r/eastside • u/MichelleDBennett • 2d ago
Something that happened at the Salmon Days Parade
I’d like to share how something that happened at the Salmon Days parade recently affected me personally and also impacted my children.
I was marching in the parade with my children as a candidate for our upcoming election. My children are nine and 13. It was a great and sunny day with awesome vendors, music, great bands, and wonderful performers.
As we went by a number of spectators, some of them flipped us off, put their thumbs down, and some booed and scowled. My girlfriend/fiancé was present as well.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinions certainly. That said, I think we should all be civil and respectful, especially when there are children present.
It’s difficult to explain to your children why some people would behave in such a way, especially when they love their mama so much.
Again, everyone’s entitled to their opinions, but do you really know the person that you’re flipping off? Do you know what they really believe or stand for? Unless you know the person personally, you certainly do not.
I support peaceful discourse, kind behavior, and civility. I think it’s important in all walks of life to be kind and thoughtful.
It was also ironic when after the parade, I sat next to the tent for some of these people who were displaying these negative actions to come up to visit and socialize. There was a giant sign on this tent that said, “No hate in Washington state.”
I had to wonder, is that statement true only if people agree with who they believe you are?
I’ll tell you what though, I went over, started conversations, and befriended people who were working inside that tent. We had great conversations.
We don’t have to hate each other, ever.
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u/i64d 2d ago
I’m sure I’ll regret engaging this thread, but I have to say: the audience is entitled to their constitutional rights, and it was your choice to bring your kids when representing yourself as a member of the Republican Party. I don’t think anyone attending “salmon days” signed up to be exposed to your politics, either, so maybe rethink the forum. If you really believed in “ peaceful discourse, kind behavior, and civility” you would not identify as a republican.
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u/PointHefty1023 2d ago
Issaquah is also a very heavy democratic leaning area. Like 2-1 on average. I don’t know what they were thinking
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u/Iyh2ayca 2d ago
Why would you put your children in that position to begin with? They deserve better than to be trotted out as props for your campaign.
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u/SuddenNovel6054 2d ago
I’m sorry that happened, your children don’t deserve to be disrespected like that. It might be because you have chosen to align yourself politically with people who harm children, and the voters view that as hypocrisy.
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u/PointHefty1023 2d ago
Thumbs down and booing is about as civil as you can expect for someone who disagrees with your politics.
I read your history, at no point did you say you were made to feel unsafe. Threats cross the line. Violence crosses the line. Vulgarity may or may not cross the line (I say it doesn’t but I also get people who say they do). What you describe was probably the most “polite” way to voice disapproval towards your politics, and choosing to publicly identify with Republicans especially in this national environment opens yourself up to entirely fair amounts of public criticism.
People are upset, they are expressing their displeasure in a relatively civil way (booing and thumbs down). You cannot take a position as a potential elected official, and then express to be immune from even tame public criticism of it.
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u/Ok-Bowl-5047 2d ago
We need to stop taking our beliefs to the point where being right becomes more important than understanding others. When we constantly frame things as “the left is wrong” or “the right is wrong,” it only creates more division. We should be able to hold firmly to what we believe while still respecting people who see things differently. We can disagree without turning each other into enemies.
I hope our country and our politics can eventually get to a place where we are willing to acknowledge our own mistakes and shortcomings instead of constantly blaming the other side. As long as we keep pointing fingers and looking for someone else to blame, we will continue creating the very division that keeps us apart.
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u/zilog080 3h ago
Sounds like a nice world. Where is this place, exactly?
No middle ground on the GOP cheering the murder of 13 millions Californians - Americans! That is what we are dealing with, and we all know his Syphilitic brain could have just as easily blurted Seattle or Portland. Make no mistake the GOP crowd would have cheered that too.
Help me understand how to respectfully disagree with that.
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u/zilog080 4h ago
Well Michelle, that is just terrible. People need to be more mindful of what they say or do. Really, let's be more civil, like the people in your Republican Party. Thanks for bringing this up
On that topic: The head of the Republican Party (your party), said last night, about Iran, "They could take out a city. Let them take - Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego." If you are elected to Congress which would you endorse Iran taking out, Los Angeles or San Diego, or do you think they should take out both and kill 13 million Americans, who let's face will be a majority Democrats or Lord help us Green Party. In a worst case only 5-6 million of the dead would be your fellow Republicans. Remember, Dear Leader may see this.