When I read that comment firstly, I was like, "There's no way it's helpful for anyone, as every child who knows at least 10 flags knows that's Russia." Then I read some comments at the bottom, and well... guess it helped some.
As a non-USian, I've never quite understood the obsession with the Red, White and Blue, and the Stars and Stripes: the North Korean flag (for instance) is Red, White and Blue, with a star (albeit, singular) and stripes. They're pretty common elements of flags!
Propaganda and Exceptionalism. I would expect nothing more from a country, claiming to be "the best country in the world", that's taught their children for decades to "pledge allegiance to the flag".
What nations had stars and stripes in 1777 when the USA adopted them? I think you'll find that the stars and stripes was the first flag born devoid of feudal, religious or merchant purposes. It was designed completely for and of enlightenment ideals and purposes and it was truly first on that front. Show some respect, just like your country almost definitely did when it eventually followed its example. And it was red white and blue because those are the contrasting colors they had laying around from repurposed british flags.
I too am a U.S. citizen. But I have respect for those who died under that flag, fighting for a country that's far from perfect. A country that's been built on the blood and bones of those people who have the courage to stand up against it's tyranny, as well as those who stood up for the freedom that said country promises us. The freedoms that are currently being trampled on by the same government that lauds it like it's the god damned holy grail. I'll respect the flag when it stands for something good. Right now the flag is no more that a piece of fabric, denoting a devotion to a political body that cares more about profits over the lives of it's people. I have no respect for that. But the Human lives that have been lost for the causes of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness for ALL people. For the pursuit of a country where we are ALL free, I'll pledge allegiance to Humanity. And I'll salute the dead long before I salute ANY flag until the day I die.
It still stands for those enlightenment ideas of a government for the people by the people. If it fails becuase of some clown it'll stand for a good try.
Americans have been tought since the first day they enter school that they are the best country in the world, a lot of schools have you do the pledge of aleigence every day as well. They shout about freedom but from the first time they were able to create a thought they have been indoctrinated to belive that america is infallible and perfect.
Sure a lot of countries have red white and blue stars and stripes, but I'd guess most of them adopted these elements sometime after the US established its first flag in 1777.
I figured most countries liked their flags. Canadians really like their maple leaf, the British like the Union Jack. Brazilians seem to like their flag. Is it a crime to like a flag?
Many countries with the Red+Blue+White colours and/or vertical stripes and similar palettes adopted them after French Revolution, as it was an inspiration for many liberal movements across all of Europe.
Then, there's Slavic Red+Blue+White pattern that first appeared in Russian Empire and took inspiration in Dutch flag, because Peter the Great (first Russian monarch crowned emperor) really liked Netherlands where he got his education. The 19th century Pan-Slavs took these colours after Russia because it was the only independent major slavic country at the time.
And then there's British Red+Blue+White that is a combination from English (White + Red) and Scottish (Blue + White) which was adopted as a palette in 17th century. It is a reason why some ex colonies of Britain have these colours, including America.
And yeah, there's nothing wrong with liking the flag, but imho some people attach to flag too much to the point where flag is viewed over the ideas it should symbolize.
"USian" Is such a stupid term 😭 words can have multiple meanings, you dont call citizens of the UAE "Uaians" or something, you call them Arabs because thats what they call themselves and the world calls them. Does that mean they claim to be the entire Arab ethnicity? No, in the same way quit intentionally complicating simple things, we know that we aren't the entirety of America, use context clues
You mean opportunity to be killed/brutally "arrested" by an ICE agent if you're not white? Or the opportunity to go bankrupt or die when you're in an accident? Or maybe the opportunity to be on the receiving end in a school shooting?
As “opportunity” is a pretty vague state of measurement, I’ve just taken some of the ones offering overall better life quality, better work compensation, business readiness and immigration pathways;
Germany
Switzerland
Luxembourg
New Zealand
Denmark
Sweden
Norway
Finland
lol, "opportunity" such as a terrible job market, unaffordable housing, bankruptcy due to medical costs, defunded social programs, student debt despite massive brain drain in academia plus all the struggles other countries are dealing with too
I guess if you know zero about other wealthy countries, then the US seems good in comparison to poor and wartorn ones
Man as an American, we have no right telling anyone their country sucks while we have people who aren't treated as equal, while we have a pedo in office.
Then you should see how our propaganda in Russia jumps between labeling Trump as our 'homie for life' and a 'mortal enemy' every fucking week, basically as often as he pulls a new shenanigan that has to do with Russia, EU or Ukraine. That's some Oceania vs Eastasia shit, and a lot of people do buy it.
"No dude, it's clearly russia who is evil, see we had treaties saying we shouldn't have gotten closer to their border but we ignored them, now that they responded to our provocation we call them bad!"
Typical abuser mentality, it's not the abuser who's wrong, it's the victim fighting back for once who is.
Just like in school where the bully has a free pass to make your life miserable, but the moment your dam bursts and you lash out, it's suddenly you who is the violent one
Us/eu: Anyway we losing our imperialist wars.. russia can we please buy your cheap oil again before we collapse?"
Russia: would be nice if you first fucked off with the whole nato trying to border us thing
Us/eu: anything for cheap oil!
to be an enemy of america is dangerous but to be a friend is fatal
Please for a love of god. You can still be communist without being Putin's useful idiot. If we're anti-imperialist but still support other genocidal states, we're really not going to get anywhere.
see we had treaties saying we shouldn't have gotten closer to
Show me, show me written document saying something like that. Coz the only thing you can point at is ruzzian side saying that's something like that happened, and nobody else agreeing with it.
I for example can point you to the document in Polish president archive, document saying that ruzzia doesn't have anything against Poland joining NATO , signed by Yeltsin.
So what is true, ruzzia saying there was oral argument, or ruzzia agreeing in writing to something opposite?
Why, just why those talking points have to be so fucking stupid? Can't you figure out something more complicated? It's getting boring to dismantle those
Not just pro-war. It's more of a meme at this point. It's used when someone unexpectedly speaks russian, does something stereotypical (like, eats borscht) etc.
It's nothing but natural. Russia is all they want: run by an imperialist old coot that drives war to whomever he wants to and takes whatever he's wants to for him and his friends, fully government controlled media that only says everything is going all right; dissenters, minorities and gays can be beated to death without consequences... Russia is the MAGA paradise.
"Misled" my Australian backside. You idiots voted for him. Twice. You allowed a system as broken as yours to continue. You don't get to claim innocence.
A common mistake a lot of people make (me included) is thinking that being honest about corruption is better than closeted about corruption so the former is acceptable.
Also yes, there is a difference otherwise neither party would care which side you vote and they wouldn't spend 240 years gerrymandering voting districts. Not to mention only one party is charging global tariffs right now, starting a new war causing prizes to skyrocket, and is the proud recipient of the Fifa Peace Prize.
For instance, directly abducting a foreign president from a country that starts with the letter V which is a world first and only instance. Also there's only one party that ever starts new wars.
If you're thinking about another country that involves the letters I and P, then too bad there's no difference, but that's precisely what half the voters on both sides also wanted. Can I now declare all American voters are just the same and there's no dofference?
Edit: To add, at least the American sphere of influence is dying now, which is one of the very few good things under Trump as I'm anti-imperialism.
Imperialism didn't start yesterday, the list is way longer, also about the abduction thing, just Because they did it directly without just funding a fascist paramilitary group to do it for them doesn't really change much.
The methods change but the purpose is the same, if i punched you directly instead of paying someone else to do it, the objective would still be the same, you wouldn't say i changed much.
About Palestine, since 1946ish the us and europe fully supported israel in it's apartheid colonial project, and today in it's accelerated genocide of the palestinians. If you were to ask each one of the us politicians, from trump to bernie sanders, they would all be zionists.
Both dems and reps are nothing more than the dogs of the bourgeoisie, for they directly act in their stead
Honestly? While I still think this is oversimplifying complex democratic institutions to a monolith, your point is very solid, both parties are answering to money and the rich, and I already believe billionaires should never exist and are a danger to humanity.
I know that r/vexillology is a work few know,... but common! If there are 10 flags every child in the world knows, France and Russia are 2 of them. Heck, they are more known worldwide than what the elephant means here.
Whats with the chronic hate towards Russia? Isn't the US, as usual, also waging a war right now? People act like Russia is some uniquely awful place where everyone is evil and nothing good ever happens.
Ooohh Russia evil how easy...how about USA is just a capitalist hellscape that supports Nazis and fascists to fight their proxy wars in it's own right without the help of Russia.
Because a lot of people don't like nuance and will probably cry "RUSSIAN BOT" or "Tankie" at me, Russia is also a capitalist hellscape. But blaming them removes responsibility from the US.
Edit: the downvotes confirm that people will bury their heads in the sand and block out any noise that doesn't align with the narratives that make them comfortable.
Exactly my point but there are too many people who don't like hearing this and want to blame Russia entirely for Trump. When the reality is that it is inherent in the US system.
Fascism is just the inevitable outcome of capitalism as it destroys itself. Russia hasn't made it worse, the US has done that itself. The US state and successive governments created the material conditions required to make Fascism thrive.
387
u/Ill-Dependent2976 19h ago
"misled" implies they were tricked and they didn't know and consent.