James McClean M Wrexham b.1989

[gastric]

Maybe when your next in London you should visit The Cenotaph in Whitehall.

And how does this relate to my post?

[tetsujin1979]

For the love of God, and the sake of whatever is left of the collective sanity of the board, can we please move the poppy talk to the politics forum?

[gastric]

For the love of God, and the sake of whatever is left of the collective sanity of the board, can we please move the poppy talk to the politics forum?

But Tets, it's a very important issue!

[ArdeeBhoy]

Exactly. You can always ignore it.

[The Fly]

Poppycock!

[SkStu]

After reading that BNP statement, Maith an fear Seamus!!

[tricky_colour]

I guess if Simon Cox wore one it would be Poppy Cox?

[Charlie Darwin]

After reading that BNP statement, Maith an fear Seamus!!

I wonder if Nick Griffin will be revising his opinion that the Irish 'count' as white British.

[SkStu]

Just that you seem to be dishing people who actually live and have friends and family in Britain from your lofty position in Canada........

Not at all. Read what I posted again. I wasn't dissing - I was saying that I'm not going to change the minds of people who only ever regularly post on eligibility/northern Irish born players threads. I have no interest in trying to change the minds of people whose minds aren't for changing! Waste of time! That's all it was.

By the way, I also have friends and family in Britain but not sure that that is relevant anyway. And it's only lofty because we're sitting on 2 foot of snow!

Hypothetically-speaking, if you were in the public eye and the trend was to wear a poppy if you so wished, would you wear one, and what would be the reasoning behind your decision? Would it be a statement either way? (I won't suggest you might be involved in highly-publicised, politically-sensitive internet argument! )

Okay, let me be clear because maybe I'm not being clear. If I decided to wear a poppy just because my teammates were doing it, I would argue that that is less of a "statement" than deliberately going against what my teammates were all doing. Arguably more thought goes into that action therefore it's more of a statement. Just wearing one cos everyone else you know is wearing one is a pretty diluted statement.

Personally, I'd check foot.ie first and then do the opposite of what Paul O'Shea thinks... just kidding Paul! Seriously, I didn't wear one here but then I just don't care enough either way! I'm a lazy b@stard.

[ArdeeBhoy]

A take on James from Manchester.
http://www.afinelung.com/?p=5015

[geysir]

Not at all. Read what I posted again. I wasn't dissing - I was saying that I'm not going to change the minds of people who only ever regularly post on eligibility/northern Irish born players threads. I have no interest in trying to change the minds of people whose minds aren't for changing! Waste of time! That's all it was.

I understand from reading that, that it's important for you to change other peoples' opinions, that you have this idea that your opinions are somehow more right and other peoples' opinions are more wrong. That you are not comfortable with just expressing your opinion on a matter but have the 'itch' to change the other person's opinion, perhaps towards your own point of view.

Here, you can express yourself and debate your point and leave it at that. Why on earth do you want to change people's opinions? that's fundamentalism.

[DannyInvincible]

Okay, let me be clear because maybe I'm not being clear. If I decided to wear a poppy just because my teammates were doing it, I would argue that that is less of a "statement" than deliberately going against what my teammates were all doing. Arguably more thought goes into that action therefore it's more of a statement. Just wearing one cos everyone else you know is wearing one is a pretty diluted statement.

I see what you're saying, but rather than brand McClean an ill-informed loudmouth then, couldn't you acknowledge that his club placed him in a very uncomfortable no-win situation? Should he have toed the line, sold out and set himself up for a good shunning in his home community? Perhaps you were the one who was ill-informed?

[peadar1987]

I understand from reading that, that it's important for you to change other peoples' opinions, that you have this idea that your opinions are somehow more right and other peoples' opinions are more wrong. That you are not comfortable with just expressing your opinion on a matter but have the 'itch' to change the other person's opinion, perhaps towards your own point of view.

Here, you can express yourself and debate your point and leave it at that. Why on earth do you want to change people's opinions? that's fundamentalism.

Not to nit pick, but who has opinions they don't believe are right? If I didn't think my opinion was right, I'd have a different opinion!

[paul_oshea]

I'm with you guys, I know my opinion is right and the world would be a better place if more people thought like me, granted I might argue more with them.

[tetsujin1979]

I'm with you guys, I know my opinion is right and the world would be a better place if more people thought like me, granted I might argue more with them.

That's what we need, more of you. One is enough.
Some would say, one is too many

[paul_oshea]

One, can never be enough tets

[Sullivinho]

A take on James from Manchester.
http://www.afinelung.com/?p=5015

Deliciously sarcastic.

I printed it out and stuck it to my breast. Should make an interesting talking point for the rest of the afternoon.

[dcfc_1928]

Has he quit Twitter again?

https://twitter.com/mcclean23

[tetsujin1979]

Has he quit Twitter again?

https://twitter.com/mcclean23

yeah, he closed his account after taking abuse for not wearing the poppy

[SolitudeRed]

Well, SR, let this proud and unapologetic Unionist unequivocally tell you that those killed on Bloody Sunday did not deserve it - The Prime Minister of The United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland has made that clear on behalf of the Nation. Many people have lost their lives that didn't deserve it.

Let me also tell you that I wholly acknowledge that the British Military has perpetrated some terrible acts - I struggle to think of any State Military Forces that have not perpetrated some terrible acts in War and conflict.

Those terrible acts do not wash away the debt of gratitude I have for those from our Nation who have laid down their lives in many theatres of War, and continue to do so to this day - that does not mean I agree with some of the Wars they have been asked to fight.

I do not demand that you, or anyone else, has that debt of gratitude. That is entirely your choice.

I wouldn't doubt that a more level headed individual such as yourself would have a bit more perspective on the issue and I respect peoples decisions to wear and commemorate this if they like however it seems that a lot of peoples attitudes are somewhat more sensationalized and OTT and they seem unable or unwilling to understand why people might not want to wear it and refuse to respect their decision, the whole thing makes me rather uncomfortable and pessimistic about NI as the divide is so deep that there is literally no room for mutual respect among large swathes of the population there. I don't see why the white poppy isn't more widespread as it should be an alternative for those who wish to remember all victims of war including British Military personnel and surely nobody could have issue with that?