Keep poppies on the cross

“I agree with 4 stroke's point although I don't think this point is actually relevant to the argument in the letter.

I am a bit surprised by Graham's comment, who's normally on the ball, and similarly Jaybee. There has been significant publicity given to this issue. Everyone must be aware that the Legion issue some poppies attached to little wooden crosses. My understanding is that they have for some years also attached them to symbols of the two other major Abrahamic religions - Judaism and Islam. This year they also, for the first time, issued poppies attached to the broadsword - the symbol of Sikhism.

Having made that point - just to indicate why the letter was written - I must say that, like others here, I think the letter is terribly narrow minded and, well, just fundamentally, morally wrong.”

“The Poppy is used to raise funds for the Royal British Leagion. It is trade marked to them. This does not directly translate to "rememberance" as such in the modern age. My concern that not wearing or showing a poppy shows a lack of respect for the War dead and that is not the case.”

“The Popy is used to raise funds for the”

“Despite the fact that I am a Christian, I have to say that I do not agree with Francesca's sentiments.

People who do not subscribe to the Christian faith, but have a faith of their own, should be represented by whatever symbol is appropriate to their religion.

Many thousands of people from our Commonwealth partners gave their lives for us in two world wars and in conflicts since, and many of them were of faiths other than Christian. Is their sacrifive any less relevant because they were not Christian? Of course not.

I am afraid that Francesca's comments are very one sided and show little compassion for non-Christians, and not for the first time, I'm sorry to say. From her name I would gusee that she is a Roman Catholic. Look what they have done in Ireland to a woman who was obviously from a different religion.”

“Poppycock! In the second line Francisca disassociates casualties of warfare from Christianity, then in the third line draws a direct connection between their sacrifices and the crucifixion. Such contradictory statements render the writer's position wanting, and therefore unable to be taken seriously.

I too am at a loss to know what prompted the writer to submit this letter - I'm unaware of any move to change the current position on remembrance symbols...”

“"Replacing the cross that the Royal British Legion poppies are attached to with other religious symbols, in order not to exclude or offend those who belong to another religion (or none), does not make any sense to me."

I've googled several combinations of keywords in this para and drawn a blank (other than this letter). Seems a little odd.”

“Once again, Christian short sightedness, You can only be remembered if you join our cult! The poppy stands for remembrance, not for religious persuasion.”

“"Our forebears knew that there is no shape in the universe that can begin to mean the same as the cross, that of ultimate sacrifice and eternal hope"

I'm sure there are forbears of the Hindu, Sikh, Jewish, Islamic and indeed atheistic persuasion who would disagree entirely with that statement. The poppy should not be a religious or political symbol, nor should it be compulsory. It should be there for those who wish to wear one to remember the sacrifice of people who died before their time in conflict around the world.”