I WEAR a poppy every year, and I ensure the front page of this newspaper carries the image of a poppy every year.

Why? Well, it’s certainly not because I want to celebrate war.

It’s because I have a firm belief that taking time out once a year to remember those who have fallen in the service of their country is important.

But it is also important to defend the opinions of those people who wear white poppies or who do not wear them at all.

Such people appear to be increasingly the subject of abuse and intolerance, particularly on social media.

People who believe that Remembrance Day, Armistice Day and the tradition of the poppy as a whole is a glorification of war are, in my opinion, fundamentally wrong.

But they have every right to hold and express such opinions.

Such freedoms are the bedrock of this nation.

Such freedoms were what millions of our forefathers fought and died for in two world wars.

I am more than comfortable in paying tribute to our war dead while defending the rights of those who choose not to.

I have seen one Newport-based blogger in the last week or so criticise the choice of a school for the launch of this year’s Gwent Poppy Appeal.

The anonymous writer’s piece was headlined: "Keep militarism out of schools."

It contained the following paragraphs: "There are schools in Newport with large numbers of children living in poverty, with few educational attainments.

"These children are the ones who unthinkingly join the army and find themselves in a war zone before they know it."

Now I happen to think such opinions are absolute nonsense.

Further, I find the suggestion that it is only the poor and the thick who join the armed forces to be downright offensive.

But the beauty of our democracy is that this person can express their views and I can disagree with them.

The issue can be the subject of debate, and long may that continue to be the case.

Likewise, the actress Sienna Miller was castigated on social media last week for not wearing a poppy on a television chat show.

There might be 101 reasons why she chose not to wear a poppy. She might even have left it in the dressing room by mistake. Who knows?

Whatever her reasons, what gives others the right to launch foul abuse at her?

There is no rule that says poppies must be worn.

There is no law that states remembrance must be observed.

That is how it should be.

I happen to believe those who choose not to wear a poppy because it somehow celebrates war are wrong.

I am the last person to glorify war. I detest it. I am a pacifist to my core.

War is ugly and disgusting. When any nation declares war on another it is effectively announcing its intent to kill other human beings.

There are many wars that have been fought for entirely wrong reasons.

There are others, most notably the last world war, that were fought for entirely the right reasons.

But whatever your views on war, it is my firm belief that we should pay tribute to those who fought and died for their country.

My late grandfather served in the RAF during the Second World War.

He came home and lived a full life.

Many of this his friends were not so fortunate.

When I observe the silences on Sunday and next Wednesday, I will think of him and I will think of them.

And I will remember that it was through their bravery – a level of courage that, thankfully, I and my sons are unlikely ever to be asked to find – and sacrifice that we enjoy the freedoms we have in this country today.

That includes the freedom to disagree with every word I have written here.