Will You Be Wearing Your Red Poppy With Pride?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/poppy-appeal-2014-this-is-why-i-wont-be-wearing-a-red-poppy-this-year-9814449.html

[douglas9401]

Yes, I'll wear one but not with pride. I've never put my life on the line to defend others so I'll wear mine with gratitude.

[tonyav]

Excellent answer, douglas.

[Slapshot]

Well said Douglas

[ChillDoubt]

I'll add nothing to the debate, other than my previous service in HM Forces and my avatar, both of which will speak for themselves.

[Psybbo]

Douglas Best zanier, I hsve mind and contributing to other boxes, like others, keep mine but keep contributing

[mikey4444]

Can I sum up the general mood here today on this topic...that the great majority of us will be wearing our Poppy with pride then ?

[tonyav]

Yes mikey, I think you can.

[Baldric]

Are you taking it upon yourself to close the thread then Mikey?

[naomi24]

The pride isn't mine to claim, but I wear my red poppy in remembrance and in humble gratitude, and with the greatest of respect.

[janbee]

Yes. Always, with great pride.

[murraymints]

As Naomi said !

[anotheoldgit]

FrogNog

/// No. I hate violence and war in all its forms and I stay away from the symbolism. ///

Would you also 'stay away' if you were asked to take up arms in defence of your country?

[janbee]

Yes and I'll be honoured to wear one with great pride.

[kvalidir]

Despite being a hand wringing lefty yes I will. Millions upon millions of normal non warlike men and women were torn away from their normal peaceful lives, conscripted, fought, witnessed horrors and died to protect our country. It doesn't matter whether you agree with the politics behind those wars, that is not what a red poppy represents, it represents those people's bravery, suffering and sometimes their ultimate sacrifice sometimes so young that their lives had barely even begun. There are indeed better ways of dealing with things than 'killing strangers'- but it is a horrible truth that sometimes some strangers need to be killed in order to maintain peace and fairness for the majority. I find it disrespectful in the extreme to bring meaningless political debate into what ought to be a mark of rememberance, so yes I'll be wearing my red poppy with pride in all the people who didn't 'want to kill strangers', who wanted to stay at home in the safe warmth of their communities but went anyway because in times of war someone has to do it.

[sunny-dave]

It's a mark respect of respect and gratitude to thousands upon thousands of ordinary men and women who risked their lives to protect this country.

My father survived (although some of the horror never truly left him, I think) - others didn't.

I will remember them.

Dave

[mosesg]

Yes I bought one of the sparkly brooch ones this year from the poppy shop. I also still pop loose change in a collecting tin if I see one.