James McClean

http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/news/article/14-11-07-statement-regarding-james-mcclean-2070059.aspx

 

I find his statement hypocritical, disrespectful and selective but fortunately he is entitled to take this stance and opt of of making this gesture. The outcome would have been different had I been the chairman.

 

Fair enough that. Explains why he feels wearing it will disrespect the people he knows at home, doesn't bother me in the slightest and one man's choice shouldn't bother others either.

 

When did it become mandatory to wear a poppy? Things are getting daft.

 

Its not mandatory mate, that's the point, he can make a choice whether people disagree with him or not. Its his reasons for not wearing one that I have an issue with. I find the whole statement a bit scripted and disingenuous.

 

His he from Londonderry in Northern Ireland?
Or a place called Derry in the north of Ireland?

 

Guy deserves alot of credit for standing up for what he believes in. Wearing a poppy shouldn't be seen as mandatory, but I bet lots of football players are wearing on this weekend who don't particularly want to but will do so for a quiet life, rather than kicking up a fuss like James has. He's very right in alot of what he says.

 

Think that's a little harsh myself he seems to be genuine enough. While my grandad was alive our family never wear poppies at his request whenever anyone asked me I just told them it was none of their business wish I'd be grown up enough like this fella to give the real reasons.

 

He makes a good point too. Every single person who's been in a warzone fighting before is extremely brave and deserves alot of credit as he said. But the poppy was all about recognising that guys with no thought of being in the army were called up to defend our country in two world wars. They didn't have a choice. Now as time moves on the poppy is more about those who chose of their own free will to seek a job in the army and be sent off to other country to help those people out. What the poppy used to mean and what it means now are pretty different.

 

It is the same place, he is a republican and therefore see the whole of Ireland as 1 Country, even though when they had a referendum on it they voted to stay as 2 Countries, Derry is the original name and one that Republican(mainly Catholics) use.

Maybe I should have said Nationalist rather than Republican.

 

I just don't like the bit about the troubles. You can't say that you'd wear one if it was just about WWI and WWII but then say because of the troubles he can't wear one. Soldiers died at the hands of IRA terrorists in Ulster, it wasn't one sided. Many Irish soldiers also died in Ulster, as did children and civilians at the hands of terrorists. I can't get my head around this attitude that you can respect one set of soldiers but not another, the whole poppy culture is suppose to be politically neutral. Maybe my judgement is clouded by my own views as an ex soldier who served in Ulster.

 

I always thought Derry and Londonderry where the same but seeing the North of Ireland I started wondering if I had been mistaken all this time never heard Northern Ireland referred to as the North of Ireland well never noticed it if it as .

 

It's very emotive subject. My uncle who was army as well and did a tour or two would probably see it the way you do.

 

My uncle served in the 2nd ww. He Saw a lot of action but yet wouldnt go in to detail to talk about it.
Neither would he wear a poppy or buy one for that matter.
Theres an old family tale about the time a poppy sellar in the 50s, came in to the old cross keys at stairfoot and asked him to buy a poppy
my uncle who kept himself very much to himself politely refused only to be then confronted by a load of foul mouthed abuse from the seller.
My uncle just turned his back and said go away.The poppy seller wouldnt leave it apparently, he continued his abuse, adding its barstewards like you that members of my family died for before spitting to the floor .
The story goes that at this point my uncle grabed him, lifted him into the air threw him over the bar, then dove over after him, he then grabed him by the throat pulled him to and said in a calm and collected voice.......if i thought for one minute that those poppies would bring back every one of my mates that dropped at my side then id buy every one you could make, not only that but if the bloody government looked after all them that came home injured and disabled,with the same enthusiasum that took us to war, then there would be no need for bloody poppies.
I once asked him about the story and all he would say is ....i dont need a special day to remember the fallen, the injured, the disabled.
I only have to close my eyes and trigger my mind and i can see every single one of them as if it was yesterday.
i was one of the lucky ones......i came home...

 

Over the years I've come across a few Ulsterman and women from both sides of the divide, even the protestants seem to call it Derry.

 

My Grandad never wore a poppy, and was 'annoyed' at those who did. Old soldiers marching with their chests puffed out and medals shining wound him up. He was badly wounded in Northern France in 1944, and shipped back to Blighty - (via a German listening post - but that's another story)

He got no help from the British Legion when he came back (and he wasn't the only one), despite being unable to work or even walk for nearly 2 years.

In his words, "they were too busy looking after officers to care about ordinary soldiers."

 

I'm maybe on my own on this one?!? I wear my poppy with pride. But when I do (until the last couple of years which made me think?) its to remember WW1, hence the date we commemerate it. Plus the 'poppy' reference.

The other more recent troubles have never been in my thoughts before when I stand on a Sunday morn and stand in silence.

So I'm either really missing the point or I've not fallen into the political trap and stopped remembering why we do it?!? Either way, I'll continue to do what I do.

 

Thats him gone in January

 

A footballer wrote that? Give over, far too eloquent.

You often hear it said, when a person chooses not to vote in an election, that our grandparents fought and died in the second great war so we could have a vote and as such we should damn well use it. I may have used that very argument myself. This same argument appears to now be used in relation to the issue of wearing a poppy - our whole lifestyle is a result of the actions of these brave soldiers, so we should be thankful for that, show our respect and wear a poppy.

I have come to realise I was wrong. When my grandad fought in the second world war, he did so to help free us all from tyranny and oppression and to give us our freedom. Part of that freedom is having a choice. When a person exercises their right not to vote or not to wear a poppy or chooses any number of other courses of action that fly in the face of popular opinion, they are doing so because people like my grandad gave them that opportunity. Because of people like my grandad we are all free to make unpopular choices and we can't be forced to conform. That's the whole point.

I don't necessarily understand James McClean's reasoning. I don't agree with him, I wear a poppy every November. But I respect his right to make the choice. And, knowing it's an unpopular choice that will bring him a great deal of criticism, I'd stand by him and defend him.

The easiest thing in the world would have been for James McClean to have not said a word and worn the poppy, even though he really didn't like the idea. He probably wouldn't have had to explain this to his family and friends, they would have understood he had to do it. But he chose not to, he chose to stand up for something he believes in, he chose to exercise the right that people who fought in World War II allowed him. His actions may be nowhere near as courageous as those soldiers, but they do show some bravery and I have a lot of respect for him for that.