[St Charles Owl]

Did you know that approx a fifth of Scots don't wear the red poppy for various critical reasons. I don't wear a poppy any more for a number of reasons incl the bullying (and sacking in some cases!!) of people for not displaying a red poppy  but I still respect Armistice Day and I spare a thought for past relatives who lost their lives fighting against the worst forms of n####m and fascism and one family member disabled due to battle injury! Also good to see many people wearing the white 'peace poppy' and some symbolically altering the red poppy with yellow vertical stripes in support of the Catalans (although IMO it is not quite an apolitical move TBH and contrary to the proper use formally set out by the British Legion) in the face of ludicrous fascist action against them in Spain - will we never learn the lessons from our past history eh!!??

I haven’t worn a poppy for 30 years, I’m not at all offended by someone not wearing it at all. I do think the Catalan version you refer to is inappropriate though, and a clear case of politicizing the poppy!! No one has died nor had to go into battle with regards to Catalan, the poppy is to remember those who have fallen in battle, not to fight for a cause that doesn’t even involve a war!!