Philosophy Now Forum

The UK meanings.


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Wearing a poppy is saying you buy into pro-war propaganda. Why has it suddenly become so 'fashionable'? Why are British celebrities being allowed (and pressured) into wearing them on television, as a not-so-subtle brain-washing tool? Ask anyone why they are wearing one and the reason is never 'because I'm against war', it's always some meaningless crap like 'because they sacrificed themselves for our freedom' i.e. war-glorifying claptrap.
There might be some hope yet with Jeremy Corbyn, although I wonder how long he will last, with the right-wing media juggernaut against him. I would love to know what veteran associations do with all the money. They started off as a charity for returned soldiers or their widows--that's hardly relevant now. I believe today's highly-paid mercenaries are well taken care of.

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:Wearing a poppy is saying you buy into pro-war propaganda. Why has it suddenly become so 'fashionable'? Why are British celebrities being allowed (and pressured) into wearing them on television, as a not-so-subtle brain-washing tool? Ask anyone why they are wearing one and the reason is never 'because I'm against war', it's always some meaningless crap like 'because they sacrificed themselves for our freedom' i.e. war-glorifying claptrap.
There might be some hope yet with Jeremy Corbyn, although I wonder how long he will last, with the right-wing media juggernaut against him. I would love to know what veteran associations do with all the money. They started off as a charity for returned soldiers or their widows--that's hardly relevant now. I believe today's highly-paid mercenaries are well taken care of.

JC attended the Cenotaph, nodding respectfully. Rather than attend the big-wig dinner (which excluded the vets), he stopped to chat to them, share some snaps and press some skin.
He was roundly criticised for not nodding, and snubbing the vets by not attending the dinner.

You don't get to say what others think about poppy day. I wear a poppy. That does not mean i glorify war. I do not buy a paper poppy. I wear a pin badge of a white poppy on my coat all year round.
I don't think we can criticise poppy day just because of the Daily Mail Fascists who denigrate people for not wearing a poppy, anymore than I'd criticise JC for what the papers say about him.

I've no idea what the British Legion spend the money on. But Glorifying war is not a big feature of their website.
http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/communi ... -dementia/

Hobbes' Choice wrote:

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:Wearing a poppy is saying you buy into pro-war propaganda. Why has it suddenly become so 'fashionable'? Why are British celebrities being allowed (and pressured) into wearing them on television, as a not-so-subtle brain-washing tool? Ask anyone why they are wearing one and the reason is never 'because I'm against war', it's always some meaningless crap like 'because they sacrificed themselves for our freedom' i.e. war-glorifying claptrap.
There might be some hope yet with Jeremy Corbyn, although I wonder how long he will last, with the right-wing media juggernaut against him. I would love to know what veteran associations do with all the money. They started off as a charity for returned soldiers or their widows--that's hardly relevant now. I believe today's highly-paid mercenaries are well taken care of.

JC attended the Cenotaph, nodding respectfully. Rather than attend the big-wig dinner (which excluded the vets), he stopped to chat to them, share some snaps and press some skin.
He was roundly criticised for not nodding, and snubbing the vets by not attending the dinner.

You don't get to say what others think about poppy day. I wear a poppy. That does not mean i glorify war. I do not buy a paper poppy. I wear a pin badge of a white poppy on my coat all year round.
I don't think we can criticise poppy day just because of the Daily Mail Fascists who denigrate people for not wearing a poppy, anymore than I'd criticise JC for what the papers say about him.

I've no idea what the British Legion spend the money on.

I've already said I have no problem with white poppies, but have you noticed how the red-poppy lobby hates the white poppy movement? Now, if it was genuinely anti-war, and not all about money and propaganda, then why would they hate white poppies?
Of course I can't say with certainty why each individual person wears a red poppy, most probably don't even think about it very deeply, but I can certainly comment on the pro-war evil brain-washing behind it. Men used to be taunted with white feathers as a sign of cowardice if they didn't sign up.
Symbols can be very powerful, especially with the gullible.
''I've no idea what the British Legion spend the money on. But Glorifying war is not a big feature of their website.'' They are hardly going to make it obvious. 'Sacrifice', 'freedom', and 'heroes' are very emotive words that glorify war.
I bet Corbyn hated wearing that poppy, but he's still a politician and he doesn't want to alienate voters too much.

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:

Hobbes' Choice wrote:

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:Wearing a poppy is saying you buy into pro-war propaganda. Why has it suddenly become so 'fashionable'? Why are British celebrities being allowed (and pressured) into wearing them on television, as a not-so-subtle brain-washing tool? Ask anyone why they are wearing one and the reason is never 'because I'm against war', it's always some meaningless crap like 'because they sacrificed themselves for our freedom' i.e. war-glorifying claptrap.
There might be some hope yet with Jeremy Corbyn, although I wonder how long he will last, with the right-wing media juggernaut against him. I would love to know what veteran associations do with all the money. They started off as a charity for returned soldiers or their widows--that's hardly relevant now. I believe today's highly-paid mercenaries are well taken care of.

JC attended the Cenotaph, nodding respectfully. Rather than attend the big-wig dinner (which excluded the vets), he stopped to chat to them, share some snaps and press some skin.
He was roundly criticised for not nodding, and snubbing the vets by not attending the dinner.

You don't get to say what others think about poppy day. I wear a poppy. That does not mean i glorify war. I do not buy a paper poppy. I wear a pin badge of a white poppy on my coat all year round.
I don't think we can criticise poppy day just because of the Daily Mail Fascists who denigrate people for not wearing a poppy, anymore than I'd criticise JC for what the papers say about him.

I've no idea what the British Legion spend the money on.

I've already said I have no problem with white poppies, but have you noticed how the red-poppy lobby hates the white poppy movement? Now, if it was genuinely anti-war, and not all about money and propaganda, then why would they hate white poppies?
Of course I can't say with certainty why each individual person wears a red poppy, most probably don't even think about it very deeply, but I can certainly comment on the pro-war evil brain-washing behind it. Men used to be taunted with white feathers as a sign of cowardice if they didn't sign up.
Symbols can be very powerful, especially with the gullible.

I don't know who "they" are, and no one has ever criticised me for my white poppy - maybe they wouldn't dare, as I tend to win arguments.
What we can learn from the picture I linked is that there are three hypocrites and one honest guy.
Most people just buy the fucking poppy - we all had them forced on us at school. But I have to say that I never met any teacher that glorified war. I leaned to hate poppies as an adult.
AH - yes white feathers. I think I shall wear one next year! Great Idea.

It's hard to pinpoint who's directly responsible for the 'rise of the red poppy' propaganda, but it will be a combination of things. Self-serving politicians, veteran associations that make a shit-load of money out of it, right-wing media, and of course our old 'friends' the arms industry, which is always there behind the scenes, developing 'marketing strategies' to promote war and increase profits. Then there's the darling British royals--about as warmongering as you can get.

bobevenson wrote:When I was a kid, distributing and wearing red papier-mâché poppies was a big thing in the USA. Fortunately, I guess we finally realized how pathetic this stupid gesture was, and passed the baton to those European idiots!

Don't you idiots have yellow ribbons instead, and isn't it yanks who think the word 'soldier' is a synonym for 'hero'?

You wear any colour poppy you like or no poppy at all if you wish for it is not compulsory. If some one asks me why I
do not wear one then I say nothing at all. I appear in public with out one like I always do. So if the Daily Mail wishes
to know why not I will also say nothing. What I think of British soldiers is none of its business but it should be careful
not to jump to any conclusions. Oh by the way did you know it supported the Blackshirts ? Now what does the Legion
spend its money on ? Any idea ? Securing employment and pensions and modifying houses and maintaining war graves

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:

bobevenson wrote:When I was a kid, distributing and wearing red papier-mâché poppies was a big thing in the USA. Fortunately, I guess we finally realized how pathetic this stupid gesture was, and passed the baton to those European idiots!

Don't you idiots have yellow ribbons instead?

No, yellow signifies the color up the backs of Europeans!

bobevenson wrote: No, yellow signifies the color up the backs of Europeans!

For someone who likes to connect the dots, you sure draw a lot of dividing lines. What informs you to pick and choose between what's connected and what's not???

I thought the poppies were in honor of the heroin trade that we support in Afghanistan.

wtf wrote:I thought the poppies were in honor of the heroin trade that we support in Afghanistan.

Ahh, very good.

wtf wrote:I thought the poppies were in honor of the heroin trade that we support in Afghanistan.

If only we had done that, then there would not have been so much loss of life.
The real battle in Afghanistan was not against Al-Queda, or the "Taliban", but waged against and between warlords whose only economic outlet was growing poppies.
Had we turned that into a legitimate trade with our medical supply industries, then peace would have broken out.
Instead the West created poverty and economic collapse and destroyed the poppy fields, the only economically viable option for most of the territories.

Lacewing wrote:

bobevenson wrote: No, yellow signifies the color up the backs of Europeans!

For someone who likes to connect the dots, you sure draw a lot of dividing lines. What informs you to pick and choose between what's connected and what's not???

Connecting dots? What the hell are you talking about? I don't connect any goddamn dots!