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

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

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.

I agree OP. I’d be pissed if this happened at my child’s graduation. My friends daughters graduation was hijacked by a group of students waving a different flag. The uni called security as they refused to move and left them hanging as to whether they would face any consequences. Fucking idiots.

Because it stirs hate (whether the flag waver means to or not) against Jewish people at the ceremony. That's why.

What are you talking about looking at one side to blame

no one is defending Hamas but what the Israeli government is doing is genocide and the west are not wanting to involve themselves

brown Muslim children are not seen as equal Palestinians are not seen as equal different language is used in reporting

the younger generations are the ones that will make a difference the media can’t be controlled as it once was we all see the true suffering now

This was a student event where students protested. Totally appropriate.
Let’s stop trying to shut people up, please.

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.

Nah fuck that keep politics out of it bullshit. Politics affect us all, whether you like it or not.

If the UK was under attack and we were all being burned alive, starved and blown up then I'd want the world to be talking about it, not brushing it under the carpet because "politics" isn't for the dinner table.

How does someone else holding a flag interfere with another person watching their loved on graduate?

False equivalence. If it's an invite-only occasion, it's not public. And if people want to be activists, wear a pin on your gown, have photos outside with your flag. People are there to watch their loved ones graduate, not sit through a political broadcast.

You mean you're incapable of providing a reasonable one.

If you don't mind, I was talking to another Jewish poster about our shared experience. Not everything has to involve you, and Jewish posters don't owe you an explanation.

I didn't say it was a free for all. If you sell tickets to it, it's a public event. Please tell me the last wedding or Birthday party you went to where you had to pay for a ticket?

A graduation is a life event...that celebrates many people. It's disrespectful imo to hijack that event to make your own political point. It also achieves absolutely nothing...

What was the purpose of your saying 'Oh but we're Jews and we eat children's blood in our matzos' in a thread where people are criticising Israel?

And I'd love if you could address my other point. If the sources I've shared are all misinformation, where should we be getting our information on Gaza from? What should I be reading to be considered informed on this issue by you?

This isn't a relevant comparison. Universities are major investors and lots of them invest in companies which contribute to, fund or facilitate Israel's actions in Gaza. Displaying flags at a graduation is a way of showing support for university divestment campaigns. That's not going to be the case at someone's wedding.

Not to mention that a graduation is about the people graduating; they can use their time on stage for activism if they wish. Someone else's wedding, birthday or baby shower is about the couple or individual celebrating; it's not an opportunity for a guest to make the occasion about their beliefs.

If you're graduating or know someone who is. It's not a free for all.

My daughter graduates this month. I bought tickets. Didn't know I could just wander in!

Not sure why you're lecturing me but crack on if it makes you happy. I'm as critical of the hard right Israeli government as anyone yet people feel the need to explain to me very carefully that #notallJews. And the careful explainers are never actually Jewish themselves.

What a ridiculous thing to say, those would be private events. A graduation ceremony is a public event that you buy tickets to.

I wore a Palestinian flag shawl to a formal ball a few weeks ago. I’ll wear it as a scarf this winter.

So what other events do you think it would be appropriate to do this at? Someone's wedding? Birthday party? Baby shower?