Google Ireland puts a British Legion Poppy on its front page

national | history and heritage | news report Friday November 11, 2005 13:05 by S.Cat STRIPEYCAT at MAIL dot COM

Call Google Ireland - 01 436 1000

Will we see a lily at Easter?

My grandfather fought in the first world war. He was in the Munster Fusiliers and fought in France and Belgium, and also at Gallipoli. I have no problem with people commemorating the first World War, and the many Irish men and women who were caught up in it.

But I do have a problem with the Red Poppy, which is the symbol of the British Legion. As another contributor to this site recently put it:

"[The Poppy] is worn to commemorate ALL of Britain's acts of war since the Great Slaughter of 1914-18- and that includes the Black and Tan War, Bloody Sunday, the invasion of Iraq, and the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. If you want to wear a poppy, do so by all means. Just be sure you know what it stands for"

So I think it's amazing that a supposedly neutral Internet Search Engine like Google should plaster a symbol associated with the British Army on the front page of its Irish site.

Google's logo as displayed on Google.ie today

Troops who carried out actions against the civilian population in Ireland- from the massacres of ordinary citizens around Smithfield in 1916 to the murder of Karen Reilly and Martin Peake by paratroopers in Belfast a few years ago- are honoured and supported by the British legion.

The two soldiers who murdered Peter McBride and are still serving in the British army are honoured by the British legion through the sale and distribution of poppies.

As an Irish citizen, I want nothing to do with them.

Of course people should be allowed to wear what they like, within reason, but some things can be offensive and I don't think an internet company really has any business making such a crass political point. I think it also calls into question their judgment, if they know so little about the market they operate in.

I called Google and asked them about it. They referred me to their support page. When I told them I was going to put something up on Indymedia and they put me through to a press spokesperson who told me that it was because Google.ie is linked to Google.co.uk (I didn't know this, did you?), and that it was all about remembering the Irish war dead from World War One. When I pointed out that the British Legion use the Poppy to commemorate all British Soldiers in all conflicts -including Bloody Sunday- I was told that I would be called back.

I wonder if we'll see Google.ie display an Easter Lily next April? Can you imagine if they put one up on Google.co.uk at the same time?

I don't expect I'll ever get a call back from Google, but if you want to talk to them about it -here's their number in Dublin-
01-4361000.