Being in Portugal for the first week in November has many added benefits.
One of them is that it largely insulates you from the seasonal outbreak of Poppy Porn that plagues parts of this archipelago.
Sadly, this maudlin shite appears to be an incurable condition for many Brits.
This, is considered normal in Britain.
Lest We Forget, to use the postcode presumably.
Over the years that this site has been in existence, I have written extensively about this of maudlin post-imperial wintery neurosis.
The search function works for any reader who wants to access feature-length pieces on the subject from back in the day.
Just to be clear, remembering your dead is perfectly fine.
However, what happens at this time of the year in the UK doesn’t pass muster as psychologically healthy.
Nothing says solemn remembrance like a crocheted nuclear submarine!
Lest we forget, to cover our near post!
Are you a friend of the bride or the war criminal?
As ever, Waterford Whispers utterly nails it.
The featured image is one of my personal favourites.
For the avoidance of doubt, not all Brits are infected with this insanity.
The @giantpoppywatch account on Twitter is rather brilliant at pointing out the insanity of this stuff.
Of course, Planet Fitba is not free from this contagion.
Unsurprisingly, the Ibrox klanbase is Patient Zero every November in Fair Caledonia.
They definitely have form for weaponizing Britain’s war dead as part of their matchday experience.
It is now a militaristic Mardi Gras for the whole klan.
If I can be a helpful Fenian, then perhaps some dignified performance art at Ibrox a year from now might be in order.
Perhaps a poetry reading?
Given the shameful litany of crimes by the British military in Ireland against the civilian population, the officially imposed Poppy Porn presents real problems for Celtic.
This from James Forrest on the subject is worth your time.
Across the Six Counties and in the Border areas like here in Donegal, it isn’t too difficult to locate someone impacted by British state violence.
My grandparents and their contemporaries had direct experience of the criminal brutality of the Tans.
The Poppy is for them too.
That is the type of remembrance that I would like to see take hold in Britain.
The only vaccination against this historically illiterate nonsense is reading and education.
Dear reader, I think you can see the problem there apropos the Ibrox klanbase.
Thankfully it is over for another year.
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In the North of Ireland the perpetrators of murders on innocent catholics (paramilitary and state sponsored) are also remembered by this Symbol.
How could and why should any Celtic supporter give these Fuckers any sort of respect.
There is no doubt that Sevco has “highjacked ” the Poppy…and turned it into both a symbol of “superiority “…and all things Sevco.
Its what they do.
And for what its worth…these displays at Ibrox are cringeworthy and embarrassing…so no more please.
Oh and I used to wear the Poppy …but gave it up a long time ago…when I saw where it was heading.
On a personal note…
My Dad ( Celtic supporting Catholic) left his wife and 5 young children to go and fight the Nazis in 1939.
He did not see them again until 1946…when he returned safely to his family.
Not all his comrades were so lucky, however, and some didn’t make it home.
So I’m saddened when I see a section of our support make audible and visible protest at the “minutes silence ” for the fallen.
Now don’t get me wrong…I do NOT deny them their right to “protest” …that is their right.
I just wish that they had thought to turn their backs to the field…and show their disdain…in utter silence.
They manged to do this for 30 minutes the week before when protesting about something else.
Just my opinion.
Oh and I see that Erskine Hospital is a match day sponsor at Ibrox…
Does that mean that precious funds provided by donors…is being used to fund a football Club ?
Or have I got that wrong ?
I’ve often wondered about that tie-up myself. If Erskine Hospital want to alienate half of Scotland they’re going about it the right way.
It’s Sevco who’ve hijacked the poppy for their own ends in Scotland. In England it’s the far right. Two cheeks of the same arse.
Anyone with a strong stomach need only Google ‘British Soldier Holding Severed Heads of Natives’ to see something we should never forget.
I live in Spain (though work in Gibraltar) so I’m mostly protected too. For what it’s worth I think the silence should have been observed vs Dundee. Partly to reduce the ammunition we give others, but mainly to remember all innocent victims of war, be they 16 year olds draughted into a war they know nothing about, or 17 year olds being shot down on their way home from a sporting event.
But you’ll never find me wearing a poppy. That has a very different symbolism and I’m not betraying my ancestors and kinsmen by donning the symbol of British oppression.
I see The Rangers International managed to squeeze a whole 10p out of their supporters for fascism parade day at the weekend. How nice. The peepul not putting their hand in their pocket for something they claim to love…. That’s symbolic of something, not sure what….
We should remember all casualties of war and respect each to remember as they see fit. My grandfather was at Somme my father in WWII. I disagree with everything Empire and our horrific past in India Africa Ireland and the slave trade and many Empire conquests and persecution around the World. Wear a poppy or don’t but respect either way. Celtic fans booing this in my view are wrong it looks as if they are disrespecting those young men who died at the Somme. Hold your view I respect your view but don’t disrespect others. I wish we had an Empire regret day to remember all the victims or our horrific British Empire building. I would respect this also, indeed that is a campaign worth protesting for. Or the poppy symbolised loss on all sides but respect is needed as per Anges statement. I am anti military, Empire and royalty. A republican in the widest sense of the word but I respect others to hold their view.
Education to ANY great level is difficult for those lacking basic literacy skills.
When you turn up in Copenhagen, ticketless, for a Brondby v Rangers match, and then CAN’T understand why the ticket you’ve just bought for Brondby’s next home league game after the International break against RANDERS, doesn’t let you in, well it seems, to ME at any rate, that your reading skills are a tad short of adequate.
I suppose in those circumstances all you CAN really do is confront the local Police and blame them for your stupidity
Personally, I blame the Kafflik Skools!!!
Like many I do not see why folk complain about others not wearing a poppy, sure it must have been one of the many reasons(and invading Poland too, obviously) that there was 2 WW’s for. The right to choose, the right to make a personal choice, not to have this remembrance tarnished by the same arguments year in year out.
Those wars were to stop fascism but this annual poppy event seems to be turning from remembering those who gave their lives into a show, a type of British ‘fascism’ re. the compulsory wearing of a poppy, those that gave their lives will be turning in their graves.
Personal choices and freedoms that were won in those 2 WW’s are being eroded by this ‘compulsory poppy wearing’ nonsense; wear one or don’t, it’s a personal choice.END OF.
Thanks for the heads up re.James Forrest although I was enjoying his work before you had mentioned him, I’m now an avid reader of his quality articles, you recommending him was the seal of approval for me.
Sláinte 🍻
ps. have your contacts in the eternal cesspit not given you any clue as to slippy G’s intentions?
Aston Villa here he comes… now is his optimum time to go✅
I think it is wrong to disrespect poppy day and what it stands for, but i agree it has become far too commercialized and is in danger of becoming more of an armed forces day or a celebration.
In Spain they have many religious festivals full of fireworks , drink , food and in general a really fun weekend. The one I allways try to get out for is semana Santa, no fireworks a very somber occasion, but it really is a very moving experience, they would never let this become anything else.
On a local level towns across Scotland have kept poppy day as it should, a small crowd gathering around the war memorial laying a wreath to a lone piper to remember the names carved on the stone.
I enjoy the Irish history I have learned from this site and it has been a bit of an eye opener for me, but at the end of the day just ignore all the hype and gimmicks , its just paying a bit of respect to young men who never had an option and died young, it’s not glorifying Britain
We should always remember the first casualty of war.