Symbol of peace, war, politics or just quiet respect? The poppy is being worn by millions of people again in the run up to Armistice Day. But more and more people are opting to choose white over red – and some people consciously decide to wear none at all. Mathias Balslev asks why the flower has become as much a talking point as a charitable appeal.
This year eleven shops across Nottingham will be selling white poppies instead of the traditional red – the most in any English city.
White poppies are distributed by the Peace Pledge Union throughout the UK, and are a symbol of remembrance for those who have lost their lives in war while committing to peace and, according to the union’s website, are about “challenging the attempt to celebrate war”.
Richard Mallender, Green Party Councillor for Lady Bay ward in West Bridgford, chooses not to wear a poppy, and has also worn the white version.
Speaking on the Notts TV Debate on November 3, he said: “I have worn a red poppy in the past, I usually make a donation as well. Normally I also wear the white poppy because it still commemorates those who have lost their lives in war but it is also a statement against war.
“People are expected to wear a poppy and when people say ‘you must wear a poppy’ or ‘you are unpatriotic’ that is when there is a problem, there is an element of that now and that is a concern when people feel obliged to wear it rather than choosing to.”
City shops Rough Trade and Alley Cat cafe are two of the eleven places in Nottingham where White Poppies are sold.
Leia, a clerk at Rough Trade, said they are choosing to sell them mostly because of the cause it supports, saying: “We are already a refugee drop-off point and seeing as their message is about peace and that they are supporting a Syrian aid group it seemed fitting.”
The white poppies were first introduced in 1933 by the Co-operative Women’s Guild and not without controversy. Some women who wore the white poppy were fired from their jobs in the 1930s as wearing them was seen as undermining those who had died in service.
I wear a #WhitePoppy because remembering the losses of war must lead us to work to create peace in the future. @PPUToday pic.twitter.com/CZLKUmJ5Vr
— Sian Berry (@sianberry) November 3, 2016
Leader of the Green Party in the London Assembly, Sian Berry shows off her white poppy
According to the Peace Pledge Union, a recent rise in the amount of White Poppies sold peaked at 110,000 in the year 2015.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn caused controversy last year when he refused to rule out wearing a White Poppy to a Remembrance Day memorial service.
He previously wore both a white and a red poppy when laying a wreath at a war memorial in Islington.
Another politician, Scottish National Party MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, Mhairi Black, wore a White Poppy when she appeared on TV show Preston on Sunday last weekend.
Rosie Francis, a teacher at Confetti Institute of Creative Technology in Nottingham, chooses not to wear a poppy.
“The poppy is associated with a political statement in some ways,” she said while appearing on the Notts TV Debate.
“Personally I am not wearing one because I don’t feel the need to wear one, I feel as though I am respecting in my own way and I don’t feel as though I need a symbol.
“I do like that selling the poppies generates a lot of money that goes to a good cause and that is a great thing,” she added.
The Royal British Legion is the organisation behind the Poppy Appeal which raises money to provide support through life to anyone who is currently serving in the British Armed Forces, veterans, and their families.
A spokesman from The Royal British Legion said: “We are asking the public to ‘rethink Remembrance’ and recognise the sacrifices made across all generations of the British Armed Forces.
“For many people, Remembrance is associated with the First and Second World Wars. While we will always remember them, we will encourage the public to also acknowledge the commitment and sacrifices made by a new generation of the Armed Forces community.”
While the white poppy stands for peace and commemorating those who have fallen in battle, the red poppy is also a symbol for hope and remembrance.
But according to The British Legion the red poppy also stands for peace: “The poppy is a symbol of hope for the people from the Armed Forces community living on after difficulties in their lives, and hope for a peaceful world.
“There is no right or wrong way to wear a poppy. It is a matter of personal choice whether an individual chooses to wear a poppy and also how they choose to wear it. The best way wear a poppy is to wear it with pride.”
At 10:55am an annual Service of Remembrance and Parade will be held on 13 of November at the County War Memorial on the Victoria Embankment and will be attended by the Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff, the Lord Mayor, the Chairman of the City Council and many others.
