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Fire service in anti-war poppy gaffe
Last updated at 11:40am on 07.11.07The London Fire Brigade has apologised after issuing invitations to its Remembrance Day service featuring the anti-war white poppy.
The brigade had been accused of "political correctness" for using the white emblem instead of the traditional red poppy of the Royal British Legion.
But the organisation said a blunder by its design team was to blame and denied staff with Left-wing sympathies had attempted to hijack the event.
Fire commissioner Ron Dobson is known to be furious at the mistake. About 100 invitations were sent to VIPs.
Reader views (8)
Here's a sample of the latest views published. You can click view all to read all views that readers have sent in.
I've just been reminded of the white poppy and the controversy it appears to attract. It seems to me that the implication against both is implied rather than asserted. I am sure wearers of the red poppy are not pro-war and wearers of the white poppy are not indicating any disrespect for those who died, yet these seem to be assumptions people are making.
I believe that the difference is merely an emphasis on the past or the future. Either way the objective is the same; to be mindful of mortal conflict and it's ultimate cost.
There should not be any conflict between people who display one symbol or the other because they abhor the effects of war. By engaging in such arguments, a wearer of either becomes a hypocrite.
- Bob, High Wycombe
I'm BA student studying Peace and it seems odd to me that anyone would not support the wearing of a white poppy. It's not about political correctness, it's not about us and them, it's about all of us. Monks being killed in Burma for protesting peacefully, inocent citizens of Iraq and Afganistan being killed for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. As an individual most things we do are a mere insignificance but it's all those mere insignificances that make a difference. Wear the red poppy and remember those who lost there lives stopping what could possibly have been the biggest disaster of the 20th Century. And wear the white poppy to help stop such a conflict from ever happening again.
Violence can create peace but peace will never create violence.
- Nick Renn, Hackney, London
I think it's disgusting to wear a white poppy and I'm glad I havent seen anyone doing so. This morning in London I was pleased to see so many RED poppies being worn. It's shameful the white poppy brigade use this day of remembrance to ride roughshot over this tradition for their agenda. Its nothing to do with being anti war and everything to do with thumbing your noses at those who died for our and others freedom. They must not be allowed to detract from the real Poppy Appeal. Wearing both does not make you an exception to that cynical drive to undermine the real appeal and detract from it.
- Af, London
17°c
