Wearing a white poppy

I knew about white poppies going back to 1933, Lucky and may be wrong but think they were worn widely in 2003 during the Iraq war. Red and white poppies are equally respectable and respectful and I can’t see that either is more virtue signalling than the other.

It is very interesting merlot - I was talking to someone from a military family the other day (in connection with the above event) and he said that they had had concerns about come of the ceremonies that had a "jingoistic" air to them and that his family, above all else, deplored this.

I do not think wearing a white poppy is virtue signalling any more than wearing a red one; they are just individuals honouring the dead in their own different ways. I am happy to respect either.

By the way - over the last few months my main focus has been on a huge community choirs event to commemorate those who died or were bereaved or injured in WW1. I have organised the choirs, helped choose and teach the music and also designed a souvenir programme. The event will contain both songs and readings, and will represent the bravery of the troops and the nurses and the stretcher bearers; but will also recognise the serious lack of proper direction at times that resulted in so many unnecessary deaths - there are songs that recognise this; and also songs that are standard.

I was listening to someone talking on the radio about this event today and was impressed by what he said: that the event is a respectful one - not only of those who lost their lives but of those present at or participating in the event who will be wearing red poppies, white poppies, medals from their families, or no poppy at all. That people remember in their own ways and that is part of what these people fought and died for - the right to make such a choice and to have that choice respected.

remembrance for all victims of war, a commitment to peace and a challenge to attempts to glamorise or celebrate war.

This is exactly why we, a military family, wear the red poppy. Everybody wants peace and nobody glamorises or celebrates war.

Events like the Festival of Remembrance demonstrates this very clearly. I agree with lemon about virtue signalling. Sorry but it gets my goat!

I will always wear a red poppy with pride and with great sadness for a generation of boys who never came home. ???

Apparently the Peace Pledge Union started in 1933 and the white poppy has been around since then - I had not realised it was so old.

I do not have a problem with remembrance of those who gave their lives going hand in hand with an acute awareness that peace eludes the world still.

I shall wear my red poppy in remembrance and thanks to those who lost their lives in war and gave us our freedom.

It does not glorify war.

I'd be happy to wear a white poppy on another day if there were a separate call for peace.

The white poppy is to support all those killed in war, are we not at war against terror, they believe that they are martyring themselves against the infidel, they are at war with us. What’s the difference between the Muslims killing Christians and the Germans killing Jews.

Incidentally, GN has this debate every single year!

I am the opposite then Lucky ( to you) on this, as I avoid the white poppies.
The red poppies are to remember the war dead and to make money for those connected to the services (and Legion charity work) so have a real purpose, the white poppy is a woolly ‘I only want peace’ message ( and who doesn’t) but wearing a badge ( white poppy) is just a futile excercise in virtue signalling unless one happens to be an objector ( of conscience) who would never pick up arms in any circumstances.
Thank goodness that most men and women fought on our
behalf in WW2 though.

I wore the white poppy for Peace on Hiroshima day. I took my children to march too.
Some men in the doorway of the British Legion used foul language at the parade. In full hearing of the children too.
I have never worn a red poppy since.

I agree with everything winterwhite said.
I wear a red and a white poppy together..

I wear a red poppy.
Some people always have to try to alter a simple, heartfelt gesture.

Having spent time in Belgium and France visiting the battlefields and the acres and acres of Commonwealth War Graves, I will wear my red poppy with pride.
I feel it is wrong of the Peace Pledge Union to have adopted the poppy as it’s symbol and to have wreath laying ceremonies on the armistice is an insult.

Always a red poppy for me. White to me is a symbol of surrender ? A white flag ?

Military family I/we will only wear red poppies.

Thank you Sue for that BBC link.

Nanagem - I am not clear about how the white poppy supports terrorists. Do you see them as also being victims of war?

I certainly think that the majority of Germans who lost their lives in both world wars were very much victims, in the same way as our soldiers were. I doubt they had much choice in the matter.

I will wear a red poppy as I have done for as long as I can remember. (The BL does some amazing work for ex service people).

I am with you with the purple one Nanagem

I also wear a white poppy ,my late father and all my uncles fought in WW11 and none of them would wear the red poppy .Sadly I've had abuse from some of the Naval community nearby about my WHITE poppy to the extent I have decided that I will complain if it happens again.Surely even they can see that people fought and died to give us the CHOICE of red white or none at all .I think the red poppy has become very politicised over the past decade and thats not right in my opinion .

The BBC has an article about different colours of poppy. It doesn't tell you, though, that the white poppy is also the opium poppy - a different kind of war.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45971456

A day for white poppies. The red poppy is to remember the war dead , it’s their day.

The only thing I would say is that white poppies are for ALL victims of war, which would therefore include the terrorists who are intent on destroying us by blowing themselves up, the Japanese and Germans who inflicted terrible acts on their enemies. By supporting the white poppy, you are remembering them as well as ours. You are saying that our armed forces should be supported and remembered, as well as those who they are trying to protect us from.

I will wear a red poppy with pride in honour of those who died to protect our country, and a purple poppy to remember those poor animals who suffered along side them.

I always wear a white poppy and certainly don't see it as disrespectful, though I do see the argument for having a separate white poppy day. I feel proud of those who died in two world wars, but find it hard to think that they would be proud of us and our arms trading. That's what's disrespectful to me.