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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to say that graduation ceremonies are not the place to make political statements?

443 replies

anythingbutlillies · 09/07/2025 20:53

Hard hat on.

DC's graduation today. Fabulous day, but it did not sit well with me that a few chose to unfurl a flag / raise a scarf while they were on the stage.
Just no! So very selfish.

Interested to hear if I am being precious?

OP posts:
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5
ForWittyTealOP · 11/07/2025 15:25

Comedycook · 11/07/2025 15:20

And peace was finally achieved in the middle east and they all lived happily ever after.

The end.

🤣🤣 more achieved by students than multiple politicians and other interested parties across decades and many nations.

Nope I still see it as futile posturing and hypocritical to boot.

ForWittyTealOP · 11/07/2025 15:23

BeachPossum · 11/07/2025 15:19

Divestment from Israeli companies. Prompting discussion and engagement from their audience - for example, by encouraging an attendee to start a 400 comment thread on mumsnet discussing the issue. Showing solidarity to Palestinian students.

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Do you think that's incredibly likely because a couple of graduates wave flags at their graduation? I mean the current war has been going on a while and there aren't many people who don't know about it. I think it would be a lot more likely to put people off the cause then draw them in, because it would just come across as irritating posturing and attention seeking. Preaching to the converted at best.

Comedycook · 11/07/2025 15:20

And peace was finally achieved in the middle east and they all lived happily ever after.

The end.

BeachPossum · 11/07/2025 15:19

ForWittyTealOP · 11/07/2025 15:09

What would "effective" look like in this case?

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Divestment from Israeli companies. Prompting discussion and engagement from their audience - for example, by encouraging an attendee to start a 400 comment thread on mumsnet discussing the issue. Showing solidarity to Palestinian students.

ForWittyTealOP · 11/07/2025 15:16

BeachPossum · 11/07/2025 15:14

How strange. Certainly there were flags at my first graduation over a decade ago. Palestinian flags then too; it was the early 2000s, so the time of the Second Intifada. I didn't attend my second graduation because I was working abroad, and I don't recall whether there were flags at my third and fourth. But I also saw flags, badges, slogans and other such demonstrations of political feeling at family members' graduations too.

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Ah well everyone's different then.

BeachPossum · 11/07/2025 15:14

ForWittyTealOP · 11/07/2025 14:51

If you say so. It's not something I've ever seen and I've been to a fair few.

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How strange. Certainly there were flags at my first graduation over a decade ago. Palestinian flags then too; it was the early 2000s, so the time of the Second Intifada. I didn't attend my second graduation because I was working abroad, and I don't recall whether there were flags at my third and fourth. But I also saw flags, badges, slogans and other such demonstrations of political feeling at family members' graduations too.

ForWittyTealOP · 11/07/2025 15:09

BeachPossum · 11/07/2025 15:05

Oh, lots of reasons.

Universities have always been places of social revolution and political engagement and that long tradition is upheld by students engaging in political protest today.

Many universities invest in unethical companies which feed the machine of war. A graduation is an opportunity to protest and challenge these investment practices in front of a large audience.

Protests have to be inconvenient, controversial and public to be effective. As this thread so amply proves, a graduation ceremony ticks these boxes.

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What would "effective" look like in this case?

BeachPossum · 11/07/2025 15:05

Comedycook · 11/07/2025 14:48

What makes it an ideal place?

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Oh, lots of reasons.

Universities have always been places of social revolution and political engagement and that long tradition is upheld by students engaging in political protest today.

Many universities invest in unethical companies which feed the machine of war. A graduation is an opportunity to protest and challenge these investment practices in front of a large audience.

Protests have to be inconvenient, controversial and public to be effective. As this thread so amply proves, a graduation ceremony ticks these boxes.

ForWittyTealOP · 11/07/2025 14:51

BeachPossum · 11/07/2025 14:39

Oh well. I think it's an ideal place, and that the purpose of protest is not to be respectful. And since it's not illegal it's likely to continue for many decades yet, as it did for decades before now.

If you say so. It's not something I've ever seen and I've been to a fair few.

Comedycook · 11/07/2025 14:48

BeachPossum · 11/07/2025 14:39

Oh well. I think it's an ideal place, and that the purpose of protest is not to be respectful. And since it's not illegal it's likely to continue for many decades yet, as it did for decades before now.

What makes it an ideal place?

Original poster
anythingbutlillies · 11/07/2025 14:45

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Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

😂do one? How very articulate!

It would appear that the majority of voters - 60% - are also pathetic.
I'll take it tbh.

OP posts:
Ruby1985 · 11/07/2025 14:43

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Ruby1985 · 11/07/2025 14:42

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BeachPossum · 11/07/2025 14:39

Oh well. I think it's an ideal place, and that the purpose of protest is not to be respectful. And since it's not illegal it's likely to continue for many decades yet, as it did for decades before now.

ForWittyTealOP · 11/07/2025 14:36

BeachPossum · 11/07/2025 14:34

And other students have also overcome adversity and struggle in order to graduate, and they want to use their moment in the sun to draw attention to a cause they believe in, as is their right. Your daughter can do it her way, and they can do it theirs.

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I will still never believe that a graduation ceremony is the right place to make a political point. Apart from anything else there literally isn't time. They run on a very tight schedule. Also it's disrespectful.

BeachPossum · 11/07/2025 14:34

ForWittyTealOP · 11/07/2025 12:20

She says, to someone who finds flag waving divisive and unhelpful.

It would make me wonder why someone is using a celebratory event to make some sort of point as though they imagined they were at Glastonbury. For many reasons, my daughter getting to the point of graduating is the culmination of a lifetime's struggles and not something we thought we'd ever see. Frankly fuck off with your flag shagging. Save it for people who want to see it instead of foisting it on everyone else.

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And other students have also overcome adversity and struggle in order to graduate, and they want to use their moment in the sun to draw attention to a cause they believe in, as is their right. Your daughter can do it her way, and they can do it theirs.

ForWittyTealOP · 11/07/2025 13:43

Comedycook · 11/07/2025 13:26

Every single opportunity?

What does this mean? Waving a flag during your weekly shop? Shouting free Palestine on the school run? How far would you take this?

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Apparently not so far as shouting support for any other oppressed people at any opportunity.

ForWittyTealOP · 11/07/2025 13:42

HRTQueen · 11/07/2025 13:19

I have read them

I do not believe in silencing people when they see cruelty

I see that as showing humanity

hope that’s clear

Nor do I. Does anyone?

People need to be aware of their surroundings. Not every occasion is appropriate to voice one's political views. There are plenty of other opportunities than a once in a lifetime celebration of academic success.

And that's apart from all the other issues which I won't go into because you'll take them of evidence that I'm a Jewish supremacist who enjoys wallowing in the blood of dead children.

Comedycook · 11/07/2025 13:26

Iwantitidontwantit · 11/07/2025 13:03

First it was ticket only, now it's invite only! Make your mind up!

I welcome every single opportunity for people to express their support for the civilians of Gaza. It that makes some people uncomfortable, then they need to take a good long look at their moral compass

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Every single opportunity?

What does this mean? Waving a flag during your weekly shop? Shouting free Palestine on the school run? How far would you take this?

HRTQueen · 11/07/2025 13:19

I have read them

I do not believe in silencing people when they see cruelty

I see that as showing humanity

hope that’s clear

Original poster
anythingbutlillies · 11/07/2025 13:19

Iwantitidontwantit · 11/07/2025 13:03

First it was ticket only, now it's invite only! Make your mind up!

I welcome every single opportunity for people to express their support for the civilians of Gaza. It that makes some people uncomfortable, then they need to take a good long look at their moral compass

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Same thing.
I was invited to request (up to 2) tickets.

I was only invited to request a ticket as it was our DC.
Mrs Smith from down the road would not have been able to attend as she would not have been invited to request a ticket.

OP posts:
ForWittyTealOP · 11/07/2025 13:15

HRTQueen · 11/07/2025 13:08

oh Is this the new silence tactic

recognition that the people of Gaza, Palestinians have the right to live is to be silenced or it could be mistaken for support for Hamas

right …

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There's literally nothing anyone could say to you. Your mind is slammed shut. You don't even bother to try and read other people's viewpoints. It's a shame.

HRTQueen · 11/07/2025 13:08

ForWittyTealOP · 11/07/2025 12:41

Are you sure nobody is defending Hamas? Like nobody is defending Iran or the Houthis?

If you only speak out about the wrongness of one party among several, it's going to look like you're taking sides.

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oh Is this the new silence tactic

recognition that the people of Gaza, Palestinians have the right to live is to be silenced or it could be mistaken for support for Hamas

right …

spoonbillstretford · 11/07/2025 13:07

hdksolxveu · 11/07/2025 11:33

Yes of course people are free to wave a flag/wear a T-shirt expressing their views – that’s their right. I do neither but I express my views in other ways. Of course I’m not saying people should be forced to wear badges, how ridiculous. All I’m saying is that it’s fine to make a political statement at a graduation.

This is so English, the idea of not rocking the boat, keeping your views to yourself, keep the status quo. You do what feels right to you, while others are free to make statements about things that matter to them. Activism works. If you don’t want to take part, that’s fine, but activists are just trying make a small difference in the world.

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With freedom of expression come responsibility of when and where to express those views. Activism in the wrong place no only has the effect of turning your audience against you, even those who share your arguments, but also those who may be converted to them, as it produces an eye rolling "Oh do fuck off" response.

ForWittyTealOP · 11/07/2025 13:07

Iwantitidontwantit · 11/07/2025 13:03

First it was ticket only, now it's invite only! Make your mind up!

I welcome every single opportunity for people to express their support for the civilians of Gaza. It that makes some people uncomfortable, then they need to take a good long look at their moral compass

Show quote history

Oh don't be so ridiculous. You are invited. You are given a ticket. Do you not know how life works?

And moral grandstanding/superiority is not a good look. Has it ever occurred to you there's a reason people don't shout about their beliefs at every given opportunity? Clue: it's not because they love dead babies.