There is a danger of the Poppy Appeal becoming politicised in the same way that Aids Ribbons were.



It would have been perfectly possible for the FA to commemerate Armistice Day appropriately without having poppies on the shirts. There will be a minutes silence, some small ceremony involving members of the services. They'll have poppies on the tracksuit tops. FIFA's decision to "ban" poppies was thick, but their general reluctance to resist emblems on shirts isnt entirely wrong. THe over reaction to it seemed to me to have nothing to do with any genuine sense of grievance, just the media liking to play the role of incensed campaigner.



It makes me cringe when poppies are on show weeks before the 11th. And the way that everyone appearing on the telly inevitably has one just looks false. Which tin did they put their money in?

I did think the Queen's multi poppy corsage thing was a bit OTT

Where was Thatcher? Surely she would've taken the opportunity to cop some more expenses

Sorry to hear about that. For what it's worth, condolences to you and the rest of your family. It's a difficult thing to deal with.







More widely: thanks for the poems, everyone. I had not seen the Yeats one before, French Ray: seriously found my eyes prickling.

[url=http://www.socialistrevolution.org/3923/the-problem-with-the-poppy/Some points raised about the poppy that some of you might find interesting[/url.

cheers minty.

most of the family are on here so ill thank you too on their behalf.