Poppies by Alice
Before we start, we at Shouting at Cows would like to emphasise that we are certainly not anti-war veterans. So please read the whole article before heading straight the the comments box before smashing the palm of your hand against the keyboard – Ed.
It’s that time of year again. We see old boys in the street selling them, news readers’ lapels adorning them, and every footballer in the country wearing them on their little armbands. These eponymous little red flowers are as memorable and important to the British public as fish ‘n chips, her Maj, football hooliganism, binge drinking and teenage pregnancy.
Traditionally, the poppy has been a symbol of remembering our World War 1 (and later, World War 2) veterans who fought so hard to protect us, something poignant for most Brits whose grandpas and great grandpas were forced to sign up for national service to fight in the most bloody and horrible of wars. Well, my granddad didn’t as he was a Jewish Polish immigrant and was too young and too old for the respective wars, but I’ve seen Blackadder Goes Forth so I know the whole business was ruddy horrible for all concerned. Dammit, these brave boys need our respect.
However, I won’t be wearing a poppy this year, as somewhere along the line something went a bit wrong. Instead of a quiet, dignified symbol of remembrance for those fallen fighting for our country, it’s been hijacked by Sun reading, BNP voting, grief-mongering, ‘support our troops!’ brigade as an excuse to be a bit, well, racist.
I’m sure people weren’t this obsessed with who wore poppies ten years ago. It was always a matter of personal choice. I certainly didn’t used to feel that by not wearing one I may as well just defecate on the cenotaph while shouting ‘Death to the West’.
But a quick search on Facebook, home of the ignorant and racist, finds this group – Wear Your Poppy with Pride – and inside scores of people clambering over each other to wear their poppy the largest and shout the loudest about just how much they care about our fallen ‘heroes’.
I don’t know when the poppy became a symbol for remembering the fallen fromIraqandAfghanistantoo, but alas, it apparently does. When was the last time people talked about theFalklands? No? Gulf war?Somalia? What about the Troubles inNorthern Ireland? No? Hello?
The group is hilarious, terrible edited pictures aside, because of the obsessive grief tourism, incessant hero-worship, poor grammar and casual racism thrown in for good measure. Here are some highlights:
“Were your poppy with pride as we remember all the soldiers that have died fighting for are country and those who still are,if it wasn’t for your bravery and your courage then I dont know what would have happened. You’s are my hero’s xx”
Quite. One gentleman doesn’t agree quite so much. Miceal O’Hare, from Newry, signs his own death warrant with the comment: “war criminals”
To which people responded:
“Always remember. Shame that so many died for our freedom snd for people like miceal o’hare to have the freedom of speech to post his opinion”
“Too bloody right……hero’s every single one of them. If it upsets certain people wearing a poppy go fuck your self.”
A Northern Irishman disliking the British army? How dare he! Doesn’t he know that our boys are all HERO’S?!?!
“Yes, I will but how many others even give this situation any thought?”
“Sadly, not enough Isabella, not enough…”
No, you’re right. Only every single person in the country.
In school today, I was wearing my poppy and have done since Monday, children asked why are you wearing it and it’s not poppy day? I said to them you wear it to the lead up to “poppy day” but it’s really called Armistice Day. The fact is that it’s really frustrating that people don’t know the establishments of the fact what Poppy’s mean, In classroom reflections the so called concerned p
eople who wants to know don’t listen and decides to talk about football and take the mick out of our heroes past and present, I got up in a rush and yelled at them, they didn’t know what to say,
When the teacher asked me to calm down and I replied with a inevitable action. They thought, they took the time to think of my grandfather your grandfather their grandfather and someone from the area that’s just unfortunately died from an IED, so please respect and share – take the time to respect our heroes♥ xx
Yes, I’m sure that happened and I’m sure this was written by a kid. He replied with an INEVITABLE ACTION. Don’t you know people ‘unfortunately die’ from IEDs? It’s happening in your area. Kids these days.
EVERY DAY is poppy day. There is no diffinitave day to wear a poppy with pride as the people who gave their all and all gave some…deserve the respect. If you’re not willing to stand behind the troops from then and now…please feel free to stand in front of them.
Except there is a definitive day, isn’t there. Armistice day. 11th November, look it up.
Its a damn shame there arnt MORE young people like “YOU”. .XxX .
We need more like you and less football hooligans. Well done.
Are those the only two options? Also, it’s ‘fewer’ football hooligans.
Both my cars wear poppy’s 24/7/365
Why.
“ Wear do u get them? so specil x”
“Sorry Alison its only a photoshop image i have done”
You don’t say.
“ love the poppie any pakis who dont agree then blow ur selfs up or fuck offfff”
Whoa. Where did THAT come from? I hate people.
I also couldn’t not share with you some of the beautiful art. If only I knew who their creator was…
Simply stunning.
I’m happy to donate some money to the legion but I don’t want anyone to think I’m one of these ‘Troops are HERO’S!’ wankers. I think Captain Blackadder, Captain Darling, Lieutenant George and Private Baldrick would be spinning in their graves at what this day represents now.
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I agree absolutely. It is a source of much sorrow that the originally benign and uncontroversial sign of respect and remembrance has become a symbol of such intolerance and ignorance. I just donate too. I can no longer bring myself to wear the poppy.
Why is it only the semi-literate who feel the need to comment on poppies?
Can we read something into this? Our education system going down the pan coinciding with an increase in poppy fascism?
Interesting.