Does wearing a poppy glorify war?

I would rather we didn't have an army at all. I know it's not possible, but it's my personal belief. I take advantage of the freedoms I have as a result of the previous world wars and I try to consider ALL sacrifices made, not just ones that came as a result of our armed forces. There were many people that died on our soil helping our cause too - where's their two minutes silence? Where's the two minutes silence for holocaust victims, and victims of the Russian regime in the 1900's?

If armies were abolished, across the globe (wishful thinking, I know), the scenario wouldn't happen again. But for every second we have nuclear weapons, and an army, and an air force, and a navy, we are both protecting and dooming our country. I will never condone the armed forces, and I will never consider them to be something we need.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion on this matter. Just because I live in this society that we have and I don't wear a poppy doesn't mean that I don't acknowledge sacrifices that people have made. It just means that I have a certain belief system that means that I don't wear a poppy

Sometimes, you read a post - or several, from someone so stupid, you can't quite believe they're being serious.

It just seems like you're talking to yourself. Just seems a bit weird you're debating with someone called Ellie Cee Jay as Emily JC.



On topic - This is an annual event, isn't it? As surely as we have Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, we will have the annual TSR poppy baiting.

So, Hitler should have won then?

We should have let them kill more Jewish men, women, and children?

We should not have fought back?

You'd rather be under a fascist regime right now?

Are you really - I mean are you truly so insanely, blind-sightedly, libtard to not see that without all those many thousands of fallen soldiers, the country we live in today would be so vastly, painfully, nightmarishly ruined?

And many others?

Don't you get it? Nobody glorifies war. Nobody says BRILLIANT LETS HAVE A WAR. The reality is, we are not living in a Disney film.

We live on planet earth.

People fight. Animals fight. You think us resolving not to fight back means nobody else will?

Wrong.

People will take over, destroy, and corrupt

Unless someone fights back.

We fought back against evil - we had to - that was the only thing we COULD HAVE DONE.

The level of disgust I feel for people of this mindset, I can't even begin.

I get the feeling you quoted the wrong person

Just edited.

By the way, hows your application for the Armed Forces going?

By the way, why are you speaking English not German?

English. But that's because I am English and like all other English people, I've cultivated a strong talent for not learning foreign languages.



Your unnecessary need to pick a fight with everyone rather undermines your message and, if anything, gives more arguments to the very people you're trying to shout down.

You're a spectacularly bad spokesperson for the point of view you allege to represent.

You also make every person who has served in the armed forces deeply ashamed.

^ To every single libtard on this thread.

So, Hitler should have won then?

We should have let them kill more Jewish men, women, and children?

We should not have fought back?

You'd rather be under a fascist regime right now?

Are you really - I mean are you truly so insanely, blind-sightedly, libtard to not see that without all those many thousands of fallen soldiers, the country we live in today would be so vastly, painfully, nightmarishly ruined?

And many others?

Don't you get it? Nobody glorifies war. Nobody says BRILLIANT LETS HAVE A WAR. The reality is, we are not living in a Disney film.

We live on planet earth.

People fight. Animals fight. You think us resolving not to fight back means nobody else will?

Wrong.

People will take over, destroy, and corrupt

Unless someone fights back.

We fought back against evil - we had to - that was the only thing we COULD HAVE DONE.

The level of disgust I feel for people of this mindset, I can't even begin.

It's different opinions. I'm not saying that I wanted the fascist side to win the war. I've also said that I know the army has a significant, needed place in this society. But I am a pacifist, and I don't want to directly support our armed forces. What I want for the world - complete peace - is probably never going to happen. And I understand that. However, I will not give money to our army. I did donate to the British Legion appeal, but I will not be wearing my poppy, because of my political views.

I don't agree with everyone on this thread, but that doesn't mean I don't respect and try to understand their views. I understand why you may feel what you do, but I don't think that gives you the right to call anyone a name that is diminutive from an incredibly offensive word used to abuse mentally disabled people. If you would like to clarify your views a little bit more, so I can understand more from them, that would be very much appreciated.

The level of disgust I feel for people that don't bother to read everything you say and just assume you're a Nazi supporter because you're against the actions of the armed forces, I can't even begin either

(Also yeah - thankfully we're not the same person. Fortunately, though, I can see past the end of my nose long enough to be able to enter into a debate - however one-sided it may be.)

But what you're saying makes zero sense.
You agree the army has a significant place in society - and that you're glad the Nazis did not take over - but you don't want to wear a poppy, because - because, war is bad?

But you're glad we won that war...

So you're in some way, grateful, no?

Grateful to the many that died, for the lives we live, - now...

Grateful they fought back, no?

That's the pure and honest meaning of the poppy.

Complete peace will never, ever happen. To wish for it is to bury your head in the sand. Look at the history of humankind. Have a look at our core characteristics. There will never not be war - it's an impossibility on a global scale. You'd have to lobotomise the entire population at large. The only alternatives are to be submissive, and let others take over. If that's the path you choose to take, the bury-your-head-in-sand-and-cower technique, so be it.

Also, the offended brigade are back on parole over the word libtard.
Ah the outrage cycle. Must be truly exhausting.

Ahead of Remembrance Day on 11 November, there have been reports that a third of young people will refuse to wear a poppy as 'it glorifies war'.

Do you agree? Will you be wearing a poppy?

My cousin has Downs Syndrome - so, yes, I am offended, and I have right to be. I would rather you didn't use that word, not because of PC, but because it's offensive to him and to others who actually suffer from mental disability.

I can wish for what I want, I never said it was feasible. I used to wish I was a flying unicorn, but that never came true. At least I'm working towards what I believe in, you're just screaming words at a webpage.

I'm a history student, I study history, I'm interested in war. I think that a large part of war is just not learning from history's mistakes, which is why I actively support the idea of Remembrance Day. Note I say 'idea'. To me, a lot of people forget what it is about, they call our current military 'heroes' when really they aren't. It's a statement forced on us by peer pressure, not through choice. The red poppy used to be a sign of peace, but I feel like nowadays it's only really political, and we're shamed into wearing it for the fear of not seeming respectful. Honestly, it's a piece of paper. I donated money. Even if I don't necessarily like where it may go, I'm happy to give money towards the cause.

I am grateful. I will not wear a poppy. It goes against my personal beliefs. I am allowed to be grateful for sacrifices made, but I'm allowed to also not want to support our military, or want to glorify war in any way. Even if you personally don't see how a poppy can glorify war, I ask you to watch the news tomorrow, and see how many people refer to our current armed forces, or war veterans from wars that weren't conscripted, as 'heroes'. To me, they are not 'heroes'. They made a choice. A choice to murder people, innocent or not.

I'll also mention a previous point I made - why do we only remember soldiers? Why not people that died back here, on the Home Front? Why don't we remember every schoolchild blown up in Aleppo? The German soldiers who were forced to fight by a police state, and are now forever branded as 'fascists'.? The red poppy is too much of a British symbol for me. When I remember, I will remember everyone who has ever died as a result of war. Every soldier, every woman, every child, every animal.

(Also, I'm an atheist, ex-Christian and against organised religion, sooooooooooooo)

You're coming from a dreamy place, but not a real one. There's no use in that - no realism. It's hard to debate/argue with fantasy. Which is what this is. You're calling people murderers for protecting their country - something you are grateful for. It's hypocritical.

If war was on your doorstep, your family, your future, your life was threatened - you'd fight back.

And for the record, anyone currently fighting ISIS - anywhere in the world, whether they be Kurdish, American or British - is a Hero.

I probably won't be wearing one - I donated money to the cause (about £5 - so more than the cost of a poppy) but I don't want to wear one. For one thing, I don't think we need to wear one to show respect, and I choose to show respect in other ways, such as actually caring all year around, not just on the one day.

I also don't agree with the concept of just remembering British soldiers, as seems to be the norm - if I'm going to participate then I choose to remember everyone who has ever died in a way, whether they be on our side or not. I feel like wearing a poppy is too much of a British thing (which makes little sense, but hear me out). When we're confronted with atrocity, I think it's more important to remember that more than our own soldiers have died. Civilians die too, in the crossfire. We have blown countless Syrian families up.

So no, I won't be wearing a poppy, and I feel a bit dubious about giving money to the British Legion, even though I do to help the charity. That money does go to the army, in some form, and I don't want to be funding them at all. I may support those who have fallen, but I will never support our current army and the work they do. It's murder, pure and simple, whoever's on the other end of the gun.