It is supposedly now a criminal offense to set fire to a fake poppy, it may be disrespectful and an incredibly bold, possibly misjudged decision. But surely it should not involve the police?

by ggoodworth (student)

POPPIES ARGH (TEEN ANGST)

It is absolutely ridiculous that in this day and age a law abiding citizen can be arrested and taken into custody for burning a paper flower.

It is supposedly now a criminal offense to set fire to a fake poppy, it may be disrespectful and an incredibly bold, possibly misjudged decision. But surely it should not involve the police? What does it say that in our ‘free country’ offending people results in an arrest? They may as well start arresting comedians and politicians.

Frankie Boyle should definitely be taken into custody for his Madeline McCann jokes, not to mention jokes at the expense of Heath Ledger and Princess Diana’s deaths, Richard Hammond’s tragic accident with resulting memory loss, jokes about gay people, disabled people, short people, old people, women and last but not least, jokes aimed directly towards war veterans.

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How can a man who makes jokes on national television about brave men who had their limbs blown off in the war get away scot free but a man burning a poppy in the comfort of his own home cannot?

Maybe Gordon Brown should have been arrested when he called an elderly woman asking him about the education system a ‘bigoted woman’.

This 19 year old man from Kent is still in custody over his behaviour. It was undoubtedly going to cause uproar, as burning a remembrance poppy will, let’s face it, never end well. But being arrested some may agree, is ...

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How can a man who makes jokes on national television about brave men who had their limbs blown off in the war get away scot free but a man burning a poppy in the comfort of his own home cannot?

Maybe Gordon Brown should have been arrested when he called an elderly woman asking him about the education system a ‘bigoted woman’.

Nick Pickles, director of the Big Brother Watch campaign group declared the arrest ’ridiculous’. He said: “It is not illegal to offend people and, however idiotic or insensitive the picture may have been, it is certainly not worthy of arrest. The case highlights the urgent need to reform a law that poses a serious risk to freedom of speech after several ludicrous prosecutions in recent months.”

I (incredibly) raised a few eyebrows when I made the mistake of telling a couple of close friends i was to wear only a white poppy on the day. They of course did not let their judgement precede my explanation but did remark that people may find it ‘offensive’ and ‘rude’. It has got to a stage where wearing a poppy says a lot more than your respect for those who have died for this country.

I was challenged when I wanted to simultaneously show my respect to those that lay down their lives and display that I do not support war or violence and instead think peace would make a nice change. Is that going too far?

Where exactly is the line between expressing ones opinion freely and passionately and expressing ones opinion in a way that constitutes an arrest? Am I no longer allowed to express my opinion? An adult whose views i regularly agree with also said he respects those who wear a white poppy along with a red poppy. Does this mean it is rude to show two messages with one flower, is it expressing two symbolic gestures to one paper flower that is frowned upon or the idea of peace itself?