Ott Poppies?

[diddlydo]

Yes I know that 11/11/2018 marks the centenary of WW1 but why the OTT appearance of giant poppies everywhere - on bus-stops, whole villages etc etc. Do we recognise the Battle of Waterloo and countless others? Answer "no". War is never the solution to world problems as has many times since been witnessed.

[Mamyalynne]

I think they are charming and an ideal talking point if you are out and about with children for example.

[tonyav]

The lamp posts in my village have them, they look great.

[sherrardk]

Really? It’s the one hundred year anniversary, it deserves to be commemorated. I’m not big on this sort of thing but even I can see why it’s being done. I’ve been out in our village to look at the decorations with some of my children (because they wanted to). My own great grandfather fought at Paschendale and only died in 1999, he still has living grand children - he can’t be the only one. It shows respect and gratitude.

[tonyav]

Great stuff.
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/walsalls-amazing-poppy-tribute-war-13804409

[ChillDoubt]

I’m guessing you won’t like the cycling and rugby jerseys I wear....

https://poppyshirt.com

https://www.lovell-rugby.co.uk/Rugby-Shirts/Samurai/Army-Rugby-Union-Poppy-Appeal-S-or-S-Rugby-Shirt-White-or-Red-or-Black/size_L?gclid=Cj0KCQjwjvXeBRDDARIsAC38TP42kNG-iZF4l3oOTdwAUxWW2ADPD4bzSokg6UFo-40uo6Ihl25i1EsaAvZuEALw_wcB

[andy-hughes]

diddly - // Yes I know that 11/11/2018 marks the centenary of WW1 but why the OTT appearance of giant poppies everywhere - on bus-stops, whole villages etc etc //

If you know, then you have answered your own question.

[tonyav]

Wouldn't have liked the Villa's shirts last night then.
https://www.facebook.com/avfcofficial/videos/901152316748656/

[ummmm]

I think they look beautiful.

I used to live across the road from a war memorial and this year it's covered in poppies with the names of the fallen. Fantastic.

[gness]

War may not be a solution, Diddly, but we must continue to say thank you to those who thought it was the war to end wars and would give those to come after them a better life at the cost of their own ...x

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-tyne-46072969/lanchester-residents-adorn-village-in-4000-ceramic-poppies

[woofgang]

We have had crochet and knitted ones other years but this year round me they have been made from the bottoms of plastic water and pop bottles and planted on all the local roundabouts and some of the verges. The effect is stunning and I have nothing but admiration for the people who have worked so hard to make so many. I don't consider it OTT at all. To my mind, poppies say nothing about the futility or otherwise of war, they are a way of registering our gratitude and respect for those who fought for our freedom.

[tonyav]

Thats excellent, gness.

[naomi24]

//War is never the solution to world problems as has many times since been witnessed. //

It certainly helped between 1939 and 1945 and if those poppies serve as a reminder, then we remember - as we should.

[Mamyalynne]

Some wonderful examples, thanks for sharing those.

[sunny-dave]

Most wars (with the exception of WW2) are not a simple 'fight to save our country' - indeed they were most often mainly about the patriarchy and aristocracy settling scores in expansionist adventures - but the people who fought and died in those wars were no part of that.

We should respect and applaud their heroism and sacrifice, even if we deplore the actions which placed them in that situation - the annual Poppy displays around Remembrance Sunday are an entirely appropriate way of honouring them.

[jakep]

Thousands of young men were slaughtered in mud, chaos and fear.
IMO nothing could ever be OTT in the recognition of their sacrifice.

[naomi24]

Very well said, Jake.

[tonyav]

Well said, jakep.
https://walkleyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/ypres.jpg?w=1200

[tonyav]

A street a couple of miles from me.
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/walsall-street-transformed-huge-poppy-15360022

[THECORBYLOON]

DIDDLYDO, how long was the Battle of Waterloo compared to WWI? How many countries were involved at Waterloo compared to WWI? How many casualties were there at Waterloo compared to WWI?

When you have your answers, you may realise why the centenary is so important.

[Canary42]

Did they voluntarily "give their lives" - or did they go into combat as the odds against being killed were marginally better because if they didn't then their own side would definitely shoot them.

The whole charade is to glorify the "sacrifice" in order to encourage the lower classes to do it again if necessary.

And don't get me going about the hypocrisy of the Royal Family laying wreaths on the cenotaph when WW1 was a result of their ancestor's spat.

In WW2, my father spent several years fighting his way across the Western Desert and then across the Med and up through Italy where he was killed - only to be labelled by one of the Aristocracy as a D-Day Dodger. That perhaps helps to explain my views on the matter.