppy

nigglynellie as my grandmother used to say "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions". I didn't say we shouldn't remember those who died, but I do think it is more respectful, and more meaningful, if we remember them whilst recognising that the powers that be, who sent them to their deaths, (particularly in WW1) may have an ulterior motive in encouraging us to do so. Having pride and respect for the dead means remembering their beliefs and ideals as well.
Personally I would like to hear Wilfred Owen read at every memorial service just to remind us:

My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mo

Of course it's never been intended to show support for war or jingoism, that's completely ridiculous. It's to commemorate those who lost their lives in the defence of this country, paying the ultimate sacrifice in order that others may live. Also to show gratitude and respect for those whose lives have been shattered while in defence of this country, whether at home or abroad. I don't think that one day a year out of our busy self righteous lives is too much to ask, to just stop for a couple of minutes and think of them with pride and respect.

Not just governments, trisher.

It may never have been intended to show support for war, and I think many of the people who wear one would not support a war, but I think the idea that it has been hi-jacked and used to promote a much more jingoistic and militaristic attitude cannot be ignored. Successive governments have used the anniversaries of wars to make it seem unpatriotic or in some way disrespectful of the dead to even raise the subject of peace.

I agree that like Christmas, the wearing of a poppy starts far too early and therefore can lose some of its significance. We have a lovely chap who comes round the week leading up to Remembrance Sunday and we always buy from him and wear our poppies with pride. As for doing the right thing with regard to Syria, who in gods name knows what that is. We are told that we must get rid of Assad, and we must annihilate IS, so far so good, saying it is the easy bit, how we actually achieve that through peaceful means is obviously totally impossible, as realistically neither side will give up without a fight, that is the long and the short of it. So what do we do? Send troops? Bomb,? or just leave it to implode? I really couldn't say, but someone has to and they'll need the wisdom of Solomon or more.

It is indeed not intended to show support for war.

Yes. The blood of those who died, of those we wish to remember. The clue is in the name, Remembrance. Wearing a red poppy is not showing support for war; it is showing gratitude to those who had no choice.

Anyone living in the North East, a poppy installation from the Tower of London is now in place at Woodhorn museum near Ashington.
I think it's there until the end of October.

I find it quite nauseating that some of those who will wear red poppies and put wreaths at the cenotaph on Armistice Day are at the moment plotting the bombing of Syria.

The white poppy is for peace, like the dove; the red symbolises bloodshed.

I will wear a red Poppy on Rembrance Day and join in with those prayers which are part of the service - not glorifying war in any way, but remembering those who died for our freedom, those affected by wars past and present, those affected by present conflicts - and a fervent prayer for peace.

Some very interesting posts
GA's and nigglienellie's give food for thought.
I think to wear the white poppy on a separate day for world peace is a very good idea.

The red poppy is a symbol of life and hope for peace after all that dreadful slaughter, not to glorify it.

Yes, we have had unsolicited crosses sent from the RBL and it seems wrong they have to resort to really quite aggressive marketing practices which may upset someone recently bereaved.

Well said, mythbirt.

I changed my attitude to remembrance after my mam died in 2009; she'd always remembered her dad who survived and never spoke about it and his brother Thomas who was killed in March 1918 on the Somme. i realised she was remembering not promoting war and so now make an annual donation to the BL and wear a red poppy only on 11th nov.
What I don't like is there's almost a tokenism about wearing a poppy so we see them being worn for weeks beforehand and that for me lessens their significance.

What a lovely idea * notso* to put the poppies in the trees!

Thank you for that Not so, what lovely pictures and what dedicated ladies, they are to be congratulated.

I always wear a red poppy. A friend bought one of the ceramic Tower of London poppies, a very beautiful piece of art. We have a small War Memorial in the village and last year a group of local ladies made almost 4,000 knitted poppies to decorate the Memorial site.

derrickjknight.com/2014/11/10/the-waterside-poppy-makers/

I think each to their own.. This is obviously a personal matter, and not a question of who occupies the higher moral ground, which is how this is beginning to sound.

Thanks durhamjen.

The red poppy/ white poppy issue is not just about remembrance, but also about raising awareness and fundraising. I support both the RBL and the PPU - the aim of the former is to alleviate the suffering caused by war and of the latter to prevent war, and both need funds.
I often get asked about my white poppy and occasionally (although not very often) I get someone who thinks that by wearing it I'm 'anti' the red poppy, until I explain that I also strongly support the RBL and explain my reasons why.

I usually keep a few postcards in my bag when wearing the poppy as people always ask about it.

www.ppu.org.uk/whitepoppy/index.html

Get them from here, Eloethan.

RAF veteran and activist Harry Leslie Smith who spoke at last year's Labour Conference has said that he wouldn't be wearing a poppy because he feels it has been "co-opted by politicians" to justify wars.

Research by the Campaign against the Arms Trade state that arms companies like Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems sponsor some of the British Legion commemorative events, which I find appalling and that is why I don't wear a red poppy.

I'd be more inclined to wear a white one but I don't think I've seen them being sold anywhere.

I don't think we have to accept we have to keep sending young men to die to fight for things which are important to us, not without exploring all avenues first

This thread happens every year, so those of you who have been on for over a year must have heard about white poppies.

I do too, and for all who have lost their lives in conflict defending this country, particularly my father.

I didn't know about white poppies,but wear my red poppy with pride and respect for my father/grandfather /and great uncles in both world wars,and young men of my sons age who are and have been to Afghanistan/middle East in recognition of their contribution to those troubles.I am a pacifist but also recognise we have to fight for things that are important to us.

He looks as if he is smiling.