- The poppy remembers those who fell fighting for Britain and in some cases Allies in war. It does not remember significantly those innocent civilians who died in war or those who fought against is. Now maybe some think we shouldn't remember the people who fought against us, but in many cases, they did not have a choice. And how can we only remember our lost troops when some of our recent wars haven't exactly been legal (Iraq) and others we try to forget that the legacy of our war was to be bluntly honest terrible (Iraq and Libya)
- Kind of on the same point as the first one, however one war we remember if the war in Japan. Now we remember those who died fighting for America, Britain and other allies, but we do not significantly remember the absolute horror of the nuclear bomb the USA dropped on Japan. We fail to remember those that would have had the most horrible deaths. Now yes, the bomb was dropped by America, but we still have a responsibility on it. We should not be happy that any country has ever dropped such a horrific catastrophe of a weapon, regardless of the circumstance.
- The poppy has become political. The reality is a lot of people wear them to look good. It feels hypocritical for instance that David Cameron wears a poppy. Why you may ask, well the answer is clear. When we "won" the war, we created a welfare system including the NHS. That was a legacy made to care for all those in the country, to try and make sure we wouldn't have suffering families, women were given an education the equivalent to men and had won the vote for all women over 21 after the First World War. In the last few years we have seen the NHS mistreated, the welfare system damaged and inequality rise. So therefore if David Cameron is thinks about the legacy of the wars he is a hypocrite.
- The EU is not perfect, but to an extent the idea comes partly from Britain, even if we as a country weren't directly into it. Now we're being the brattish country trying to cut ties with Europe rather than helping on the inside. Churchill has a legacy in Europe and was quoted as saying "We must build a kind of United States of Europe". The EU has faults, but it was a legacy we created and despite all the lives we sacrificed in the wars we forget the legacies we tried to make and should try to improve.
- Everyone has a right to remember in their own way, we don't all need a poppy. And if we do, we don't need it any more than at the service of remembrance, which surely if you're so adamant on wearing a poppy, I trust you will be attending.
- It's become normal so has lost it's effect. When football teams are going for the gimmick of an embroided poppy doing it, it proves a point. The poppy being worn from Mid October takes away any power it has.
One other point worth remembering that isn't a reason not to wear a poppy is, not wearing a poppy does not make you hate the military, just like not wearing the AID's ribbon doesn't make you hate everyone effected by AID's, just like not wearing the pink ribbon doesn't mean you hate everyone with breast cancer and just like not growing a moustache (if you're a male, obviously) does not mean you hate everyone with prostate or testicular cancer.
Now finally, one point that I think to an extent sums up my view and the opinion I will give anybody who asks me is the fact that people fought for my freedom. I am respecting them by remembering them, but I am also respecting them by expressing my freedom in having an opinion on the poppy. I respect them by my beliefs for a fair welfare system, for a top quality NHS, for nationally owned vital public services, by wanting and speaking for equality.
And that is more respect than wearing a flower of any kind on my shirt.
