Remembrance Day and Poppies

Greyduster, I couldn't agree more about the BBC!

You can find background information and ways to buy white poppies at www.ppu.org.uk/whitepoppy/index.html.

Although I actually made my own with white paper and an old red poppy!

A bit off thread here but I saw an article yesterday saying the England football team would not be allowed to wear poppies on their shirts when they play near Remembrance Sunday. The ruling had come from FIFA as they said it was "political". They should hang their heads in shame. I think it's disgraceful.

Jamesiesgran you can buy white poppies from Amazon though I got mine from our local Scottish Socialist Party

FIFA has never allowed anything political to be worn,

We were in Rouen last week, and my attention was caught by the display in a jeweller's window of what looked like varnished BL poppies made into necklaces, brooches etc. I wondered whether anyone had commented adversely on these, and as it happened the proprietor noticed me looking at them so I asked her. She had had no idea they had any significance at all for Brits - French people don't wear any commemorative item on Remembrance Day, though they do visit local war memorials on the day to pay their respects. Maybe not many Brits go into French jewellers ... But this did make me think - what the poppy 'means' is a creation of our culture, and I've noticed over the years that the protocol attached to it and the reverence accorded to it has increased. It is taken as a marker of how patriotic people are, and not to wear one at all is seen as disrespectful. Even though in theory we respect people's right to their opinion, wearing a white poppy, as Quakers often do, is seen as an act of rebellion, and rather than signifying a commitment to living in peace, is often interpreted as treachery. I rarely wear any marker of affiliation, though I did wear my college scarf when I was at uni, and I rarely wear a poppy - they always fall off when I'm not looking - but I do buy one or two, of each colour if I can, and prop them up here and there around the house as a signal for reflection, not least because I value the work if the British Legion as well as wanting to spport people working to resolve conflict in peaceful ways. But using the poppy as an obligatory outward show of respect, as the BBC so notoriously does, is going too far for me, hence the rant! Does any of you wear a white poppy?

I am sure they have worn poppies before. I think it is only this year that FIFA have banned them, that is why it has made the news

I have a gitzy brooch one because I invariably lose my poppy or stick myself with the pin. However, I always buy a large one for my car so the British Legion still get my money.

Since the lovely little brooch poppies from BritishLegion cost about £15 then that makes up for the fact that I would normally spend £1 each year so they have it in advance and if I don't live 15 years then they are better off..

I buy a poppy to remember all those who fell in battle, be it WWI, WWII, Falklands, Gulf or any other war. War is evil! So many men killed and for what? These glitzy brooches are not what it is all about. It is not about fashion, it is about support.

Now Putin is all set to start WWIII and there seems to be no one able to stand in his way. He is a very dangerous man imo.

I wear one of each the red poppy for remembrance and the white one for peace.

If anyone is wearing an ordinary poppy in early October it must be a relic from a previous year!

We only handed out the poppy boxes last week ready to start selling on launch day, 27th October.

I think there is a lot more 'poppy memorabilia' around now because I believe the marketing has been outsourced.

Anyway, all profits go to a good cause, families are helped as well as servicemen and ex-servicemen and not many people seem to realise that Help for Heroes bought properties to turn into centres for rehabilitation for injured servicemen but that the RBL actually helps run them.

I have a small ceramic poppy which I start wearing at the beginning of November, but I also buy a paper poppy every year. At the weekend there were cadets in various shopping centres selling them

I always give a generous donation to the poppy appeal each year. This year I was given a poppy as usual but the man also insisted I take one of the little bracelets. If I am wearing my waterproof jacket I do not want to attach a pin to secure a poppy so I will wear my bracelet with pride. If I am wearing my woollen coat I will wear my paper poppy with pride. Just because I have a bracelet does not mean that I will not donate next year. I will continue to donate as much as I can, as I feel that no matter how much I give it will never compare to what those people have done and continue to do for their country and ultimately, each and every one of us.

The England football team have worn armbands with a poppy on them in the past, and will probably be doing the same this year - there was a report about this on BBC Breakfast this morning.

trisher
Here is a link to the Poppy Factory:
www.visitrichmond.co.uk/thedms.aspx?dms=3&venue=3502268

Just wanted to say that it is up to you what you wear, I am not criticising you I am just saying what I think. I do not feel comfortable helping a jeweller to make a profit out of these poppies, but then if the seller gives a percentage of the price to the charity then where is the harm? I have always kept my poppy for the Remembrance Day itself, wearing it before, to me, is like advertising Christmas decorations in October.

My 2 x Grandsons will be marching this Remembrance Day, one in the CCF the other with the Scouts. My Granddaughter will be with the Brownies. They all know what a big sacrifice these young made so that they could have a good life.

You can buy wristbands, slapbands, pencils, hairslides, etc etc, all sell very well in our local schools - it all raises money for a good cause.

I've worn a white poppy for the last few years. Most people have liked it but a few have said they don't agree.

The FA allows poppies on football shirts so League football teams will all have them but FIFA doesn't so international teams will not be allowed a poppy

I crochet poppies, in both red and white, every year. A local wool/fabric/craft shop sells them at a cost of £2-50 each with all the money going to RBL. Each poppy only takes a small amount of yarn to make, and I pick up black buttons and safety pins whenever I see them going cheaply, so I bear the cost of producing them. They're quick to make, so I have a little production line going in the evenings whilst watching TV.
I still buy a paper poppy every year though, but disagree with the £1-00 most people seem to think is an acceptable amount to donate. If you can afford it, donate at least £5-00, after all it's not as if we're offering to lay down our lives is it?

YG I think 80% of the profit from the lovely Buckley brooch (as sold eg in M&S)goes to the RBL, not sure about the very snazzy more expensive ones.

I bought a Buckley brooch poppy several years ago and start wearing it from the beginning of November. I have for many years donated an annual amount by dd to the British Legion, and always pop a few coins into any poppy seller's tin that I come across. So I feel I have done "my bit" so to speak, and everyone's happy!

Many years ago my husband appeared on BBC's What's My Line. The recording took place in August but a lady was handing out poppies to be worn, because the programme was to be shown in November. Everyone had to wear one.

Greyduster - I made the same comment while watching Countryfile too. They're clearly following some BBC ruling. I wonder when those clips were recorded ...
I do have a couple of glittery poppies, bought last year and this, purely because I always lose the paper ones, usually a couple of minutes before the two minute silence. I still buy a paper one anyway, accepting that it will get lost.