[Reporter’s Notebook] For the Party Convention to Be a Festival of Democracy... From Jeering to a Culture of Respect

"Please refrain from chanting the candidate number or name of any specific candidate."

"We ask that you avoid booing or disparaging any particular candidate."

During the past weekend, when the heat wave was at its peak, the regional tour primary for the Democratic Party’s August 17 Convention was filled with an atmosphere of passionate support as intense as the weather itself.

In a democratic society, a party convention is a festival where party members listen to each other's opinions and choose the future of the party. On site, some members voluntarily brought and shared cold barley tea, coffee beverages, iced water, and snacks, helping to create a festive mood.

However, not all scenes were so warm and harmonious. There were also plenty of moments that raised questions about our basic democratic order. The competition between supporters became excessive, escalating into booing and jeering aimed at rival candidates and their supporters.

Requests from the Central Election Commission of the party to maintain order continued throughout the day. Many party members and delegates followed the guidance, setting aside their cheering devices and listening attentively to the policy statements of the candidates.

However, some supporters did not comply with these requests, leading to conflicts and clashes with election officials, party staff, candidates, and rival supporters. In some cases, they booed and mocked during speeches of candidates they did not support, exchanging shouts and worsening the atmosphere inside the venue.

There was a clear reason why the election commission urged, "Please do not loudly chant the names of the candidates, for the sake of the candidates themselves." Excessive booing and overheated cheering can harm not only the image of the candidate they support but also the dignity of the party convention itself.

As a result, some supporters who repeatedly ignored the central commission's instructions were asked to leave. Outside the venue, cheering devices that had been banned from entry, as well as colorful balloons marked with candidate numbers and hand signs with names emblazoned on them, were left discarded on the ground.

The party convention serves as a showcase of the party’s level of democracy. It is only when rules are followed and a culture of respecting opponents takes root that the party convention can truly become a festival of democracy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.