Wearing a poppy in November

[blahraptors]

Do you wear a poppy for Rememberance Day? Why or why not?

I have the utmost respect for our veterans and the armed forces, but I don't wear one because the poppies I can get don't have safety pins. The needle always pokes me and if I pin it to outerwear, I lose it. What about you guys?

[goJays]

i start wearing it around a week before the 11th and keep it on for a few days after. my respect extends longer than just one day.. 14 days maybe lol

don't like war but it already happened.

[88]

don't like war but it already happened.

Isn't the point of Rememberance Day to remember the pointless horror of war so that we don't let it happen again?

[spf1971]

From the 1st to the 11th.

[brunes]

Wow I find the "no" result of this very depressing.

[ephemera]

Having a grandfather that fought in north Africa, I have to admit I sometimes forget some years. But I will still donate.

[izzybear]

As a believer in the stupidity and futility of war, am I supposed to wear a poppy or are poppies just for people who believe that as Canadians we should regularly send troops to Afghanistan and other countries whose policies we don't agree with?

[spf1971]

As a believer in the stupidity and futility of war, am I supposed to wear a poppy or are poppies just for people who believe that as Canadians we should regularly send troops to Afghanistan and other countries whose policies we don't agree with?

Do you agree with democracy? Poppies are worn to rmember those who gave their lives defending it. You don't have to support a war to support the troops.

http://rlv.zcache.com/if_you_don_t_stand_behind_our_troops_tshirt-p235729732000135443y6dl_400.jpg

[brunes]

As a believer in the stupidity and futility of war, am I supposed to wear a poppy or are poppies just for people who believe that as Canadians we should regularly send troops to Afghanistan and other countries whose policies we don't agree with?

Do you agree with going to war against Hitler? Would you have rather just let him take over all of Europe and North America and create a Nazi euro-centric planet? Don't you have any respect at all for the hundreds of thousands of brave men and women who died fighting in these wars?

Poppies are not about politics They are about remembering people who died so that you can live the way you do, agree with them or not.

If you actually spent some time to talk to some veterans, you might realize nearly all of them are very against war - having lived through it and knowing the horrors of it first hand, in a way we can't even imagine today. But they recognized the need at the time to stand up to what they felt was an injustice, and did so.

[Sauerkraut]

Do you wear a poppy for Rememberance Day? Why or why not?

I have the utmost respect for our veterans and the armed forces, but I don't wear one because the poppies I can get don't have safety pins. The needle always pokes me and if I pin it to outerwear, I lose it. What about you guys?

Am I missing something here? Pull out the straight pin and insert a safety pin

[nalababe]

Yes I do

FTR
I usually give $20 for my poppy
I can recite Flanders Fields accurately
I don't support the Highway of Heroes
I don't support the US in the Middle East
I do support our Peace Keeping Mantra
I do make sure that my US colleagues know that it was Canada that took Italy and that we were just as important on the DDay.
I do remember the stories of my Grand Parents who lived through the wars or fought in the wars and tell these stories to our son...these were wars the likes of which we today cannot comprehend.

[88]

Do you agree with going to war against Hitler?

OMG - is that still going on?!? :eek:

[googoo]

Do you agree with democracy? Poppies are worn to remember those who gave their lives defending it. You don't have to support a war to support the troops.

EXACTLY!

If you lose the poppy then donate a little more for another!

The big question is whether you rise for the 2 minutes of silence?? I have for as long as I can remember, no matter what I'm doing!

Brent

[jerrysiz]

Am I missing something here? Pull out the straight pin and insert a safety pin

+1, or put an earring backing (or wrap a piece of tape) around the end of the straight pin. Problem solved.

[BlackJays]

+1, or put an earring backing (or wrap a piece of tape) around the end of the straight pin. Problem solved.

Ok so I donate to my country, great, i pay taxes anyways but oookay. And in return I get this pin which stabs me an has a fake flower on it.......... how about making these with a sticky surface on the back. it would be much cheaper. and also it would prevent those cheapskates from re-using the same poppie from last year. oh and the best part, it owuldnt stab you.

someone give me a nobel peace prize. ha ha

[jcon]

Ok so I donate to my country, great, i pay taxes anyways but oookay. And in return I get this pin which stabs me an has a fake flower on it.......... how about making these with a sticky surface on the back. it would be much cheaper. and also it would prevent those cheapskates from re-using the same poppie from last year. oh and the best part, it owuldnt stab you.

someone give me a nobel peace prize. ha ha

The money you donate goes to the veterans, not the government.

The poppy is a symbol. Most people get new ones each year because they've lost the one from the previous year.

The donation is not to 'buy' a poppy, it's to support the veterans.

This information is freely available on the internet. I suggest some people spend some time getting educated.

[jcon]

From Veterans Affairs:
Poppy Facts

During the Napoleonic Wars, the poppy drew attention as the mysterious flower that bloomed over the graves of fallen soldiers.
In the 20th Century, the poppy again was widely noticed after soils in France and Belgium became rich in lime from rubble during the First World War. The little red flowers flourished around the graves of the war dead as they had 100 years earlier.
In 1915, Guelph, Ontario native John McCrae, a doctor serving with the Canadian Forces Artillery, recorded this phenomenon in his famous poem In Flanders Fields.
Two days before the Armistice, Moina Michael, an American woman from Athens, Georgia, read the McCrae poem and was inspired to wear a poppy year-round in memory of the war dead.
In 1920, Madame E. Guérin of France visited the United States and happened to meet Miss Michael at the YMCA at Columbia University, where the latter was a volunteer. Madame Guérin then resolved to sell handmade poppies around Armistice Day to raise money for poor children in the war-torn areas of Europe.
In 1921, Field-Marshall Earl Haig, the former Commander-in-Chief of the British Armies in France and Belgium and the principal founder of the British Legion, was sold on Madame Guérin's fundraising idea and approved organization of the British Poppy Day Appeal by the Legion to raise money for poor and disabled veterans.
The same year, Madame Guérin visited Canada, and convinced the Great War Veterans Association (predecessor to the Royal Canadian Legion) to similarly adopt the poppy as a symbol of remembrance in aid of fundraising.
Today, the Poppy Campaign is one of the Royal Canadian Legion's most important programs. The money raised from poppy sales provides direct assistance for ex-service people in financial distress, as well as funding for medical appliances and research, home services, care facilities, and numerous other purposes.

[Keelie]

Yes I do. And the important thing is to get a new one each year, DONATE. Get two!

I have a trick to keep the poppy on... pull the pin out a bit, put it through your shirt/jacket/whatever, then stick the tip of the pin through the very bottom of the poppy and pull it all the way down. Poppy is going no where.

[Yankees 1903]

I usually start wearing it at the start of November. I put one on my jacket and usually forget to remove it until sometime in December because I don't realize it's there after a couple of weeks :lol: If you don't want to have it pinned to your clothes at least try to wear it on your jacket, I also find that I get stabbed by it several times a day if I try to wear it on a sweater.

[ruhroh]

I keep all of the ones I got the previous years. I still have at least one from the year/s that didn't have a sharp point (horrible decision imo, glad they got rid of it).

I get like 4 a year because I lose at least one, and my mom always wants one too so I get one for her. I wear it Nov 1-11.


I can recite Flanders Fields accurately
I still remember how to sing one of the song versions :o

[avp77]

Most of the sorts of jackets I wear by the time November rolls around have a waterproof polyester exterior of some kind, not exactly something you want to keep on poking with a pin.

[gordholio]

Isn't the point of Rememberance Day to remember the pointless horror of war so that we don't let it happen again?

No, it's to remember those who sacrificed so that we could live in freedom.

[88]

No, it's to remember those who sacrificed so that we could live in freedom.

The immense sacrifice of Canada's veterans and fallen soldiers is a subset of the overall horror of war. Preventing this sacrifice in the future is a critical reason to remember it every day, not just on November 11th.

[twotterdhc6]

don't like war but it already happened.
This invariably comes up every year, so I'll make it clear again:

Supporting veterans and remembering the fallen DOES NOT EQUAL to supporting the military. Note that distribution of poppies and collection of funds are managed by the Royal Canadian Legionm, not by the government.

how about making these with a sticky surface on the back. it would be much cheaper. and also it would prevent those cheapskates from re-using the same poppie from last year. oh and the best part, it owuldnt stab you.

I always find people wearing these older style poppies every year. The older style ones with the lighter green centre really stand out! :evil:

[UrbanPoet]

I started in November. I saved the ones from last year so i can be the first to wear them. But i still donate to the legion. I donated $20 this year.

[flexwong]

Isn't the point of Rememberance Day to remember the pointless horror of war so that we don't let it happen again?

if you really think that war is just "pointless horror" you need a history lesson.

[jcon]

if you really think that war is just "pointless horror" you need a history lesson.

Explain? :confused:

[mrsmagoo2001]

cut a piece off of a wide elastic band and put the end of the pin through it. Won't come off easily.

[Pete Jones]

I wear a poppy.

On the 11th, on my way home, I stop by the cenotaph for a moment and leave my poppy there.

--Pete

[SALTY3142]

Do you agree with going to war against Hitler? Would you have rather just let him take over all of Europe and North America and create a Nazi euro-centric planet? Don't you have any respect at all for the hundreds of thousands of brave men and women who died fighting in these wars?

Poppies are not about politics They are about remembering people who died so that you can live the way you do, agree with them or not.

If you actually spent some time to talk to some veterans, you might realize nearly all of them are very against war - having lived through it and knowing the horrors of it first hand, in a way we can't even imagine today. But they recognized the need at the time to stand up to what they felt was an injustice, and did so.

Thank you for saving me the typing, this is spot on.

Everyone on here needs to donate what they can, grab a poppy or show some kind of respect for all the brave people who fought for the freedoms we take for granted today. Personally I think it should be a holiday.

[googoo]

The immense sacrifice of Canada's veterans and fallen soldiers is a subset of the overall horror of war. Preventing this sacrifice in the future is a critical reason to remember it every day, not just on November 11th.

Agreed, but lots of people don't don't seem to know anything about Remembrance dayas you can tell from the 22 people NOT wearing a poppy since they aren't even willing to give a moments thought.

Brent

[gordholio]

The immense sacrifice of Canada's veterans and fallen soldiers is a subset of the overall horror of war. Preventing this sacrifice in the future is a critical reason to remember it every day, not just on November 11th.

With human nature the way it is, we won't stop conflicts between people and countries.
I choose to remember the sacrifices that people have made for us in this great country.
We're fortunate that there were men and women (mostly men) who stood up for us back in World War 1 and 2.

[flexwong]

Explain? :confused:

Do you agree with going to war against Hitler? Would you have rather just let him take over all of Europe and North America and create a Nazi euro-centric planet? Don't you have any respect at all for the hundreds of thousands of brave men and women who died fighting in these wars?

Poppies are not about politics They are about remembering people who died so that you can live the way you do, agree with them or not.

If you actually spent some time to talk to some veterans, you might realize nearly all of them are very against war - having lived through it and knowing the horrors of it first hand, in a way we can't even imagine today. But they recognized the need at the time to stand up to what they felt was an injustice, and did so.

there. brunes said it.

[jcon]

there. brunes said it.

Hitler started the war. If there was no invasion, no war started, we would not have needed to send troops.

Are you saying Hitler's war was not a pointless waste of human life?

[blahraptors]

+1, or put an earring backing (or wrap a piece of tape) around the end of the straight pin. Problem solved.

I used to have one with a safety pin but I lost it. I'll try your suggestion, thanks!

[Menthol]

I wear mine up to about the 15th Nov, then I pin it to my tree air freshener on my rear view mirror. It sits there until that's ready to change. I'm forever grateful for what they did

[akky]

Do you wear a poppy for Rememberance Day? Why or why not?

I have the utmost respect for our veterans and the armed forces, but I don't wear one because the poppies I can get don't have safety pins. The needle always pokes me and if I pin it to outerwear, I lose it. What about you guys?

Man up.

[setell]

I still find it strange how Remembrance Day isn't a stat holiday in ON. Very very strange for me.

I don't wear a poppy as it never stays on my jackets. I donate but I had always wonder why they don't make it with something else like safety pins or something so it'll stay. I always feel guilty when I'm not wearing a poppy but then I go through a lotj if I wear them. One year I went through like 3/4 before Nov 11 rolled around so I gave up.

[UrbanPoet]

I still find it strange how Remembrance Day isn't a stat holiday in ON. Very very strange for me.

I don't wear a poppy as it never stays on my jackets. I donate but I had always wonder why they don't make it with something else like safety pins or something so it'll stay. I always feel guilty when I'm not wearing a poppy but then I go through a lotj if I wear them. One year I went through like 3/4 before Nov 11 rolled around so I gave up.

I souped up my poppy with a safety pin like mechanism.

[Akraz]

No doubt has war changed the course of history and how most of us ended up here in canada and what not (i know my grandparents migrated from italy here to get away) but simply...

i just dont care. It's not disrespect, I just choose not to care.

[setell]

i just dont care. It's not disrespect, I just choose not to care.

What you just said is disrespectful.

[jcon]

You choose not to care?

That is in fact 'disrespect'.

You make me ill.

[jcon]

there. brunes said it.

I've re-read this thread. We're on the same side I believe on this.

I think it's simply a matter of miscommunication and interpretation.

[twotterdhc6]

I still find it strange how Remembrance Day isn't a stat holiday in ON. Very very strange for me.

I don't wear a poppy as it never stays on my jackets. I donate but I had always wonder why they don't make it with something else like safety pins or something so it'll stay. I always feel guilty when I'm not wearing a poppy but then I go through a lotj if I wear them. One year I went through like 3/4 before Nov 11 rolled around so I gave up.

It used to be a holiday, but it was revoked so that rather than having the kids enjoy their holiday, they must attend school and learn what Remembrance Day is really about, attend the ceremonies, and observe the minute of silence.

I don't have any links to back this up, but this is what I've always known...

[jcon]

I too wish it were a mandatory holiday.

Alas, most, I fear we treat it as a 'vacation' rather than a time to reflect and pay homage to those that have served our country.

[winner2000]

You choose not to care?

That is in fact 'disrespect'.

You make me ill.

LOL I love everyone's 'holier than tho' attitude around here.

Let's face reality - for 364 days of the year, no one gives a flying crap about our war vets. For a few days surrounding Remembrance Day, we suddenly pretend to 'care' and berate anyone who doesn't show respect for those who fought in any war. Why isn't anyone discussing our war vets in February? or December? June? Why is there no ink devoted in newspapers to our war vets during the year? No tv time, no radio broadcasts...nothing. I bet even most of the people in this thread don't even devote one SECOND to thinking about our war heroes after November 12th.

So please, stop acting like "not caring" or "not wearing a poppy" is showing disrespect - if it is, then I'm pretty sure 99.999% of all of us are guilty. If any of you REALLY cared about our vets, you'd be wearing your poppy EVERYDAY....you'd be making discussion threads on RFD in months other than November. What a bunch of baloney....

[jcon]

Winner - you don't know me.

Starting threads is not a way of showing respect. Action is. Giving back to your community.

Just because you 'take' don't act like everyone else does.

[BananaHunter]

I'd wear it to show my respect but the hardest part for me is remembering to get one. I get pretty spacey sometimes and would miss a poppy vendor unless he's directly in my face. Thanks for the thread to remind me. I'll go get one today.

Veterans deserve your respect. I urge all of you to care at least for one day of the year.

[Lone_Prodigy]

LOL I love everyone's 'holier than tho' attitude around here.

Let's face reality - for 364 days of the year, no one gives a flying crap about our war vets. For a few days surrounding Remembrance Day, we suddenly pretend to 'care' and berate anyone who doesn't show respect for those who fought in any war. Why isn't anyone discussing our war vets in February? or December? June? Why is there no ink devoted in newspapers to our war vets during the year? No tv time, no radio broadcasts...nothing. I bet even most of the people in this thread don't even devote one SECOND to thinking about our war heroes after November 12th.

So please, stop acting like "not caring" or "not wearing a poppy" is showing disrespect - if it is, then I'm pretty sure 99.999% of all of us are guilty. If any of you REALLY cared about our vets, you'd be wearing your poppy EVERYDAY....you'd be making discussion threads on RFD in months other than November. What a bunch of baloney....

Fact: no one cares about something unless it's an anniversary. Is there media coverage on any day but Sept. 11th? Do people get ultra-patriotic on a day besides Canada Day? Heck, do people even celebrate their wedding with as much aplomb as their anniversary? Does that mean people don't care? No. Just because people may not express their appreciation and respect every waking moment of their lives, doesn't mean it's not there.

Coming into a thread about respecting and remembering our war vets and saying you don't care is trolling, plain and simple.

[winner2000]

Winner - you don't know me.

Starting threads is not a way of showing respect. Action is. Giving back to your community.

Just because you 'take' don't act like everyone else does.

And just because YOU care about Remembrance Day does not mean everyone else does.

(and for the record, I wasn't picking on you - just using your post as an example)

Fact: no one cares about something unless it's an anniversary. Is there media coverage on any day but Sept. 11th?

Errr...yes there is.

Do people get ultra-patriotic on a day besides Canada Day? Heck, do people even celebrate their wedding with as much aplomb as their anniversary?

You're seriously comparing Canada Day, birthdays and anniversaries to Remembrance Day?

Does that mean people don't care? No. Just because people may not express their appreciation and respect every waking moment of their lives, doesn't mean it's not there.

Sure. And how many people do you know that even REMOTELY care about our vets or Remembrance Day outside of the first two weeks of November?

Coming into a thread about respecting and remembering our war vets and saying you don't care is trolling, plain and simple.

No it's not - the other guy expressed his opinion, and he has every right to. That's NOT trolling.

[Akraz]

Fact: no one cares about something unless it's an anniversary. Is there media coverage on any day but Sept. 11th? Do people get ultra-patriotic on a day besides Canada Day? Heck, do people even celebrate their wedding with as much aplomb as their anniversary? Does that mean people don't care? No. Just because people may not express their appreciation and respect every waking moment of their lives, doesn't mean it's not there.

Coming into a thread about respecting and remembering our war vets and saying you don't care is trolling, plain and simple.

I am not trolling at all. Trolls usually shout out random complaints under false pretenses to stare a flame war. I am merely expressing what I feel. I was asked a question in the polls.

If only the people who answered "yes" to the poll were only allowed to reply to this thread, then this thread is biased and should be removed.

And the act of not caring about something has nothing to do with disrespect, I can see your point of view but in this sense it is not. I am not spitting on our soldiers, I am not calling Canada lame, I am not doing ANYTHING (literally).

Just because I dont support a certain group of people (in any case) does not mean I disrespect them. I just choose not to care. If that makes me some form of low human being to you, then fine. You're not much of my concern either.

[LaserEnvy]

To say that, "for 364 days a year, no one gives a flying crap about war veterens," is absurd. First of all, you can't generalize the entire country's population, and second, Remembrance Day is not only for past wars. There are Canadian soldiers fighting abroad right now.

Just because you don't celebrate remembrance 365 days a year, does not mean that you don't care. That sort of thinking is extremely negative and immature. We have Remembrance Day to remind everyone people of the country's history.

[bubble.tea]

... I don't wear one because the poppies I can get don't have safety pins. The needle always pokes me and if I pin it to outerwear, I lose it.
lol...so...you find yourself habitually giving up on things in life just because the first time around it didn't work for ya? Come now...surely you know what common sense., applying yourself., and plain old give it another try is all about eh?

Am I missing something here? Pull out the straight pin and insert a safety pin
lol.

cut a piece off of a wide elastic band and put the end of the pin through it. Won't come off easily.
Genius!


I actually use needle-nose pliers and just flip the pin upwards. I keep the same poppies on my various jackets for the period. Also switch to lapel-pin on my switcharoo one.

I do personally feel that it is a terrible shame for someone to allow themselves to prematurely discredit the significance of this moment in history. Educate yourselves, and give thanks where it is owed. Without our Veterans we'd be...well not where we are today.

[Lone_Prodigy]

I am not trolling at all. Trolls usually shout out random complaints under false pretenses to stare a flame war. I am merely expressing what I feel. I was asked a question in the polls.

If only the people who answered "yes" to the poll were only allowed to reply to this thread, then this thread is biased and should be removed.

And the act of not caring about something has nothing to do with disrespect, I can see your point of view but in this sense it is not. I am not spitting on our soldiers, I am not calling Canada lame, I am not doing ANYTHING (literally).

Just because I dont support a certain group of people (in any case) does not mean I disrespect them. I just choose not to care. If that makes me some form of low human being to you, then fine. You're not much of my concern either.

You're entitled to your apathy, but coming into a thread where a majority of the posts are about Remembrance day and saying "I don't care" will draw a certain reaction. This reaction will usually be outrage and anger, and as seen in previous posts, this is correct. A troll seeks out this reaction by making inflammatory posts when he/she knows the expected response. The "opinion" defence is also what the troll uses, but as everyone knows, you're entitled to your opinion but there's an appropriate time and place to do it. This thread is clearly the wrong place.

Did you really think you could say "I don't care" and expect people to respond "that's nice, but I care" and "thanks for sharing your opinion but I respectfully disagree?" Or even people to ignore you? Considering the sensitive nature of this holiday, saying "I don't care" is like a slap in the face to people associated with war. You should've known that before posting, and the fact that you posted it anyway to generate a response equals trolling.

Your last passing shot at me ("You're not much of my concern either.") does nothing to help your cause and just confirms your trolling nature. But then again, why should you care what I call you?

[canehdianman]

You're entitled to your apathy, but coming into a thread where a majority of the posts are about Remembrance day and saying "I don't care" will draw a certain reaction. This reaction will usually be outrage and anger, and as seen in previous posts, this is correct. A troll seeks out this reaction by making inflammatory posts when he/she knows the expected response. The "opinion" defence is also what the troll uses, but as everyone knows, you're entitled to your opinion but there's an appropriate time and place to do it. This thread is clearly the wrong place.

<snip>


and try to remember that you are entitled to your apathy only because of the sacrifices that people have made to make this country what it is today.

Given how contrarian you seem to be, it might be worth a $5 poppy to remember someone giving their life so you could have the choice to be apathetic.

[Akraz]

You're entitled to your apathy, but coming into a thread where a majority of the posts are about Remembrance day and saying "I don't care" will draw a certain reaction. This reaction will usually be outrage and anger, and as seen in previous posts, this is correct. A troll seeks out this reaction by making inflammatory posts when he/she knows the expected response. The "opinion" defence is also what the troll uses, but as everyone knows, you're entitled to your opinion but there's an appropriate time and place to do it. This thread is clearly the wrong place.

Did you really think you could say "I don't care" and expect people to respond "that's nice, but I care" and "thanks for sharing your opinion but I respectfully disagree?" Or even people to ignore you? Considering the sensitive nature of this holiday, saying "I don't care" is like a slap in the face to people associated with war. You should've known that before posting, and the fact that you posted it anyway to generate a response equals trolling.

Your last passing shot at me ("You're not much of my concern either.") does nothing to help your cause and just confirms your trolling nature. But then again, why should you care what I call you?

Hardly a troll. Given a thread that asks me if I wear one, I answered what seemed to be the 2nd most popular answer out of the 3. I was the only one that actually came forward to explain why. The others just hit "no" and stopped reading the thread.

[Becks]

You're not supposed to wear a poppy until the Governor General wears it. Then, I believe you're supposed to take your poppy off after the eleventh hour and eleventh minute on Nov 11th - something like that is the proper protocol.

I used to have no problems with wearing poppies. However, an incident happened in the news many years ago where some legion didn't allow Sikhs to come into the legion without taking their turban off. I thought that adhering to the rule was pretty stupid and showed that the veterans were basically "people of British heritage". Considering that Canada was pretty racist back in the old days of the war, and that the old fogies at the legion were still pretty conservative and probably hated the new immigration trends, I didn't think it was appropriate to wear a poppy. That is, if the old legion members had their way, there'd be no way I'd be allowed to be a Canadian back in 1945 or today. So, why would I support them? Anyways...

Nowadays, whenever I hear about the current soldiers in Afghanistan, I feel really bad about all their sacrifices, and I get emotional about it. I think volunteering time or energy that improves our community in some way is "my version of wearing the poppy" and it is not just done in November but throughout the year.

I think that a lot of people never think about the military, though, even now. When a death is mentioned in the news, I don't think a lot of ppl stop and think about it. So, overall, it's great that people wear poppies to remember and support the veterans. It has a lot of value in its symbolism. However, being a patriot has more to do with what's inside and not the outer appearance.

[cheapmeister]

I don't wear a poppy. I always have great respect for the veterans, both living and dead. I guess I am just afraid that I might poke my eyeballs out with the pin on the backside of the poppy. I also love to watch war movies like black hawk down, saving private ryan, and valkyrie.
Overall I gots to say that thank god we won the war, and not hitler. Hitler was 1000% pure evil.

[RobDek]

It's a stat holiday here in NB...the way it should be.

[DJ Dennis]

I donate to them but I always end up losing my poppy.

[stevelam]

LOL I love everyone's 'holier than tho' attitude around here.

Let's face reality - for 364 days of the year, no one gives a flying crap about our war vets. For a few days surrounding Remembrance Day, we suddenly pretend to 'care' and berate anyone who doesn't show respect for those who fought in any war. Why isn't anyone discussing our war vets in February? or December? June? Why is there no ink devoted in newspapers to our war vets during the year? No tv time, no radio broadcasts...nothing. I bet even most of the people in this thread don't even devote one SECOND to thinking about our war heroes after November 12th.

So please, stop acting like "not caring" or "not wearing a poppy" is showing disrespect - if it is, then I'm pretty sure 99.999% of all of us are guilty. If any of you REALLY cared about our vets, you'd be wearing your poppy EVERYDAY....you'd be making discussion threads on RFD in months other than November. What a bunch of baloney....

i'm gonna assume you're probably around 16 or so.

[hagbard]

I'll wear a peace symbol. Never mind, just discovered the "white poppy", same deal.

[5dark]

So.. you're saying the red poppy doesn't represent peace?

[mcewen]

First of all… if Remembrance Day was a Stat holiday in Ontario… most Ontarians would either go shopping in the USA or sleep in and slob out the day. That isn’t remembering or showing any respect.

Second…. If one was to remove the pin in a poppy and replace it with a Canadian Flag pin that has a proper round clasp to hold it on… it would solve all the “poke my eye” out problems.

I generally go to a Service for the morning of November 11th. I will often remove my youngest child from school for the morning to attend a service. My oldest used to be in Cadets and always took the morning off to take part in the city service.

Finally.. to Akraz. Sure.. you have the right to be apathetic. Kind of ironic though considering your Italian ancestors were one of the only countries to declare war on both the Axis and the Allied Forces. I wonder if there is anything you do stand for. Maybe you too will simply switch your allegiances based on who is winning just like your great grandparents.
The people that gave you that right were the people who actually fought for something that they believed it.. and didn't waver from their convictions.

[CSAgent]

LOL I love everyone's 'holier than tho' attitude around here.

Let's face reality - for 364 days of the year, no one gives a flying crap about our war vets. For a few days surrounding Remembrance Day, we suddenly pretend to 'care' and berate anyone who doesn't show respect for those who fought in any war. Why isn't anyone discussing our war vets in February? or December? June? Why is there no ink devoted in newspapers to our war vets during the year? No tv time, no radio broadcasts...nothing. I bet even most of the people in this thread don't even devote one SECOND to thinking about our war heroes after November 12th.

So please, stop acting like "not caring" or "not wearing a poppy" is showing disrespect - if it is, then I'm pretty sure 99.999% of all of us are guilty. If any of you REALLY cared about our vets, you'd be wearing your poppy EVERYDAY....you'd be making discussion threads on RFD in months other than November. What a bunch of baloney....

You know, it's through the blood and lives of those who gallantly fought for you on the battlefields that you can say such things today.

Otherwise, in a dictatorship state you would have been censored, tracked down and sent to jail for no just cause with no legal representation. I weep for your mentality and should really consider your stance as a human being that do not understand sacrifice and consequence. The free world as we know it today is a result of the sacrifice, paid with the ultimate price.

"The only necessary thing for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

Anyway, it is of interest to note that the poem In Flanders' Field originated from World War I, a war not as much discussed or talked about in the shadow of World War II. I believe not too long ago, the last Canadian surviving soldier passed on...

All of you with such disrespect in your hearts should be ashamed of yourselves. Canada would not be here if young Johnny or Joe, or William aged 16, 17 or 18 answered the call all those years ago to go off to some foreign European land to fight for the erroneous freedoms all of you enjoy today. Think about that one and tell me you feel the same way.

I personally watch an episode of Band of Brothers each day on DVD leading up to November 11th, have been for the last 6 years since I've purchased it. I take 2 hours off from work so I can attend a service in Mississauga if not downtown Toronto to pay my respects. As having a father who went to war and survived back home (thank God or I would have not been born), I know nothing but respect for anyone who choose to go to war to defend their country from tyranny and oppression.

[longitude]

Ibtl

[mcewen]

Ibtl

first... thank you for your valued contribution to this thread.

second.... I think it would be percieved as disrespectful to the soldiers that fought for our freedoms to lock this thread. If Ryan was going to do it.. I think it would have been done already.

[ildara]

I got a poppy last Friday and promptly lost it on the way home. I picked up a second one earlier this week and affixed it more securely to my jacket this time around.

Ibtl

Ibtl

Seriously, once wasn't enough? :|

[WontonTiger]

i'm gonna assume you're probably around 16 or so.

Let's also assume he's been taking statistics courses in his spare time (and that he is a "he"). Don't we all love assumptions.

"Choosing" not to respect something, is disrespecting it. You can be indifferent to it, however if you "choose" not to respect something, you hold contempt for it, which is disrespect.

People like to think that they are using the "English" language, however some never actually understand what they're saying (this is in reference to one specific person earlier in the thread).

Honestly though, if you like Canada, and you enjoy your freedom, you should respect what people in the past have done for us. Whether you agree with their current politics or not, they are largely the reason why we have the freedom we do (still lacking, but better than it's been). You're ignorant and/or closed-minded (or a troll) if you don't think about these things.

Have at least modicum of respect people. More of that "entitlement" phenomenon that I've been seeing. Who'd figure...

[longitude]

Police arrested two teenagers this week after a Royal Canadian Legion poppy donation box was stolen from an Oakville coffee shop.

A third suspect will also be charged, authorities in Halton Region said.

The money was pinched on Nov. 1 from a Tim Hortons at 494 Dundas St. West. Authorities say the teens placed an order and when the clerk turned around one of them grabbed the poppy box and took it to the washroom.

The other two teens headed to the washroom shortly after where police say they took the money and discarded the box. Staff found it and called police, who were able to identify the teens, all 16, after looking over surveillance video.

:(

Two of the young suspects are charged with theft under $5,000 and are scheduled to appear in court Dec. 17. The third will soon face the same charge, police say.

[mcewen]

Police arrested two teenagers this week after a Royal Canadian Legion poppy donation box was stolen from an Oakville coffee shop.

A third suspect will also be charged, authorities in Halton Region said.

The money was pinched on Nov. 1 from a Tim Hortons at 494 Dundas St. West. Authorities say the teens placed an order and when the clerk turned around one of them grabbed the poppy box and took it to the washroom.

The other two teens headed to the washroom shortly after where police say they took the money and discarded the box. Staff found it and called police, who were able to identify the teens, all 16, after looking over surveillance video.

:(

Two of the young suspects are charged with theft under $5,000 and are scheduled to appear in court Dec. 17. The third will soon face the same charge, police say.

kids should be sentenced to community service hour with veterans, as well as each write an essay about Remembrance Day and each read it at different cenotaphs during ceremony's next year.

[VorteC]

Yes. I wear the poppy with pride from the 1st till the 11th :)

I used to volunteer for the legion back when I was in air cadets, so I've sold poppies too lol.

[hagbard]

So.. you're saying the red poppy doesn't represent peace?

Yes. or No. Depends on how you view the poem.

Oh, I'll let James Garner speak for me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSC3hNY8Oa8


*

[Matrixvibe]

omg - is that still going on?!? :eek:

lol

[DonnyFenn]

I wear one from about November 1st to noon November 11th. I will be teaching my daughter about remembrance, in fact we're going to a cenotaph for her first time this year. My wife and I played as civvies in a military band for 10 years, and I've been playing Last Post and Rouse (aka Reveille) for mess dinners and other events for years, starting in Grade 12.

We shall remember.

[Sauerkraut]

Yes. or No. Depends on how you view the poem.

Oh, I'll let James Garner speak for me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSC3hNY8Oa8


*

ok, so soldiers die pointless deaths, don't glamourize war when reflecting on the memories, and some other Paddy Chayefsky drivel...yawn.

what does Jim Rockford have to do with white vs. red poppies???

[JohnB]

What percentage of people do you think wear a poppy?

[ajanthan2009]

No it's stupid and annoying. I hate it when some people wear it for the whole month. One day is fine but... whole month?

[Peckerwood]

In Memoriam, Captain John James Mackie, Loyal Edmonton Regiment, European Theatre, 1939-1945

Passed away 2000

We miss you Gramps, and we will NEVER forget

Sanga Prima

http://usera.imagecave.com/peckerwood2/Gpa.JPG
http://usera.imagecave.com/peckerwood2/grandpa.JPG

[DonnyFenn]

No it's stupid and annoying. I hate it when some people wear it for the whole month. One day is fine but... whole month?

Wow, stupid and annoying to show some support and thanks to our vets during the weeks leading up to the day we remember them? FWIW, in the Regiment I was attached to (as a civvie), the poppies came off as soon as we got back to the drill hall to toast "The Fallen" after the ceremony on the 11th.
Some of you may not know this, but at all formal military dinners in Canada, there is a toast to "The Fallen" with Last Post, a moment of silence and a Rouse being played just like on Remembrance Day. I was priveledged to have been the bugler at many of those dinners.
Shame on any of you who call it politics and can't simply honour those who've given the ultimate sacrifice. It's not about the "cause" or whether you agree with why they were over there... It's about remembering those who gave their lives for us and others.

[Peckerwood]

I take it off on January First.

No it's stupid and annoying. I hate it when some people wear it for the whole month. One day is fine but... whole month?

[45ED]

No it's stupid and annoying. I hate it when some people wear it for the whole month. One day is fine but... whole month?

Your words betray your age and immaturity. You've never been touched by war, have you?