BRIAN READE: 'Battle over Palestinian terror poppies is pure poppycock'
The fury from the self-appointed Poppy Police has started early this year. Instead of slaughtering guests on TV couches who fail to wear one 10 days before Armistice Day because they forgot, Derry-born footballers refusing to have one sewn into their shirt because they didn’t like the actions of the British Army on their streets, or pacifists wearing white ones, poppy guerrillas have lost their cool over a red, white, black and green version which seeks to remember Palestinians killed in the war with Israel.
TL;DR
- The article criticizes the strong reactions to a Palestinian remembrance poppy.
- It highlights historical context, noting that the poppy's symbolism of remembrance predates its adoption by Britain.
- The author argues that the meaning of the poppy should be individually determined, reflecting freedom of expression.
- The piece suggests that the outrage is a manufactured controversy by 'fake patriots'.