Luka Van der Bale
Well-Known Member
- Jan 29, 2011
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Booed by Sunderland fans apparently.
James Mclean............
- Thread starter Legend10
- Start date
mkkid
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- Nov 9, 2004
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I found this debate interesting.
My Grand parents are from Northern Ireland and my wife from Antrim.
In my experience the poppy in Northern Ireland has been a weapon to divide one side from another.
McLean is quite clearly a nationalist; he opted to play for south and he always stated he comes from Derry not Londonderry.
I feel you should have the right not to wear a poppy but Sunderland FC, will be auctioning this shirt for the poppy appeal and he’s is an employee of the club,
The club is making a statement by wearing the poppy, considering Man utd refused to have the poppy on there shirt.
He then wore a poppy after the game and donated his match worn shirt to Derry football club, so to me he has made a political gesture.
My Grand parents are from Northern Ireland and my wife from Antrim.
In my experience the poppy in Northern Ireland has been a weapon to divide one side from another.
McLean is quite clearly a nationalist; he opted to play for south and he always stated he comes from Derry not Londonderry.
I feel you should have the right not to wear a poppy but Sunderland FC, will be auctioning this shirt for the poppy appeal and he’s is an employee of the club,
The club is making a statement by wearing the poppy, considering Man utd refused to have the poppy on there shirt.
He then wore a poppy after the game and donated his match worn shirt to Derry football club, so to me he has made a political gesture.
max cady
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- Jan 29, 2011
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Some would rather refer to him as a hypocrite or a twat rather than listen to the whole story.
- Oct 2, 2004
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- #85
Exactly
tototoner
Staying Alert
- Mar 21, 2004
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the poeple who continue to kick up a fuss about this need to get a life, IMHO
riggi
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- Jun 24, 2008
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Personally I couldn't care less. I do think he has misunderstood the meaning of it but he is from derry and im guessing he could face a backlash back home, if he wore one.
The whole poppy thing is starting to go overboard. I totally agree with it and think its a really nice message to wear one but I fear its being hijacked by the far right who are just patrolling the country to find anyone who dares not where one. The tv companies are just as bad. Equally I find the attention seekers who make a point of not wearing one annoying.
Shame.
riggi
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- Jun 24, 2008
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Ye don't worry I knew how you meant it.
mill
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- May 21, 2007
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That's it for me if he really has such a problem with wearing a poppy he doesn't have to live here
sherbornespurs
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- Dec 9, 2006
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And it's views like this that are part of the problem, and frankly what turns me off ever wearing a poppy. That little red flower is not about petty narrow nationalism (that increasingly seems to have been hijacked by the right wing of late), it's about remembering those who died in wars (some of them futile, you know the ones) - wars that probably would never have happened without the same type of narrow nationalism you appear to expound.
mill
Well-Known Member
- May 21, 2007
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It's not about nationalism, I personally couldn't care less about the whole Ireland thing, I think his stand against it is a bit pathetic, considering he's more than happy to sign multi million pound contracts to live here, what a hero
Danners9
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- Mar 30, 2004
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I've seen a lot of these sorts of things online recently. 'Poppy shaming'
Some petrol station somewhere refusing to sell poppies, Muslims refusing to wear poppies, people of all creeds refusing to wear poppies, etc etc.. typically inflammatory posts that may or may not be the truth, part of it or none of it.
Wearing one, selling one, supporting the Legions is not compulsory. Nor should it be, that's sort of the point - those who died for our freedom. It should always be a choice. It's a donation, after all.
McClean is allowed his own view, it must be difficult for him - I don't pretend to know anything about it, not even going to guess at why. Anyway... this talks about him and Sienna Miller who apparently appeared on TV without one, and those who have to keep justifying why they don't/or simply didn't that one time: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/o...hemselves-to-the-poppy-fascists-34167192.html
Gbspurs
Gatekeeper for debates, King of the plonkers
- Jan 27, 2011
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This seems to be getting worse and worse and tbh all this makes me not want to wear one myself as it feels like you are being linked with some sort of Britain first extremist mocement, same reason I no longer put St Georges cross flags in my window during football tournaments.
Why do people have to ruin things like this? What was wrong with just accepting that some wear them and some don't without linking it to political statements?
Why do people have to ruin things like this? What was wrong with just accepting that some wear them and some don't without linking it to political statements?
Rocksuperstar
Isn't this fun? Isn't fun the best thing to have?
- Jun 6, 2005
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Why is anyone who doesn't wear one "taking a stand", rather than just "not wearing a poppy"?
Sorry to be blunt about it but if/when you lose a loved one, would you expect everyone to mourn them, without ever having met them? That's sort of the whole point of the poppy - it symbolises grief. It's in memory of them - how can anyone who is in a position of a) never having met or known anyone who is affected by those particular conflicts (even through ignorance of their family history - that's most often not their fault) and b) generally against war wear a poppy and it not be completely meaningless?
Sorry to be blunt about it but if/when you lose a loved one, would you expect everyone to mourn them, without ever having met them? That's sort of the whole point of the poppy - it symbolises grief. It's in memory of them - how can anyone who is in a position of a) never having met or known anyone who is affected by those particular conflicts (even through ignorance of their family history - that's most often not their fault) and b) generally against war wear a poppy and it not be completely meaningless?
spursfan77
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- Aug 13, 2005
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Wearing a poppy used to just go hand in hand with Rememberance Sunday. Maybe we should just go back to that as that's really what it's all about. Remembering those who died in war. Wear one of you want don't wear one if you don't, it's pretty simple.
- Oct 2, 2004
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- #100
I'm amazed this is still even a debate.
Wearing a poppy is not mandatory, nor should it be.
Wearing a poppy is not mandatory, nor should it be.
