The Poppy

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Hamm

Hamm

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What a strange country England is. Like it or not, the poppy remembers people who died (sadly) in several wars, and hence has strong political associations. FIFA, as we all know are inept, but they at least manage to often keep politics out of sport. Only in this country could you have the PM and Prince William calling on and writing to FIFA.

Imagine the reaction of the English if England were playing Argentina, and the Argies had a symbol sewn on to their shirts to remember the dead from the falklands war...

I'm as far as you can get from being patriotic (Irish), but would Ireland be allowed to wear something as a show of remembrance for all the civilians who lost their lives at the hands of the Black and tans, without ever choosing to join an army, as the English are allowed to wear to remember their soldiers? I think not...
 
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Have the Argies got an emblem such as the poppy though?

if footballers want to wear an emblem where is the problem?..there is no problem when its advertising some sports product..funny how thats ok isn't it?..the power of money overrides all rules

its fook all to with other countries if we choose to honour and remember our war dead..same as its fook all to do with us what they do to remember their war dead

Argies have every right to wear what they want..as do Irish & English
 
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Footballers are possibly the worst possible representatives to commerate someone else's personal sacrifice

Football and politics have no place in bed together

Well done Fifa
 
granger said:
Footballers are possibly the worst possible representatives to commerate someone else's personal sacrifice

Football and politics have no place in bed together

Well done Fifa
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total rubbish mate

wearing a poppy has got fook all to do with politics..its about respect for people who made the ultimate sacrifice

i've never read such nonsense..politics my arse..deary me..get real ffs
 
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granger said:
An emblem relating to past military actions isn't political? really?
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it doesn't relate to past military actions..it relates to people who died

if people want to pay respect to people who gave their lives..who are you or anyone else to say they can't?

everything has to be political doesn't it?

this thread has all the hallmarks of a giving the English a good old bashing
 
granger said:
A pm and a prince decide to get involved and make it a political matter to boot
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there is nothing political about a poppy..and it doesn't relate to military campaign celebration

the fact that pm and royal get involved doesn't alter the fact ..even if you want it to..as individuals they are allowed to express an opinion ..no?

The red poppy has become a symbol of war remembrance the world over. People in many countries wear the poppy to remember those who died in war or who still serve. In many countries, the poppy is worn around Armistice Day (11 November), but in New Zealand it is most commonly seen around Anzac Day, 25 April.


war remembrance the world over isn't celebrating any particular military campaigns as i read it

this thread has potential to be quite offensive imo
 
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granger said:
I fail to see how someone having a different opinion to your own is offensive
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its nothing to do with having a different opinion..its about having respect or not for the dead

criticising people for showing respect for people who die in wartime is offensive imo.

anyway..its last i am posting on this

a distasteful thread imo
 
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If the Iranians came up with a symbol for those who died fighting for Jihad would that be acceptable.
The Easter Lilly is the symbol for those who fought for an Irish Republic -would that be acceptable.
If a future Japanese or German government found a symbol to honour their soldiers who died in WW2 would that be acceptable.
 
EC said ireland would be fine

Jihad is about aggression and instigating unnecessary war. I think Japan and Germany might fall into that category too. FWIW Germany supported the FA's stance on this

the poppy largely commerates those that defended and liberated. that might not sit easy with some who may have sympathies for the past aggressors but its the fact of the matter

I can understand the thin end of wedge argument but thats the only argument imo
 
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EC1 said:
its nothing to do with having a different opinion..its about having respect or not for the dead

criticising people for showing respect for people who die in wartime is offensive imo.

anyway..its last i am posting on this

a distasteful thread imo
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Well what do you expect when half of the forum is Irish?. A poppy to them is a red rag to a bull

They just don't get it.....never have....never will!!!
 
clivex said:
EC said ireland would be fine

Jihad is about aggression and instigating unnecessary war. I think Japan and Germany might fall into that category too. FWIW Germany supported the FA's stance on this

the poppy largely commerates those that defended and liberated. that might not sit easy with some who may have sympathies for the past aggressors but its the fact of the matter

I can understand the thin end of wedge argument but thats the only argument imo
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Do you mean past aggressors like those civilians who didnt put their hands up quick enough for the black and tans?
 
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The poppy's origin is the poppies which sprang up in France in the fields where tens of thousands of Irish, British, French and aggressor German soldiers of all classes died, most horribly and unnecessarily. However, it's now broadened out to commemorate 'the glorious dead' of both World Wars and beyond and, for me, it embraces all who have fallen in combatting expansionist aggressors.

Thus, for me it includes the superb King's African Rifles, who campaigned alongside British troops, the Gurkhas, the Indian Army (which included thousands of Muslim Indians, later to become Pakistanis and Bangladeshis), the free Polish army, American and Canadian, Australian and New Zealand, Scandinavian, South African and Dutch troops and numbers of civilians who volunteered for emergency services in support of Fire, Rescue, and medical - everyone who died in trying to stop the rise of Fascism which would, had they failed, see (some of) us living in a very different society, where the despotism of today's tinpot dictators would look like child's play.

The humble little poppy merely nods its head in thanks to all of the millions who died in warding off a great evil - and ought to serve as a reminder that the struggle still goes on against repressive despotism in many countries today.

If the Football Association doesn't recognise it, then it shames the likes of communities which sent forth the likes of the Accrington Pals, the Barnsley Pals - all the lads who had bonded through their work in hard industries and mining, and their like, in WWI, whole villages of football-loving young men who fell on the Somme, Ypres, Passchendale and across those bloodsoaked fields where the poppies would spring up like defiant, living markers of their passing. Thus, shame on FIFA and its skewed, feeble, in fact cowardly attitude. The Accrington lads would have shown you what real guts were.
 
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good post krizon

Hamm...i can see EC's point now and it ignores what he says too. the poppy does not commemerate the black and tans of course

......or the appeasors either
 
harry said:
Well what do you expect when half of the forum is Irish?. A poppy to them is a red rag to a bull

They just don't get it.....never have....never will!!!
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I have absolutely no problem with the poppy - as an emblem to remember and honour those who gave up their lives in War. It is offensive? No - when this us what it represents. Any further or exaggerated symbolism could be a different matter though.
 
Agree...although i do think that pictures of lancaster bombers on the shirts should used for the next german match
 
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clivex said:
Jihad is about aggression and instigating unnecessary war. I think Japan and Germany might fall into that category too. FWIW Germany supported the FA's stance on this
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Who makes the decision on what is or isn't a legitimate war or cause though? The prospect of FIFA having to make those sort of decisions on an arbitrary basis doesn't even bear thinking about.

The decision to ban the poppy may seem bizarre but it would set a dangerous precedent, especially for an organisation so dangerously lacking in competence.
 
11 times gone to Ireland....EVERY time "are you Engish?"

"no Welsh"...."that's ok then".....:ninja:

It's expected IMO !!!!!
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You must be visiting nackerville.
 
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We shouldn't lose sight of the fact that having the poppy on the Angleterre's strip in the first place, is nothing more than an act of indulgent "Look at us - we care" posturing.

Wearing a poppy shoild be an individual choice. If the English players want to commemorate/remember, let them wear poppies in the lapels of their suits.....or not.

Whoever came up with the idea in the first place needs a dry slap. Same with whoever at the Beeb enforces their Poppy rules. You can't force people to give a shit.
 
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Who makes the decision on what is or isn't a legitimate war or cause though?
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God you dont half get some Guardian reader hand wringing crap on here.


I think you would have to be in a strange place (de valera's mind maybe?) if you couldnt see that standing up and defeating the nazis was pretty legitimate, although as nicely put in one paper this morning "what would the swiss know about it?" . Or some others too
 
clivex said:
God you dont half get some Guardian reader hand wringing crap on here.


I think you would have to be in a strange place (de valera's mind maybe?) if you couldnt see that standing up and defeating the nazis was pretty legitimate, although as nicely put in one paper this morning "what would the swiss know about it?" . Or some others too
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Why do you feel the need to pigeonhole everyone?

Defeating the nazis is far, far from the only war British soldiers have been involved in.
 
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