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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Could a peace wristband appeal to those feeling politically homeless?

112 replies

Whatnow777 · 28/06/2026 12:48

I think what happened on October 7th is disgusting and honestly my worst nightmare as a mother - if one of my children were captured and tortured like those hostages. I also hate the rise of anti-Semitism in this country. At the same time, I am pro-peace and do feel for those innocent people in Gaza. I’m also anti-Hamas and feel that the regime should be abolished, and I do not want Sharia law in this country.

I have met people wearing ‘Pro Palestine’ bracelets who are anti Istraeli/ anti Jew (I have spoken to said people) and that scares me. (I know it might not be all).

The reason why I am posting this now is I have noticed so many of these wristbands and nothing in support of the Jews, for everything they have gone through /are going through.

My thoughts are that there may be a vast number of people who share my views, who want Jews to be protected in this country, who do not want sharia law in our country, who oppose the extremist acts that have been perpetrated in this country against whoever, and who also wish for peace for both Israelis and Palestinians.

It feels like our voices are not heard because we are not ‘one-sided’ as such, but perhaps are one sided in terms of being against hate and terrorism.

AIBU to think a wristband centred on peace, humanity and opposition to extremism could resonate with people who feel politically homeless in the current debate.

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Whatnow777 · 28/06/2026 13:50

It was just an idea - perhaps not a great one, I know it wouldn't 'fix' anything as such. I just want to be clear, a wristband is not effective in a direct political sense. It does not change policy, stop conflict, or influence governments. Its impact is indirect. It works through visibility, conversation, and shared identity, like pro-Palestine bracelets, anti-war symbols, HIV awareness ribbons, and many other causes.

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GingerdeadMan · 28/06/2026 13:41

Whatnow777 · 28/06/2026 12:48

I think what happened on October 7th is disgusting and honestly my worst nightmare as a mother - if one of my children were captured and tortured like those hostages. I also hate the rise of anti-Semitism in this country. At the same time, I am pro-peace and do feel for those innocent people in Gaza. I’m also anti-Hamas and feel that the regime should be abolished, and I do not want Sharia law in this country.

I have met people wearing ‘Pro Palestine’ bracelets who are anti Istraeli/ anti Jew (I have spoken to said people) and that scares me. (I know it might not be all).

The reason why I am posting this now is I have noticed so many of these wristbands and nothing in support of the Jews, for everything they have gone through /are going through.

My thoughts are that there may be a vast number of people who share my views, who want Jews to be protected in this country, who do not want sharia law in our country, who oppose the extremist acts that have been perpetrated in this country against whoever, and who also wish for peace for both Israelis and Palestinians.

It feels like our voices are not heard because we are not ‘one-sided’ as such, but perhaps are one sided in terms of being against hate and terrorism.

AIBU to think a wristband centred on peace, humanity and opposition to extremism could resonate with people who feel politically homeless in the current debate.

Are you planning to sell them and this thread is market research?

I feel politically homeless but a wrist band isn't going to fix that .

Whatnow777 · 28/06/2026 13:40

madnessitellyou · 28/06/2026 13:36

I see someone with a pro-Palestine anything and I worry they might be antisemitic so I fear them.

I don’t think “oh look how supportive you are”. I feel fear.

Yes, I agree. I see them and I worry that they are used as a Jew hate symbol as there has been a lot of violence and hate speech from people wearing them. I also feel uncomfortable around people wearing them now as I care about the Jewish people feeling the way you describe

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outdamnhot · 28/06/2026 13:38

No, because the wispy voiced twats who sing ‘peace’ songs outside Barclays Bank everyday weekend where I live, because they want disinvestment in Israel so that it is economically weakened and can’t defend itself from the conglomeration of ME countries and terrorist groups who genuinely want to genocidally destroy it, remarkably think of themselves as peace activists, so would wear this band.

There is remarkably lack of critical thinking and self awareness from these people.

LuckyHazelFox · 28/06/2026 13:37

Pro Palestine protestors are OK to virtue signal but if Jewish support is offered it's called tokenism. Just as well those pro Palestine tokenistic badges were banned in the NHS. Do what you feel is right for you OP.

Whatnow777 · 28/06/2026 13:37

ruolocretaw · 28/06/2026 13:33

I'm afraid I don't see the point. It feels like a gimmick and a way for someone to make money on the back of tragedy. The way to support people is to make wise choices with your votes and to speak up when you disagree with something—though to be honest, I'd be careful about when I'd speak up, because too many people are absolutely nuts these days.

I wouldn't make money off it. Sorry if that wasn't clear!

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madnessitellyou · 28/06/2026 13:36

Whatnow777 · 28/06/2026 13:28

This is an interesting debate. Do all of you also feel the pro-Palestine bracelets are pointless and have not been effective for their cause?

I see someone with a pro-Palestine anything and I worry they might be antisemitic so I fear them.

I don’t think “oh look how supportive you are”. I feel fear.

ruolocretaw · 28/06/2026 13:33

I'm afraid I don't see the point. It feels like a gimmick and a way for someone to make money on the back of tragedy. The way to support people is to make wise choices with your votes and to speak up when you disagree with something—though to be honest, I'd be careful about when I'd speak up, because too many people are absolutely nuts these days.

Whatnow777 · 28/06/2026 13:28

This is an interesting debate. Do all of you also feel the pro-Palestine bracelets are pointless and have not been effective for their cause?

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Whatnow777 · 28/06/2026 13:27

Jellylasagnafortwo · 28/06/2026 13:23

So use your voice.

How are people using their voice though - as you often do not hear of support coming from that side of the debate. Maybe people are too scared to?

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Jellylasagnafortwo · 28/06/2026 13:23

Whatnow777 · 28/06/2026 13:13

I'm really sorry to hear that. I want a world where you can tell people. How can people best show support and condemn anti-Semitism?

So use your voice.

Whatnow777 · 28/06/2026 13:22

Thepeopleversuswork · 28/06/2026 13:19

I share your sentiment about the polarisation in UK politics and your disgust of the endemic antisemitism in parts of the left (alongside disgust with what the current Israeli government is doing in Gaza and Lebanon). A lot of people seem incapable of understanding the nuance involved.

But unfortunately I also agree that a bracelet will do very little to advance this and will, in the current context, be dismissed as “woke virtue signalling”.

Edited

Thank you, yeah, I can see how that could be the case. I wasn't set on it, just an idea really. I guess I am just getting tired of hearing 'the other side' feeling like we are just going along with things silently.

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KarenBroad · 28/06/2026 13:20

Whatnow777 · 28/06/2026 13:19

I can see why you are saying this, but I wasn't putting my visibility first, I was thinking of ways to show support for others

Tokenism. Ego driven tokenism.

OttersOnAPlane · 28/06/2026 13:19

I think a bracelet would be pointless to the degree it's insulting.

Attacks on synagogues, bomb threats, mass shooting of Jewish people across the world? Yeah, some latex wristband is not going to make a difference.

Speaking up, that's what matters. Connecting with our Jewish friends and neighbours, offering support and solidarity, letting them know we see antisemitism and we reject it - that seems more likely to help.

Thepeopleversuswork · 28/06/2026 13:19

I share your sentiment about the polarisation in UK politics and your disgust of the endemic antisemitism in parts of the left (alongside disgust with what the current Israeli government is doing in Gaza and Lebanon). A lot of people seem incapable of understanding the nuance involved.

But unfortunately I also agree that a bracelet will do very little to advance this and will, in the current context, be dismissed as “woke virtue signalling”.

Whatnow777 · 28/06/2026 13:19

KarenBroad · 28/06/2026 13:06

Lots of people have politically based negative fantasies at the moment, it’s an internet problem. People believe lies and jump on any trend that gives them victim status. I’d try to do something genuinely helpful instead. Do some volunteer work. Think of others rather than your own ‘ visibility’.

I can see why you are saying this, but I wasn't putting my visibility first, I was thinking of ways to show support for others

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Whatnow777 · 28/06/2026 13:17

madnessitellyou · 28/06/2026 13:11

So @Whatnow777 what have you actually done when you’ve heard people being antisemitic?

I've personally not heard anyone directly saying anything antisemitic in front of me. I have said to acquaintances who wear the 'pro Palestine' bands that I think its terribile what happened on October 7th, as well as innocent people in Gaza. But I fear, form responses, a lot of the time it's very one-sided, and blind to the Jews treatment. I will bring my daughter up to respect Jews, and if I did have someone openly speak hatred, I would say something.

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Whatnow777 · 28/06/2026 13:13

madnessitellyou · 28/06/2026 13:10

Op you’ve missed the point of my post.

I am Jewish. I personally have been subjected to antisemitic sentiment throughout my entire life. In every single setting. These days I don’t tell people I don’t know that I’m Jewish.

I'm really sorry to hear that. I want a world where you can tell people. How can people best show support and condemn anti-Semitism?

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madnessitellyou · 28/06/2026 13:11

So @Whatnow777 what have you actually done when you’ve heard people being antisemitic?

madnessitellyou · 28/06/2026 13:10

Whatnow777 · 28/06/2026 13:06

It's not about a bracelet though is it, it's about showing support in some way. There are many other ways too, like speaking out when you see/ hear antisemitism

Op you’ve missed the point of my post.

I am Jewish. I personally have been subjected to antisemitic sentiment throughout my entire life. In every single setting. These days I don’t tell people I don’t know that I’m Jewish.

Swiftie1878 · 28/06/2026 13:09

Whatnow777 · 28/06/2026 13:00

I don't know about that, I have a Jewish friend who said they would welcome some sort of pro-peace signalling as they feel very forgotten and unwanted in this country

I think that’s a problem that a bracelet won’t solve.

Whatnow777 · 28/06/2026 13:07

Are you all anti peace symbol too?

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KarenBroad · 28/06/2026 13:06

Whatnow777 · 28/06/2026 13:00

I don't know about that, I have a Jewish friend who said they would welcome some sort of pro-peace signalling as they feel very forgotten and unwanted in this country

Lots of people have politically based negative fantasies at the moment, it’s an internet problem. People believe lies and jump on any trend that gives them victim status. I’d try to do something genuinely helpful instead. Do some volunteer work. Think of others rather than your own ‘ visibility’.

Whatnow777 · 28/06/2026 13:06

madnessitellyou · 28/06/2026 13:04

47 years of being subjected to antisemitism.

Yes. A bracelet is what is needed.

It's not about a bracelet though is it, it's about showing support in some way. There are many other ways too, like speaking out when you see/ hear antisemitism

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madnessitellyou · 28/06/2026 13:06

Whatnow777 · 28/06/2026 13:05

Yes, you're right, it would be appropriate for funds to go to Red Cross for that sort of thing

The Red Cross?