Sir, – I see that poppy outrage season has broken out again in some parts of Ireland. Tom Cooper (October 31st) wishes that the BBC would prevent its presenters from wearing the poppy in Northern Ireland.
I am a citizen of Ireland who lives, votes and pays taxes in the UK.
I will continue to wear a poppy on Remembrance Sunday while I do so.
Governments are formed out of elections in which I participate and they in turn choose to send soldiers to different conflict areas. I do not agree with some of these deployments, but in a democracy soldiers tend to obey the elected government. I recall these soldiers because they do a difficult job, one that is sadly necessary in the fragile and dangerous world in which we live.
Even today British army bomb disposal technicians continue to risk their lives to save others in Northern Ireland.
Alleged crimes by soldiers should of course be vigorously investigated and soldiers punished if found guilty. To wear a poppy is certainly not to condone such acts, as Mr Cooper seems to suggest.
To take the poppy out of the mainstream, to ban it from the BBC, would hand it to those who wish to impose the most exclusive interpretation of patriotism and who seek to co-opt the UK military to their own ends. Such an approach should be resisted, even in Northern Ireland. – Yours, etc,
EDWARD BURKE,
Newtownards,
Co Down.
Sir, – Mr Cooper appears to be offended by British citizens wearing the poppy. He and others go out of their way to be offended.
I have family who were servicemen and I am extremely proud of them.
By the way, does Mr Cooper have a licence to watch the BBC? – Yours, etc,
JAMES HUTCHINSON,
Belfast.