NationStates Jolt Archive

Recently, several store's security tapes caught a woman who claimed to be exchaning the full poppy jars for empty ones but was instead stealing the money. Finally, a liquor store clerk asked for ID and the woman ran off. Still shes stolen several hundred dollars in donations. Personally, I had my grandfather and several my uncles fight in WW2 and one even ended up in a POW camp in Italy. There are many Canadians who have relatives who fought in the war and many who sadly gave their lives for our freedom. I see this theft as a slap in the face of those people who fought and those who died and I hope this woman is caught and brought to justice. I don't care if she is poor, steal from someone (if you even need to steal) else but not from the veterans. That really pissed me off to see this on the news and I hope I'm not alone. Any thoughts?

What an evil bitch!

poppy money? Whats that? :confused:

Whenever I see WWII veterans I think them.

I had family fight in both world wars and shit like this pisses me off to no end, I hope the police find her and put that bitch on ice.

poppy money? Whats that? :confused:

Whenever I see WWII veterans I think them.



In Canada, we sell plastic poppys, around Rememberance Day, that you pin on your shirt and the money goes to the Legion.

That's so sad, that people could be driven to doing something like that.

I would find out her story before "hanging" her.

Could be a woman trying to feed her kids; could be a woman trying to feed her habit.....

One story to share:

I had a job in Jeruslem. When I was leaving, I stopped to buy a munchie and spotted a 200 Shekel Bill(about 50$ US at the time). I handed it to the girl(teenager) and said somebody lost it. She said it happens from time to time but I have never had anybody ask in 2 years. Might as well put it to use.

She dropped it into a donation jar.

How many teens today would do that?

Here in Canada we have Rememberance Day on Nov. 11. It sort of like the American's Veteren's Day. We remember those who ahve died in previous wars and those vets who survived. A poppy is "purchased" from various places and placed on the chest to show remebrence for past soldiers. The poppy money is then given to veteren's organizations.

So that woman was stealing money form Canadian veterans who died for her freedom. That's gratitude ain't it.

Poppies are the little red flowers you will see people selling on sidewalks or at store entrances that go to the VFW (veterans of foriegn wars) I believe. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

All I know is that I donate everytime I see them offered, my grandfather, step-grandfather, and several uncles were all veterens. If I ever saw someone stealing the money from that organization, I would chase them down and issue some pain, even if it was a woman.

Here in Canada we have Rememberance Day on Nov. 11. It sort of like the American's Veteren's Day. We remember those who ahve died in previous wars and those vets who survived. A poppy is "purchased" from various places and placed on the chest to show remebrence for past soldiers. The poppy money is then given to veteren's organizations.

So that woman was stealing money form Canadian veterans who died for her freedom. That's gratitude ain't it.
So do we, so far I have brought 2 poppys and lost them both!, I will try again tomorrow.

I would find out her story before "hanging" her.

Could be a woman trying to feed her kids; could be a woman trying to feed her habit.....

Now I'm as much a bleeding heart liberal as almost anyone, but there is no justification for what she did.

One story to share:

I had a job in Jeruslem. When I was leaving, I stopped to buy a munchie and spotted a 200 Shekel Bill(about 50$ US at the time). I handed it to the girl(teenager) and said somebody lost it. She said it happens from time to time but I have never had anybody ask in 2 years. Might as well put it to use.

She dropped it into a donation jar.

How many teens today would do that?

That is amazing, I wouldn't have done it.

some people make me ashamed to be human :(

I think European and Commonwealth countries all have rememberance day on the 11th November

Now to play the cynic.

How much of the poppy mony actually makes it to the veterns?

For example one Christian Group that "helps" children was nailed for deception.

Somebody investigated and found they had a practice of finding the worst spot in a country to use for the sorrow ads and the money raised about .98 cents went to the organization and .02 made it to people....

Now to play the cynic.

How much of the poppy mony actually makes it to the veterns?

For example one Christian Group that "helps" children was nailed for deception.

Somebody investigated and found they had a practice of finding the worst spot in a country to use for the sorrow ads and the money raised about .98 cents went to the organization and .02 made it to people....

Which organization and what's your source?

Just because one organization does bad doesn't mean all do.

There are also attached costs such as: administration, transport of any goods, advertising to collect more money, paying workers, etc.

Now to play the cynic.

How much of the poppy mony actually makes it to the veterns?

For example one Christian Group that "helps" children was nailed for deception.

Somebody investigated and found they had a practice of finding the worst spot in a country to use for the sorrow ads and the money raised about .98 cents went to the organization and .02 made it to people....
other than manufacturing costs all of it goes to the vets.

other than manufacturing costs all of it goes to the vets.

That's good!

Thanks.

We sell poppies in England too in the run up to Remembrance Day on the 11th. All they ask is 20 pence for a poppy, and get this, someone asked for change last year from a 50p piece. I put 50p pieces in just because I don't think 20p is enough.

About that Israel story, that's truly amazing. I don't think anyone in any of our Western capitalist states would think twice before pocketing that amount of money. To give it to a charity donation box is such a noble thing to do.

I had a job in Jeruslem. When I was leaving, I stopped to buy a munchie and spotted a 200 Shekel Bill(about 50$ US at the time). I handed it to the girl(teenager) and said somebody lost it. She said it happens from time to time but I have never had anybody ask in 2 years. Might as well put it to use.

She dropped it into a donation jar.

How many teens today would do that?
I think you might be pleasantly surprised. It seems to me, at least where I live, that teens today aren't bad at all. :)

Now to play the cynic.

How much of the poppy mony actually makes it to the veterns?

For example one Christian Group that "helps" children was nailed for deception.

Somebody investigated and found they had a practice of finding the worst spot in a country to use for the sorrow ads and the money raised about .98 cents went to the organization and .02 made it to people....

They get 0% of the money if somebody steals it.

They get 0% of the money if somebody steals it.

Well I think we can call that a "DUH" statement.

But thanks for playing.

They get 0% of the money if somebody steals it.

Taking over as devil's advocate:

Stealing from a thief is not as bad as being that thief.

Note that this is re: the rip-off charity described, not the poppy people.

Taking over as devil's advocate:

Stealing from a thief is not as bad as being that thief.

Note that this is re: the rip-off charity described, not the poppy people.

Thats up to interpretation, I don't particularly think theft is ever justifiable, no matter who you steal from.

Demographika - You only had to pay 50p ? i had to pay £1 lol !, it doesn't matter really, i'm just happy to give to those that put their lives on the line for our freedom.

Ive bought four in the last week .. i just can't help myself.

Well I think we can call that a "DUH" statement.

But thanks for playing.

But my point was, even if the charity takes a huge chunk, you would still be stealing from the recipient of the charity, so I don't think your devil's advocate is a good argument. Even for a devil's advocate.

Which organization and what's your source?

Just because one organization does bad doesn't mean all do.

There are also attached costs such as: administration, transport of any goods, advertising to collect more money, paying workers, etc.

This was years ago, It was the Christians Children's Fund(which I sponsored).

Just so you don't write it off as "liberal propaganda" here is a link from a Christian site that mentions it.....

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2001/015/5.50.html

"Despite its success, sponsorship's problems are well documented. In 1999, Kansas City-based Children International promised the Missouri attorney general's office that it would change advertising practices the state called "distorted or deliberately misconstrued to obtain donations." In 1998, the Chicago Tribune ran a series exposing problems with sponsorship programs operated by Save the Children, Childreach, and Christian Children's Fund. Reporters found that some of the children they had sponsored were no longer receiving benefits or had died. Fortunately, such scandals have not plagued evangelical agencies."

But my point was, even if the charity takes a huge chunk, you would still be stealing from the recipient of the charity, so I don't think your devil's advocate is a good argument. Even for a devil's advocate.

Dru is a differnt person.

My question involved the agency and not the theif. Some agencies take in money and a large portion of it is absorbed by the agency.

I think you might be pleasantly surprised. It seems to me, at least where I live, that teens today aren't bad at all. :)

Or at least they are smarter at not being caught. ;)

Try an experiment.

Take 5 envelopes. Put your address on them and put $20 in them.

Drop them in convient spots were a teenager will get them(ie a highschool).

See how many you get back. ;)

Thats up to interpretation, I don't particularly think theft is ever justifiable, no matter who you steal from.

Perhaps that's why it's called "DEVIL'S Advocate"? :D

Dru is a differnt person.

My question involved the agency and not the theif. Some agencies take in money and a large portion of it is absorbed by the agency.

I know that, I directed my question at you.

I answered Dru in another post.

My "DUH" answer was to show that even if the agency took a large portion of the money, you would still be stealing money that would eventually reach the people the charity was designed to help. So no matter how big of a cut the agency takes (as long as it isn't 100%), you are still stealing money that is for the needy.

Perhaps that's why it's called "DEVIL'S Advocate"? :D

Awwww, yes. You are quite right.

I know that, I directed my question at you.

I answered Dru in another post.

My "DUH" answer was to show that even if the agency took a large portion of the money, you would still be stealing money that would eventually reach the people the charity was designed to help. So no matter how big of a cut the agency takes (as long as it isn't 100%), you are still stealing money that is for the needy.

Ok well we are talking apples and oranges here.

Yes she is stilling from the needy. I am not defending that.

Again, my question was only about the charity as I haven't heard of poppy money till now.....

Ok well we are talking apples and oranges here.

Yes she is stilling from the needy. I am not defending that.

Again, my question was only about the charity as I haven't heard of poppy money till now.....




At grocery stores and convience stores and whatever else, there are little boxs with poppies in them and beside an can where you can leave the money. I believe the money is sent to the Canadian Legion, although I'm not 100% sure on that.

OK in all seriousness, unless she has a dying kid whose life-saving medicine she cannot get otherwise, she needs to serve consecutive maximum terms for each instance of theft.

...but what I cannot fathom is that she got away with hundreds of dollars... even canadian dollars, I presume... before anybody thought to ask her for her credentials. :rolleyes:

Find her, remove every object of worth that she owns down to her clothing, remove all her hair and anything of value in her body, sell it all off and donate the money to the appeal. And if that doesn't meet double the money she took, send her to a prison where she can do labour until she pays it off.

Find her, remove every object of worth that she owns down to her clothing, remove all her hair and anything of value in her body, sell it all off and donate the money to the appeal. And if that doesn't meet double the money she took, send her to a prison where she can do labour until she pays it off.

Wow :eek:

Didn't you work for the third reich once? Does that include the gold teeth?

Man.. that's lower than low. What a bitch!

Here in Canada we have Rememberance Day on Nov. 11. It sort of like the American's Veteren's Day. We remember those who ahve died in previous wars and those vets who survived. A poppy is "purchased" from various places and placed on the chest to show remebrence for past soldiers. The poppy money is then given to veteren's organizations.

So that woman was stealing money form Canadian veterans who died for her freedom. That's gratitude ain't it.
More like there Memorial Day. Isn't that one bigger?

So do we, so far I have brought 2 poppys and lost them both!, I will try again tomorrow.

Yeah, they're so easy to lose!

Now to play the cynic.

How much of the poppy mony actually makes it to the veterns?
For example one Christian Group that "helps" children was nailed for deception.

Somebody investigated and found they had a practice of finding the worst spot in a country to use for the sorrow ads and the money raised about .98 cents went to the organization and .02 made it to people....
In my experience, all of it. The vetrans are the ones who 'sell' the poppies.

Same thing has happened here in the Vancouver area. Young woman in her early 20s was going into stores and saying she was with the Legion and was exchanging the donation jars with empty ones. When a clerk in a beer and wine store questioned her, she ran. She was captured on camera as well. Her face was in both our local newspapers and the TV news channels.
Now get this, she called the Legion and complained they were making her life miserable......
Both her and her boyfriend have been arrested and charged with thieft under $5000, released on a promise to appear.
The good news, the publicity has brought massive donations to the poppy fund, and has far eclipsed the amount stolen, (which was not recovered)
Sad thing is, if this young lady was having genuine problems, the poppy fund would have helped her.

To answer a few of the questions I have seen in this thread...

Poppies are distributed in Canada by the Royal Canadian Legion and the Army,Navy, Air Force Veterans in Canada units. There is no price attached to a poppy, donations are asked for in exchange but not required. We would rather the poorest, homeless person wear a poppy to honour those who have fallen, if they cannot afford a donation.
There is zero administration costs attached to the poppy fund. We are all volunteers and there are no paid or commissioned staff.

The significance of the poppy is from a poem "In Flanders Fields" written by a young Canadian medic during the Great War (WW 1)

It is Rememberance day in Canada, Veterans Day in the US. Originally called Armistice Day, cease-fire was set for the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918, which ended the Great War.

The Great War was considered so horrendous that it was called the War to end all Wars.....unfortunatly we still havn't learned.

Take a moment at 11am to remember all those who have paid the ultimate price, no matter what nationality. "To you we pass the torch"

Thank you,

hobbslandia,
President ANAF Unit 284, Steveston BC.

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields

Now to play the cynic.

How much of the poppy mony actually makes it to the veterns?

For example one Christian Group that "helps" children was nailed for deception.

Somebody investigated and found they had a practice of finding the worst spot in a country to use for the sorrow ads and the money raised about .98 cents went to the organization and .02 made it to people....

I think the poppy people are pretty good about that. I think it's run by veterans.

S

It is Rememberance day in Canada, Veterans Day in the US. Originally called Armistice Day, cease-fire was set for the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918, which ended the Great War.

The Great War was considered so horrendous that it was called the War to end all Wars.....unfortunatly we still havn't learned.

Take a moment at 11am to remember all those who have paid the ultimate price, no matter what nationality. "To you we pass the torch"


Well, now I don't have to ask if we're the only ones that call it Armistice Day...
Why'd you go and change it? Armistice has such a lovely ring to it.

I swear, we almost sell poppies all year round. We sell them on Anzac Day, to commemorate the day in WWI when the bloody english used us as fodder for the Turks...that's in April and then there's Armistice in November. We got to bury an unknown warrior from WWI this time too. Yay us.

Well, now I don't have to ask if we're the only ones that call it Armistice Day...
Why'd you go and change it? Armistice has such a lovely ring to it.

I swear, we almost sell poppies all year round. We sell them on Anzac Day, to commemorate the day in WWI when the bloody english used us as fodder for the Turks...that's in April and then there's Armistice in November. We got to bury an unknown warrior from WWI this time too. Yay us.

Canada changed the name in 1931, in order that the day "remember" all those who have died in battle, no matter which conflict. Prior to 1931 Canada had its Thanksgiving and Armistice Day falling on the same day.

Canada changed the name in 1931, in order that the day "remember" all those who have died in battle, no matter which conflict. Prior to 1931 Canada had its Thanksgiving and Armistice Day falling on the same day.

Ah, makes sense.
We don't do Thanksgiving...I thought that was an American thing, about the pilgrims and stuff...heh, all I know is what I see in American movies and tv...

Well speaking not only as a vet but as the a family member of vets from WWII, Korea, and VIetnam I believe this woman should be shot on the spot there is no excuse for her actions. The very people she sees it fit to steal from have put their lives on the line to protect her way of life.
:mad: :mad:

As to where the money goes I can only speak for the American VW and VFW but the money does not go directly to the veterans it is used to fund benifits that are provided by the organization. (Home loans, Scholarships, Job training, ect...)

Ah, makes sense.
We don't do Thanksgiving...I thought that was an American thing, about the pilgrims and stuff...heh, all I know is what I see in American movies and tv...

American Thanksgiving is to give thanks for the Pilgrims arriving in the new world. Canadian Thanksgiving is more akin to the English "Harvest Festival"
and is observed in October.