I put a fiver in the poppy tin today at Tesco's (it's usually whatever random change (however much), but I wasn't carrying any). It was the most astonishingly crisp, new (and I do mean new - the new version of the fiver; first one I've seen) note I've had in recent times. There were two ladies manning (yes, manning; don't get me started on the misuse of English! :p ) the table. Both were elderly; the one standing could certainly have passed for 65, the one sitting must have been 85 at least. "What can we sell you, then", said the sitting one. It wasn't quite a "When shall we three meet again" cackle, bless her, but it wasn't far off. "Nothing", I said, "I don't do display. I always give; I just don't 'do' display". Both laughed delightedly.

Thousands upon thousands of Irish volunteered in WWI, thousands died. At that time, Ireland was wholly under British rule and, it can be argued, until the British government totally buggered up their handling of the Easter Uprising, most Irish probably didn't really care who ruled. Whatever they thought, so many volunteered. A small minority, certainly, avowedly didn't. They actively allied themselves with Imperial Germany on the grounds that that might free them. And many, many Irish, at the time, regarded them as traitors. Doing it in peace was one thing, doing it in time of war...

And no, I'm not making any judgements. I'm just saying. WWII? I really don't know. I know that Eire's position was one of neutrality. Did that stop their nationals volunteering? No, it did not. My thanks to them - they still volunteered in their droves. One estimate is that around 250,000; over 8% of the population; left Eire to work or to serve. For whatever reasons.

If you don't want to wear a poppy, don't wear it. If you do, do. Don't judge because they will or they won't, or because you will or you won't. Different people have different things to remember, and different ways of remembering. I never display, Steve. I never take a poppy. I always give. And I always remember. Not on Remembrance Sunday. I ignore Remembrance Sunday. At the 11th Hour on the 11th Day of the 11th Month.

That is the time for Remembering. Always.

I wouldn't dream of "my poppy [going] straight in the bin". Whatever your quibbles, there you go too far, I think. Remember & honour. Don't quibble.