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?

The apathy shown in these comments towards the fact that innocent CHILDREN are being killed on a daily basis truly boggles the mind. If your day was ruined by someone waving a flag, then you need to take a long, hard look at yourself. This is reality. Some of us care. Just admit that you don’t, and you’d rather live in blissful ignorance without being reminded of the massacre that is taking place.

And to suggest that all Jews are offended by this kind of activism is antisemitic in itself. Give us some fucking credit. We are human beings too. No one is harming Jews more than Netanyahu.

I agree, @anythingbutlillies OP, I think it's the height of solipsism.

Oh I'm paying attention! I don't think you're reading back what you've written.

You do know this is a nuanced and complex issue? Nobody with any intelligence is going to take a stance on who's wrong and who's right here because doing so will make you look ill informed. All we know is that, as ever, innocent people pay the price of men, their religion and their warmongering. The whys and wherefores are beyond the average person, even if some of those people are convinced they have all the answers.

Absolutely agree

children killed while waiting for medical treatment I can’t find the words to express how cruel this is

I think everyone can agree on that. As I say, the victims are almost always the most weak and vulnerable. I can see how it's tempting to look for one side to blame but that is so divisive and unhelpful, it really plays into the hands of those with an interest in keeping this conflict going forever.

How far do you take it though?

Displaying a flag in your window, installing a flag pole in the garden, attaching flags to you, wearing a permanent flag on a t-shirt - hey, wouldn't want your neighbours or randoms in the supermarket to think you were APATHETIC?

What if I were to go to work in a t-shirt saying FUCK THE TORIES or FUCK REFORM - those are my views, should everyone have to know what those views are all the time? Should we all be forced to wear our identity and views like a badge?

Grow the fuck up and think on.

We have freedom of expression in this country that is hanging on by it's finger tips, if people want to stand up on that stage and made a statement about any of those things I support their right to do so, even if I don't agree with them.

Bet half of you hypocrites wouldn't have an issue if it was any of those things. The Islamaphobia on mumsnet is loud and clear. As always.

Id have an issue with expressing views on any of those things because it's not an appropriate time or place. A graduation is a formal event which celebrates the achievement of several people rather than just an individual.

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.

@hdksolxveu - “activists trying to make a small difference in the world”? Do you include all activists in this? The 7/7 bombers clearly thought they were doing a fine bit of activism. Strewth.

But you surely must see that there's a time and a place for most things. Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Are you joking? Mumsnet couldn’t be more anti semitic and anti Israel if it tried.

Terrorism isn't activism. Bizarre to compare waving a flag/attending a protest with killing thousands of people.

I suppose there's a time and place for certain things, but personally I think it's absolutely fine to wave a flag at a graduation ceremony.

Who said anything about TikTok? I've shared reports from the British Red Cross, the BBC, the Guardian, the UN, NBC and The Economist. Are all of these sources perpetrating lies and misinformation? What should I be reading if these are all inadequate sources of information?

And to be clear, every single criticism I have expressed is of Israel - its government and the IDF, and the war crimes they have committed. I have said nothing about Jewish people, and I completely refute any suggestion that criticism of Israel is antisemitic. I see far more criticism of Israel from Jewish people than support for it, both online and in real life.

Do you understand the difference between a flag and a bomb?

Students have always historically been at the forefront of activism. Maybe those Students are sick of watching the atrocities unfold in Gaza and feel the need to scream about it from the roof tops, I know I do.

I've been on demonstrations, I email my mp, I send money to charities helping, I try and spread awareness because I cannot just sit and watch it. All with the support of my government! Well not in my name and I expect those students feel the very same way.

Great word - New one for me thanks!

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

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

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

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.

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!

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.

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?