Poppy wearing

I wear my poppy with pride, I remember my good friends who didn’t come home from recent conflicts and I remember everyone who paid the ultimate sacrifice in all previous wars.

 
I am a Royal Navy veteran, a navy wife and I am proud.

 
I do not expect everyone to have the same views as me nor the same outlook. I understand that, I understand people are pacifists, I understand that people think the political powers use war as a tool for their own endgames with no regard for casualties, costs or ethics. I understand that people are different.

 
What I do not understand is some of the outrageous, unsubstantiated hypocritical arguments I’ve seen over the past week regarding poppies. Here are my top three issues

 
1. FIFA

What a load of absolute nonsense. For a body which at its core over the last decade has been corrupt I find their sanctimonious stance on this laughable. So a poppy is a political statement is it? You’re wrong, it is a respectful way of saying thank you. The one time of the year we highlight, primarily, the loss of life from two world wars. Please tell me how it was ok in 2011 for a match against Spain, but 2016 it’s not.

 

Quite frankly, at a time when football has come under so much criticism this I’m sure has helped it. Just think it’s a sad state of affairs.

 
In a statement FIFA said that “Britain was not the only country to be suffering from the result of war”. They’re right, and I’m sure the 211 countries who are part of Fifa understand. And if they don’t…..grow up

 

2. White poppies

 

This is a difficult one for me as I can see arguments for this. According to the peace pledge Union they represent remembrance for all victims of war, a commitment to peace and a challenge to attempts to glamourise or celebrate war.

But,

A. They do not represent service victims of war, that is the red poppy with proceeds going to fund the amazing work the Royal
British legion does for veterans, widows and families. It is like wearing a cancer research badge but saying you support all medical charities. I’m sure you do but that is not represented by what you are wearing.

B. A commitment to peace, the red poppy does not promote war, in fact the very statement of ‘lest we forget’ is to remember the casualties and hardship of war.

C. I just don’t understand how the red poppy glamourises war? Yes, service personnel are involved with the campaign, why wouldn’t they be. These people have decided to live a military life and are the very people which could be in need of the British legion support.

This year had the biggest numbers of white poppies sold. One argument is because people are against hate crimes and racism. How on earth does a red poppy promote this? I find the White poppy confusing.

 
3. People who write/boast about why they don’t wear a poppy.

Stop being an attention seeking arse. If you don’t want to wear a poppy don’t wear one. Also, don’t be surprised that if you write comments like “they knew what they signed up for” that you are going to get people very angry. You’re right, the 18 year old patriotic boy did know what he signed up for…to protect your freedom so you could spout your absolute nonsense.

 

I’m sorry if I’ve offended/annoyed anyone but this is a subject and charity dear to my heart. I’m sure no one could have looked at the poppies at the Tower of London two years ago and not been moved by the number of lives represented. Wearing a poppy on armistice day is such a small way to say thank you.