FIFA banning poppies
- Thread starter tommye
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GerryandthePaceMerchants
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There's a huge issue in respects to the British occupation of Ireland which I don't know enough about to give a full answer too, (I'm sure there's a million articles if you simply search Celtic poppies or James Mclean) Have a look on social media for people who follow/like the EDL, BNP, Anti Muslim League or whoever. Invariably you will see a poppy. It's been adopted by the right wing as the epitome of Britishness and two fingers up to political correctness and tolerance. "pass this poppy on if you think bacon should be served in mosques"
It's gone from being a black arm band to a hot topic. As someone said before, it should be kept away from football as it'll do nothing but distract.
Well, war is political really. In terms of our modern understanding of "politicising", I suppose you wouldn't have to look much farther than the various sectarian factions in Northern Ireland constantly using it or not using as a statement against the other side.
They're of course doing so incorrectly though as the poppy is supposed to represent all soldiers in all wars, not just the British Army, so be appropriating it they are actually going against what it means in the first place
As they have managed to do successfully in their choice of the next WC venue.
I will have a go.
The original intention of the Poppy was to draw attention to the senseless, needless slaughter of our young men in the fields of Flanders and France.
It was not meant to commemorate some sort of "glorious sacrifice".......it was meant to rage against it.
To make sure it never happened again.....that the Great War truly became the "war to end wars" in keeping with the way it was advertised.
And for several years that is exactly the way it was regarded.
This feeling of discontent and alienation and the disgraceful treatment of those who came home missing a limb, or their eyesight, or their sanity fed into the general atmosphere of the time and created the sort of anti establishment feeling that begat the General Strike of 1926.
Thus country was a seething hotbed of political discontent in the 1920s.
There was Revoloution in the air.
The Establishment, of course, was appalled by this. This would never do.
So they took ownership of Rememberance and the Poppy and have, over a period of decades, made Rememberance more about the glory of the sacrifice rather than the gory.
It is now more about creating a mindset among young people so we are never short of people to go fight and die when they give another war in some far flung corner of the globe IMO.
And these are not just my views.
My opinions were formulated at the knee of my late father, whom as a young soldier was with the British Army units which crossed the Rhine in 1945.
And whom held a disdain and hatred of war that only those who have been on the frontline of war can truly appreciate.
Sure, but that's what we mean but it being politicized. There's no getting away from the fact now, very vocal factions have interpreted the meaning of the poppy in a very different way to you
FIFA are an absolute steaming heap of an organisation, but it doesn't make them wrong on this one
Old Blue 2
Player Valuation: £40m
To me, the poppy now represents the fundraising activities of the Royal British Legion.
And I find that intensely sad, and wrong.
WRONG, because I feel that central Government should provide ALL the funds required to help those soldiers/ex-soldiers, not the ordinary members of the public... It was central Government who sent them to war in the first place.
I see central Government's lack of providing total after-care for those they have sent in the first place as a total abrogation of responsibility.
And I find that intensely sad, and wrong.
WRONG, because I feel that central Government should provide ALL the funds required to help those soldiers/ex-soldiers, not the ordinary members of the public... It was central Government who sent them to war in the first place.
I see central Government's lack of providing total after-care for those they have sent in the first place as a total abrogation of responsibility.
That is an excellent point.
Wouldn't it be great if the weflare of veteran soldiers was taken care of by the government.......and flag days were needed to raise money for weapons
I'd like to know as well. PC gone mad.
Boss_Blue
I will find you and consensually bum you
How so? Did the soldiers wear poppies during the occupation??
Must have missed that one. Surely though the right wing will latch on to anything regarded as being typically British and I don't hear any cries to ban tea and biscuits from international matches.
Ah so this answers my question to @GerryandthePaceMerchants
Again though surely this is a misappropriation and should be disregarded when viewing its intended symbolism?
I may be naive but that is how I and everyone I know views it.
I'd have thought Call of Duty, the Army, RAF, Navy promotional campaigns and recruitment drives would have more of an influence than the poppy personally but then I've never really thought about it before.
Interesting thread this @tommye
So a steaming heap of an organisation is fine when it aligns with your sympathies?
I have no vested interest, political or otherwise in this issue, but surely if FIFA were to maintain an apolitical stance, they wouldn't get involved in this issue?
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