Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Paper Poppies - yea or nay?
This is a sub-conversation moved from the discussion about planting poppies in the WWI centenary year:
Reply by Finsbury Park Ranger
It's a much nicer way of rememberence that's for sure, the artificial poppies seemed to have become hijacked by a 'support our troops' sentiment rather than the universal rememberence concept that they are best served for.
Reply by John D yesterday
You might think so but I'd like to see you produce some evidence to back up that cynical assertion, so typical of the trend to smear our finest traditions.
Reply by james walsh yesterday
JohnD - I like the idea would love to see all those poppies
Reply by John D yesterday
So would I - I hope it happens. And that we continue to wear our artificial poppies, if only to support the Earl Haig Fund.
Reply by Finsbury Park Ranger yesterday
Harry articulates it quite well for me ...
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/08/poppy-last-tim...
Reply by richard yesterday
Here here! Not cynical at all.
Reply by John D 17 hours ago
I ask you for evidence and you give me a Guardian comment piece.
Reply by Philip Foxe 3 minutes ago
Do you honestly think that sending our young men and women out to foreign lands to kill and be killed because Tony Blair says so is a 'fine tradition' All our troops who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan died for US corporations, not to free anybody. Under international law, both invasions were illegal since neither country had invaded Britain. Can you honestly say, hand on heart, to the parents of some poor boy blown up in Afghanistan, that the died for something other than preserving a corrupt government of warlords, criminals and gangsters? We will be leaving soon and the complete farce of the invasion will become even clearer then. And meanwhile our 'friend' Saudi Arabia, funds terror groups tearing Iraq and Syria apart. Which 'fine tradition' is your favourite? Bonus question...how many of the MPs who backed the invasion of Iraq have sons or daughters in the armed forces. In the USA the answer is none, zero. In the UK I just don't know, but Im sure you will help us on this....
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mark Pack on
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As the question of US children was raised - I don't know where your figures come from Philip, but zero can't be right as Senator John McCain voted for the Iraq war and his son Jimmy served in Iraq. May be worth you going back to where that number came from and checking it...?
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Permalink Reply by Sharon on
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I dont feel comfortable wearing poppies at all, the symbol has been hijacked by the far right and has completely lost its meaning...which, the way i understand it is to remember ALL war dead, not just british, christian war dead.I would love though to see masses and masses of poppies in the borough we can take what we want from that, associate meaning or simply admire the display.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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I used to feel the same way Sharon but I do wear one in rememberance of all people, military and civilian, who died and continue to die because of war. The only way to stop symbols like this (and the union flag) being hijacked by the far right is to reclaim them. Like John D, I also observe the two minute silence, both for the reasons above and because members of my family (two great uncles who were in the military, one great uncle who was a merchant seaman and two aunts killed in air raids) died because of wars.
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How can we reclaim the poppy symbol? Every November in recent years is inflamed by Islamophobic prejudice. My Grandfathers fought in WW2 and my Grandma served too. They would turn in their graves to see what has happened to that poppy.
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Permalink Reply by John D on
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The " fine tradition" , to which I referred , is the practice of wearing a poppy and devoting two minutes, once a year, to mourn the loss of all those who died in wartime. I offer no judgement on the motives for, or the legality of, the conflicts.
If I choose to respect that tradition, it doesn't make me a member of the far right.
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Permalink Reply by StephenBln on
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You might think so but I'd like to see you produce some evidence to back up that cynical assertion, so typical of the trend to smear our finest traditions.
It may be 'your' tradition John. But it's a bit much to call it 'our' tradition.
I'm afraid many now feel obliged to wear one. It's become a bit like the badges of communist parties and that other party I won't mention here. People now are labelled negatively if they don't choose to wear one.
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Permalink Reply by Philip on
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Quite right Mark he did indeed ......perhaps I shouldn't get ALL my stats from Family Guy???
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Permalink Reply by Finsbury Park Ranger on
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Bottom line for me, as someone said it before, there is enough plastic crap in the world, planting real flowers and paying once a year for a ball of earth with real seeds in to plant yourself is a much more holistic way of remembering. Perhaps in time we'll not just plant poppies but mix in other wild flowers too.
That's a beautiful tribute that everyone can once again feel a part of.
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