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Rachael

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I've been wearing a poppy in the run-up to Remembrance Day. No one else among my friends and work colleagues seems to be.

You get articles in the Guardian saying that poppies are bad because they glorify war, and we should choose not to wear one, or perhaps wear a white poppy for peace. I don't really get this. The Poppy Appeal uses slogans like "Because the war to end all wars didn't" - isn't that an expression of sadness and regret, and determination that it won't happen again? And "Lest we forget", which I think is either more of the same, or gratitude, but not glorification.

When I was a kid the poppies used to say "Haig Fund" on them. I gather Haig is thought by many to be a nasty piece of work who sacrificed lots of his men's lives unnecessarily, so I can understand people not wanting to wear anything with his name on; but now the inscription is the much more innocuous "Poppy Appeal".

I guess, for of a lot of my friends, it might just be a case of not having noticed it's Poppy Day soon, rather than any kind of deliberate statement. But I'm curious. So, a poll:

Poll #1293597 Poppies
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 24

Have you got a poppy?

View Answers

Yes
15 (62.5%)

No, for ideological reasons
2 (8.3%)

No, because I haven't got around to it/forgot/can't be bothered
7 (29.2%)

Which of these things do you think the poppy says? (not "Which of these do you agree with")

View Answers

War is glorious
1 (4.2%)

War is horrible
8 (33.3%)

We should try to avoid having another war
12 (50.0%)

If we have another war, we should sacrifice ourselves bravely like those guys did
7 (29.2%)

The wounded and the widows deserve our help
18 (75.0%)

I am grateful not to be living under Nazi rule
9 (37.5%)

Rule Britannia!
1 (4.2%)

I hate Germans
0 (0.0%)

It is sweet and right to die for one's country
3 (12.5%)

It is sweet and right to wear poppies, because we've always worn them, don'tchaknow
5 (20.8%)

We mustn't forget history, or we're doomed to repeat it
16 (66.7%)

Aren't I good, I put some change in a box
10 (41.7%)

Other (in comments)
4 (16.7%)

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Rachael
User: [info]woodpijn
Name: Rachael
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