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

[anythingbutlillies]

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?

And stupid Greta Thunberg covering her face and refusing to watch footage of the 7th attacks because that wasn’t her “side”.

As I said, though, this is not about Palestine but about silly and immature students thinking it’s a great jape to disrupt a graduation.

Posters saying they’re “engaged politically” - poppycock! And they’d be “proud” if they were their child - yeah, right. Save your pride for when they actually do something decent.

What weapons are we supplying?

Which other countries to we supply arms to?

Are those arms not used to kill people?

The university does not make money from gowns and photos. These are provided by external suppliers. Most universities do not charge for tickets, either, and graduation costs them money rather than making it.

Some are well informed and engaged, but I suspect they're outnumbered by those who've heard a bit about an issue and now think they know all about it without much context.

My DD considers herself well informed, but she really isn't 😄 she went on a big rant the other day about the Supreme Court judgment on trans stuff and upon further questioning, didn't actually know if it had happened in the UK or US.

Not at graduation ceremonies they haven't.

Ok. So?

Don't be daft.
I've been on a number of pro-Palestinian marches and I've never seen any violence? Including towards the many Jewish groups that take part.
You're just agitating by trying to conflate pro-palestinian with anti-semitism.

F35 fighter jet parts and drone parts. Google it and inform yourself.

History not your strong point? 😂

Blimey. If we try to stop students protesting we really are in big trouble.

People really fucking need to stop telling Jewish people that antisemitism is all in their head.

Definitely being unreasonable can’t stand people with their heads in the sand

Actually it's the opposite

There's a time and place and a graduation ceremony isn't it. Hugely disrespectful to the institution, students, invited guests etc..

Hardly! Graduation ceremonies are normally really dull unless there is a really interesting Honorary Graduand. Parents/relatives are only interested in seeing their own child go up on stage. The ceremony wasn't disrupted or stopped by the actions of a few students.

@MellersSmellers - so this is your cause - you say you went on a march. If you have dcs I hope you won’t object to their events being hijacked by a person with their own “cause” - a school play, a wedding, their moment to speak at a debate etc etc.

You think a Jewish person being told their safety can't be guaranteed is being daft?

As a university lecturer I think this is exactly how students should use their graduation ceremony. It’s not everyone so it’s not selfish - hardly anyone ever does this. It’s rare. Maybe a little more common recently but I think it shows how much young people care. And it’s a way to bravely make a statement to a large crowd. I think if everyone was doing it it would lose its power and then they wouldn’t bother

Appalled at what the IsraeIi government is doing? Many Jews feel that way.

You said they had 🤷‍♀️

No I didn't.

No I'm not.
I was asking if I am being precious to be 'bothered' about the timing of their flag waving.

Based on my own experiences I've advised my son heading off to university in September to identify these self righteous virtue signaling idiots as early as possible (preferably during Freshers Week), avoid them like the plague during your time there but be prepared to return decades later for a reunion (only to discover they're still just as utterly insufferable as you remembered them).

Oh don’t worry, I have eDuCAteD myself.

Here’s hoping that with the increase in threat from Iran we don’t have to rely on Israeli intelligence to help thwart attacks in UK soil. Oh wait, will any attacks on us be Israel’s fault?

I find it interesting that so many people are adamant that being anti-Israel isn’t anti-Semitic when the OP’s child felt bad for their Jewish friend who was in the room with the Pro-Palestine grads. The only good Jew is the keffiyeh wearing Jew shouting “from the river to the sea”? Everyone knows what these chants, symbols & flags mean. You can say “It’s not anti-Semitic…” but when people are calling for the destruction of the only Jewish state it’s pretty difficult to square that circle. The person who would surely know would be the Jewish grad. How did they feel in that room confronted with that? Or does their opinion not matter because they’re not Israeli so they’ve just got to accept it without complaint? Do they just have to carry on with a resigned “No, it’s fine…” because we’re allowed to criticise the Israeli government and if anyone says “Ooh…that’s a bit anti-Semitic” you get shouted down with a “there you go again!! You can’t say anything about those genocidal maniacs without being accused of being anti-Semitic” followed by lots of emotive stuff rarely based in fact that generally includes tropes and blood libels galore.

All very predictable and none of it will stop the killing in Gaza, just like unfurling a flag at a graduation ceremony. How many people won’t be killed because of that self indulgent display? How many hostages will be released?

You can find more information on the arms trade with Israel here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9964/

Bear in mind that is a government source; it is not unbiased.

We do supply arms to other nations too, for example Ukraine. The Ukrainian government is not using those arms to perpetrate a genocide.