[St Charles Owl]

I just wanna add another brief comment that you can ponder on re the 'gesture' of altering the red poppy to one with Catalan yellow stripes in solidarity although I do agree, as intimated in one of my previous threads. it is not an apolitical action. Many hundreds n hundreds of Catalans were killed or murdered in their fight against Franco's fascist regime during the period of WW2 and also post WW2. Many of these 'fallen fighters' were buried in unmarked graves and, to this day, the Spanish govt has never formally acknowledged these atrocities and taken appropriate action to locate the graves of people who they still regard as their enemies - that's one of many reasons why many Catalans, and other international sympathisers who watched the anti fascist International Brigade experience similar treatment on occasions during the Spanish civil war, regard the whole issue as a very emotive one and rightly so!  The current situ leaves a 'very bad taste in the mouth' TBF and IMO the defacing of the red poppy in such a way becomes nothing other than a 'minor faux pas' in the greater scheme things and as highlighted very well by hibeejim in thread #10 as being gradually 'hijacked' to represent something different and more 'troubling'. Also note buying a poppy is only one way of contributing to the British Legion. One can easily pay money into the charity boxes and even send money to the British Legion and that is what many Scots, incl myself, do to support their services these days and it is indeed all down to the individual and how one views/opines re the perceived 'evolution' of the red poppy and what it actually represents.

I agree with you regarding the Catalan use, it is a minor faux pas but if it is a symbol they traditionally use to remember those who died then fine, but it shouldn't be used for a political situation as we currently see. I suppose the reason why the poppy has persisted is that I would imagine the British Legion rely on that one symbol at this one time of year to raise substantially more than any other time of year. No different from the other charities who have traditionally latched onto a particular time of year such as the Salvation Army and Xmas even though they need money all year round. Red Nose Day, Pink ribbons for breast cancer awareness have all created a specific day or time period to focus our minds towards them. As I say I haven't worn one for years but when I lived in the UK I would always at the very least buy one even if I never wore it.