News and Politics | November 03, 2010 | 9 comments

Is Jon Snow right about 'poppy fascism'?

The 63 year-old told news presenter started an online row with a viewer on his Snowblog and twitter account after he was told he was "dishonouring" the war dead when not wearing a poppy on TV. As a retaliation Snow told the viewer to get “on yer bike” and that “Hitler lost the war”. The viewer, who gave his name as Stan, posted the comment saying:

"Jon,when you ride your bike,do you ever think of the hundreds of thousands of british troops who gave there lives in world war 2 tokeep our great country free you alone dishonour them by not wearing a poppy. YOU LOOK WHAT YOU ARE ON YOUR BIKE."

But the criticism provoked an emphatic response from Snow, who said:

"Stan they died that we might be free to wear a Poppy whenever we wish. I wish to wear mine on Remembrance Sunday. When you wish to wear yours is your business. Compelling people to wear poppies because YOU think they OUGHT to is precisely the Poppy fascism, or intolerance, that I have complained of in the past."

In 2006 Snow sparked controversy by refusing to wear a Remembrance Day poppy on air in protest at "poppy fascism".

At the time he said: "I am begged to wear an Aids ribbon, a breast cancer ribbon, a Marie Curie flower... You name it, from the Red Cross to the RNIB, they send me stuff to wear to raise awareness, and I don't.

"And in those terms, and those terms alone, I do not and will not wear a poppy."

Is he right or is he out of line? Leave a comment and let us know what you think. 

  1. groups:
    News and Politics
  2. tags:
    War,  War Veterans,  poppies,  Remembrance,  4 more
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9 comments // Is Jon Snow right about 'poppy fascism'?

  • Richard_Keith
  • Mcellie
    • 0
      Mcellie  

    • I disagree with war, but I'm very sure the poppy appeal doesn't fund or start wars, but helps the welfare of troops with their lives afterwards, like widows and injured soldiers. Though verbally attacking people for not wearing a poppy is taking it too far.

    • 1 year ago
  • Cruzin
    • 0
      Cruzin  

    • I still wouldn't wear one for the same reason as noirees below - today (unfortunately) the poppy stands for support of the troops and the country's war efforts and as much as I admire people willing to fight for others, they are fighting wars I don't agree with.

      You can always wear a white poppy for peace instead...http://www.whitepoppy.org.uk/

    • 1 year ago
  • noirees
    • -1
      noirees  

    • i m happy and grateful the nazis were stopped during ww2 obviously but i m not wearing a puppy. its also a sign that u "support the troops" in general. and i just dont want to be associated with that baggage since i dont support most wars fought these days.

    • 1 year ago
  • rikur
    • +1
      rikur  

    • He's happy enough to sport a different gaudy pair of socks and a designer tie each day.

      Why can't he accompany it with a poppy or other subtle charity promotional gear once in a while?

    • 1 year ago
  • Dmerza1989
  • Cruzin
    • 0
      Cruzin  

    • Couldn't agree more with Snow.

      And on X factor they all had glitzy poppies, I wonder where the money they paid for them went? To the jewelers or to the war veterans...

    • 1 year ago
  • richjm
  • CarolineS
    • -3
      CarolineS  

    • at the end of the day it's a bloody poppy, how the hell does a stupid poppy (from which we derive heroin might I add?) represent all the men and women who died in the war, all the bombs dropped, all the women raped, all the orphans created. what person thinks that by wearing this pathetic red flower that they are remembering the dead, well you believe that because thats what they tell you to wear. If they said wear a turd you would because you think it's respectful. Well my grandfather fought in both world wars, and while I am proud that he was brave, I have never wore a poppy, never will, And I certainly don't believe that the troops are heroes, World war one and two were different to todays war in iraq and afghanistan are lies and a front to murder.

    • 1 year ago
sbacker
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