Do you consider booing and catcalls appropriate or not? Why?
Our community always has a 4th of July parade. Among the various bands, floats, and Shriners in their little cars, Harley hogs, and flying carpets, just about every state and local politician for miles around finds a convertible to sit in and do the royal wave in response to cheering crowds. And then there are the “man of the people” types who stride along shaking hands with the adoring throng.
Those of you familiar with my posting history may realize that I am not exactly at the extreme of the right wing in most of my positions. Yet I find myself in the heart of heavily Republican DuPage County Illinois, with no less than Henry Hyde as my U.S. Rep.-for-life.
For years I have taken small pleasure in loudly booing Hyde and other selective pols as they drive or walk by. Last year, the missus asked me to stop. Not because it was inherently wrong, but because it would give our incredibly judgmental neighbors additional cause to think unfavorably of our family.
It seems to me that since the pols put themselves out there, essentially hoping for free publicity and an ego-stroke, they run the risk of legitimate dissenters expressing their disagreement in a public forum.
Putting myself in the reverse situation (Righty at a parade with Lefties) I would probably just keep quiet for a couple of reasons: It does no real good to boo (except maybe a little personal pleasure) and it draws attention to oneself.
Yeah, I’d just be quiet, just to keep the peace with your wife. I don’t think it’s inherently wrong and you’re right, it is a public place so yell your head off if you like!
I don’t care which side of the coin you fall on, it’s just disrespectful period. It says more about your own lack of manners than it does about your viewpoint towards the object of your calls.
If you want to display a dissenting opinion, you’re just as free to use the media and debate forums to do so. No need to upstage one jackass by being an even bigger one.
The then-mayor of Montreal rode in the pride parade one year. A squat had just ended in a nearby house, to dramatize what we may term his administration’s “do-jack-shit” approach to the severe Montreal housing crisis.
I was working my way backwards through the parade, taking pictures, and I happened fortuitously to pass both him and the squat building at the same time, so I shrieked “VIVE LE SQUAT D’OVERDALE!”
Svend Robinson was in the same parade, IIRC; naturally I cheered him. I think if politicians can get cheered, they can get booed. If I, as a politician, were in a parade, I wouldn’t be upset that someone booed me; I’d want to find out what I had done to deserve it.
A parade is for show. If a politician wants to be in a public show, then I think they run the risk of hearing what the public (that they allegedly represent) thinks of what kind of job they are doing in the public’s service. Yeah, voters can take out their ire in the polls, but if a politician wants to play the popularity game, then I don’t think it’s so out-of-bound to express your opinion in the only way most folks in the public can do so to their politicians in manner that politician can’t ignore.
Just like when Hillary Clinton thought she’d get the Jewish vote while running for Senator by riding in the Israel Day parade that spring, she heard first-hand what that particualr segment of her voting public felt about her. (I don’t think she’s shown up at that parade since then!)
This being said, I think goes without saying not to act like a jerk, particularly since your booing might have the opposite affect of what you wish to express. (“Look at what that jerk is yelling! I don’t believe jerks!”)
Dinsdale, out of the crowd, are you the only one booing? If so, I must salute your individualism. I went to a Houston Astros game, and a couple of rows down from me was the only person who seemed to be booing the Astros. His wife, seated next to him, almost curled into a fetal postion with embarrassment.
Well if booing sounds too boorish, you could chose the issue that bothers you the most about whichever politician it is, and yell out something about it. Like “You killed 6,000 civilians in Iraq!” or “Your vote means healthcare is only for the rich!”
I dunno, I think it’s bad manners. The parade setting is a time when I think good manners are important. Generally the parade is to celebrate something, for one thing, and there are often kids around.
I think under these circumstances it is more appropriate to do something quieter. Look away. Don’t clap. Perhaps mutter “Jackass” under your breath.
On the kids thing–it’s not that I think we should train our kids to be obedient little sheep. I think kids should learn about taking a stand and having political beliefs–but I don’t think they’re going to get that lesson from seeing an adult heckle a politician in a parade.
Maybe it’s because I live in Australia, but I’ve never seen a politician ride in a parade. (Then again, parades are reserved for victorious sporting teams, Christmas pageants, Anzac Day and to welcome home returning servicemen and women… in that order.)
If a pollie did dare ride in a parade, I’m sure they would be cheerfully booed by much of the crowd. This kind of wholesome disrespect for politicians is encouraged here.
Ooh, I thought of an exception. Some politicians have appeared at gay and lesbian mardi gras parades, but these are strictly cheering events.
Thumbs down here on booing at politicians in parades. Bad manners and childish. Even at a sporting event, I cheer my home team, not boo the other team.
My father was the only one who had the guts to ride in every parade within a 100 mile radius. He was booed, called names and more than one guy came out and spit on his car over the years. For the most part, he was applauded. (Side note, we once had a wacko with a shotgun circle our house one night. We had police patrols drive by hourly after that episode.)
My father was re-elected, with a good majority, every year until he retired. My brother lost his next election and left politics.
I say, boo til your lungs give out. Never phased dad. He would smile and wave and piss them off more.
I once asked my father about how he felt when people hassled him like that. He was blunt.
“That’s their right. They can vote me out anytime they want.”
Occasions like that are among the few times that you can let a politician know your opinion of him directly. Cheer if you think he’s a bad guy, and boo like a maniac if you hate his guts! Politicians of all people need to know what people think of them.
I remember when then Governor Pete Wilson came out for the opening ceremony at the first World Cup at the Rose Bowl back in 1994. Wilson had just spearheaded a very anti-immigrant initiative and he was walking into a crowd of around 90,000 people and I would think that 80,000 of those in attendance hated him (it was a Romania-Colombia game and I assume that the Romanian fans probably didn’t care about Wilson).
What better arena for the first amendment than in a public place where a politician is present?
A nice idea, perhaps, but I don’t think manners are really existant in any public place. Certainly not at parades- just sk the people who have to clean up the sidewalks afterwards.
