Quttlefish
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Tattered American flag, with a security camera on it. Symbol of the times?
Oct 10, 2013 1:52 AM
Quttlefish
13850
0
0
Ovalprocess
"The sun has fallen down
And the billboards are all leering
And the flags are all dead at the top of their poles"
joshmutiny
It's weird, because this showed up in my feed earlier:
emmayesicanteven
Land of the free and brave, all they do is vote and then whine about it, dont like the situation? do something about it
semirelatedcomments
Anybody else feel like the US could use a couple more parties to vote for? It would force politicians to actually deliver
EasterGunny
First world drama.
ForgetItJakeItsChinatown
Not for long lol
werbenjagermenjensen
Thought it was a giraffe with a cape from the thumbnail.
BigFatDan
Thank you for remembering the true meaning of imgur.
nandecatur
Looks like the beginning of a zombie movie...
wellarentyouspecial
That's... painfully accurate.
CaptainOtter407
All it's missing a dying eagle to bring me to tears.
FlubberBlubber
NSA be like, "Damn we thought we could hide behind this flag."
ButterfaceTaintClown
First world problems. Go and look at those posts on North Korea. Jeesh.
gnosti
This is like saying: Yeah my house is trashy but at least it's not a landfill. It's still filthy and if you don't clean, it WILL get worse.
Masonex
Oh the symbology...
bdpandaking
That flag is no longer fit for service and needs to be replaced.
meepsy
"The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way"
YESIfinallyFoundAsiteThatLetsMeHaveALongUsername
TIL. Freedom is depressed
btbias
Seeing this makes me sad for our country.
MyUsernameIsAlwaysIrrelevant
Slendypepper
You sir...made me spill soda all over my phone.
FellowshipOfTheBling
Is that from In Time?
YouCanFapTo90PercentOfMyFavorites
Batman begins
mnmayotte
Reverse?
PenisMcPenisface
Reminds me of 1984
BigFatDan
I love Van Halen.
tossingEwoksIntoLakesOfMethane
the david lee roth van halen, though, right?
BigFatDan
He was the lead singer when the album "MCMLXXXIV" came out. (that's the joke)
Darkslayerryuu
The symbolism is amazing here. So true to what is happening now.
TheBrightKday
Every country in the world has problems with it's government. I don't understand why problems in the US are being publicized so much.
mutuallyrepulsive
Because the US is pushing its surveillance on the entire world, making this a global issue. GB too, obviously.
TheBrightKday
Guess its just a matter of power then.
mutuallyrepulsive
What is?
lordsmish
No this is a symbol of the times: http://imgur.com/RkqSoej
rapdasian
Don't be so dramatic.- Sincerely, Africa.
thegr8rambino
but we must be!
lardown
As an African-American, I can't win...
Leninghola
You're not African-American, that term is offensive. You're black. Trust me, the internet told me this.
randomlex
Dude, Africa is like the most anonymous continent nowadays...
TacomanRic
I feel like the only people who care about the NSA are people on the internet
haikon
that's like... i mean i've seen people say meanwhile in country, but an entire continent? How, sir, did you get this noble position?
Housemaster
Probably since the rest of the world began placing "Africa" under the umbrella of where black people came from.
cthedon
As a South African, I concur.
al3xk4s
i 2nd that :)
wherearetheavos
I third that, as another South African.
Morebunnies
Africa? Like, the whole continent?
Blasfemur
No no, the song.
PZUU777
No no, the band.
LooseCannonSpock
Don't hurt yourself now, with all that thinking business and whatnot.
Rezol
No, just Egypt, actually. Since everybody's fine with calling the USA "America", why not use Africa as name for a single country? Oh wait.
FrostytheSnowcolt
Because white people aren't allowed to have problems ever. Now I need to save up for a second pair of pants.
MarcR1030
good guy Africa
Treebearded
I bless the rains down in Africaa
agdsglsjdfgkjds43542
freedom mother fucker
SnarkyScience
Other people being worse off is no excuse for refusing to better oneself.
FedericoAstica
But sometimes helps to put things in perspective.
Ninjafrog
Perspective is worthless when everything is relative. ;)
tperazza
Could not agree more.
Blergbot
I'm writing this down for later reflection.
DominicTheShark
TIL - Africa is a country
Reptarkitty
damn, africa
weissweissbaby
perfect.
Rikoshi
rainbowunicornkitten
what happened?
SirIlliterate
Hey, you guys wanna listen to some metal?
Thekingofbeans
I get the camera but the whole tattered bit, not so much. Any crisis is the worst crisis the nation has ever faced as long as it's current.
HardcastleMcCormack
Maybe a picture of a tattered constitution would be better
Thekingofbeans
That's a little melodramatic, don't you think?
uberRegenbogen
People died for us to have those rights. Should we moot that sacrifice by just sitting back and letting them be usurped?
Thekingofbeans
You can =/= you should
HardcastleMcCormack
I know other places "have it worse" blah blah blah but telling people not to get upset over an injustice is perpetuating it
Thekingofbeans
That's not my argument at all. My argument is that things are blown out of proportion. The NSA spying is a violation, but it won't win
HardcastleMcCormack
Well considering we're unlawfully monitored (4th) and put onto lists based on what groups we associate with (1st) I'd say no.
Thekingofbeans
That's not a violation of the 1st amendment.
HardcastleMcCormack
Freedom of association. It is a violation when that information is used to apprehend and interrogate "suspects" with no other evidence.
HowUnfortunate
This...this is our fucking country you guys.
Unburleevabultkkers
Not mine, I like in croatia
MySecondAccount
* This is fucking our country
uhCanadian
Not mine, Bitch! I'm just sitting here drinking syrup.
alansugar
What is? This photo?! Wow, you sure are deep, pal!
furryknickers
O Canadaaaaa!
magesinger
No its not. We've gone through some shit once in a while but honestly we've been better and we been worse.
Cammaster
It makes me sad.
AllIHaveHadTodayIsLikeSixGummyBearsAndSomeScotch
Maybe get angry instead?
Proudfoots
Well ten. The relevance of your username. Goddamn.
Proudfoots
then*
helloimrobin
No, it's not.
mrmcspicy
STREET SURVEILLANCE IS BAD! *brutal gang murder happens in that street* WE NEED STREET SURVEILLENCE!
tinycrocodile
OUR COUNTRY.
kbenn
I wish I had more downvotes for you.
HowUnfortunate
I wish I had more fucks to give.
ElderMaxson
Unfortunatly...I am the high President of America.
urseppos
Hope things turn out for the better for the Yanks as things are looking very bleak over there.
ericagxxxx
Shit makes me feel helpless
choosingAUsernameIsDifficult
Not mine...but Germany is barely better when surveillance is concerned...
WhatzitTooya
Compared to GB, we're pretty good. Over there is the land of the surveillance cameras...
choosingAUsernameIsDifficult
By surveillance I didn't mean cameras in the first place...
ChefHannibal
Pssst.. other countries have the Internet
danvolodar
No we actually don't. ...Wait a second...
jackbos
Well maybe you should uselessly whine about it and see if that takes care of the problem? No? Then do something. Vote. Give a shit.
thermobaric
If voting made a difference. They'd make it illegal.
Thesinlesssinner
Seriously your votes mean nothing. Money and big business run this fucking nation. To quote Bill Hick "YOU ARE FREE TO DO AS WE TELL YOU."
FLOWERPOWER1234
hahahaahahah voting... :c
LocutusOfBored
The Truth about Voting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igbBItLemsM
HowUnfortunate
Only 16 buddy, only so much I can do.
MoarWaffles
you must know/care so much as a 16 year old.
jweenypwee
Be the voice of reason to your buddies. Not stoner buddies, you'll quickly learn that their opinions are useless unless it comes to cheetos.
LocutusOfBored
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igbBItLemsM
jackbos
Oh all right. Two more years of passive-aggressive comments are permissible. But after that, go give a shit and vote.
Grapefruitspoon
Weren't you maybe a little bit annoying at 16? Give the kid a damn break.
Jrocket
What did he say that came off as annoying? Expressing how scary this reality is?
jackbos
Yeah, I was a shit. He's already way more rational than I was at that age.
ironwolf6896
I vote every time, and i am beginning to wonder how effective it is.
FLOWERPOWER1234
What can we do? besides voting..because thats just bullshit. I say we walk away from the government ..and just join together and
FLOWERPOWER1234
make our own communities
jackbos
We'll make our own government! One with blackjack and hookers!
TitzMcG33
It's not just enough to vote and that's why we have this problem. It takes effort to genuinely research this stuff to actually know who (1)
TitzMcG33
who, or what to vote for. Most people honestly aren't willing to put forth that effort. They gather their information from news clips, (2)
TitzMcG33
facebook articles and memes on Imgur/Reddit. A very small percentage of people have any clue what's going on. And until folks actually (3)
TitzMcG33
start doing their homework, voting is tantamount to blindly tossing a dart to choose a random candidate. (4)
IUseImgurToHelpAssociateVocabularyWordsWithPictures
Offer solutions, not problems.
ninmonkey
He's got 99 problems and complaining aint one.
MetalMil
Sue someone.
thiscannotpossiblygowrong
Or don't until the problem is fully discussed. http://lesswrong.com/lw/ka/hold_off_on_proposing_solutions/
IUseImgurToHelpAssociateVocabularyWordsWithPictures
This is probably the most rational response someone could present but I personally feel the worst part about our system is the lack of (1)
IUseImgurToHelpAssociateVocabularyWordsWithPictures
...support from our citizens. I do not mean to generalize and I base my opinion based on what I read on this site, but stick with your team!
thiscannotpossiblygowrong
Personally I worry about the whole idea that the world should be divided into teams. I'll admit the US is still pretty great to live in, but
FartyMcDumpstein
Let's play a game: Create an analogy from any inanimate object. Ready... GO!
BigFatDan
Today I saw a soda can with a bee on top of it. It was half empty: America.
hopethisisarelevantname
On my desk at work there is a cup of stale coffee. It is a symbol for the once active...shit, my boss is here.
jackbos
These cat pictures online. Each represents disdain that only felines understand. That's our populace. I weep for the republic.
ChefHannibal
This potato... this is our country. All those eyes: watching us...
Perkunas687
The situation now is a small group of dicks ruining the lives of everyone because they wanna ruin the lives of a few. Let's not exaggerate.
Perkunas687
If you're going to downvote, tell me how I'm wrong. Explain how Tea Party dipshits *aren't* f***ing it all up.
TBBs
the amount of people sanctimoniously dumping on America over some personal information recording when this was a known fact is too high
Dispari
Yeah there's way more to it. Like it being so much worse than we all thought, with layers of blatant lies. Also the current shutdown.
TBBs
just curious, how old are you?
Dispari
Just about 29.
TBBs
that being said, it's still despicable, but Reddit seems to be super proud of themselves because Snowden was a redditor.
TBBs
and even then, they're only using the smallest fraction you can think of for national security issues
TBBs
there's at least a semblance of attempting to show jurisprudence with courts and they're only collecting metadata from companies
TBBs
domestic spying has been an issue since well before the patriot act, dating back to FBI keeping files on individuals.
LawlessWalrus
Not trying to belittle the current state of things, but other countries are in much worse situations than the US.
CloudedPride
But constantly bashing NSA and the government and all that is fun! Right guys? Guys...?
eggmuffin
Of course. So because there will always be someone else worse off, we can never complain about anything, ever.
wellarentyouspecial
To be fair, people are generally concerned with problems in their own country before others.
LawlessWalrus
Oh, I completely understand. I do wish we could get our shit together, too.
APIBeast
Great we are comparing a 1. World Country with 3. World countries now?
uberRegenbogen
Side note: 1st/2nd/3rd-world are spheres of influence—not economic categories. (I was mistaken, too, 'till i looked it up.) ☻
SpankMyHairyAss
There will always be countries much worse than the U.S., that's a pretty deflated excuse
bluedos
well the difference is that you can't really compare the US to a third world country in the first place.
TheFeralDog
Most first world countries are far worse at spring on their own citizens. That is what he is saying not comparing to 3rd world
TheFeralDog
Spying*
kilroyishere
yes, but say a tree falls down in your yard, but a tree 3 times that size falls in a yard several hours away, which are you gonna care about
AcePritchett
Well to be as blunt as possible i state, i'm not in other countries, i'm in America, so the state of the American government is my concern.
TheTrueFreemo
Let's go to Somalia, everyone!!!
SnowWhiteQueen
Nah, man, North Korea is where it's at!
idkwtfimdoinghere
Other countries in worse situations doesn't make the US's issues worthless. Yes (1)
idkwtfimdoinghere
(2) what is happening in the US is terrible in it's own right, too. You can't discount ones issues because of another's.
linkskywalker14
Just because something is not the worst, does not mean it is not bad.
LawlessWalrus
Since when did I say anything about it not being bad? I've done my fair share of complaining about it, but how much is enough?
linkskywalker14
It's also worthy to note that America is powerful enough that it's worse for the world when we're bad, than it is when, say, Somalia is. 1/X
linkskywalker14
Of course, that matters little to the people who have suffered because of countries where evil is even more prevalent than in America 2/X
linkskywalker14
But because of our power, our evil becomes more widespread more easily. As a member of the exclusive "first world" club, our evil... 3/X
linkskywalker14
might be viewed as inevitable. "Even the best places in the world to live disregard their citizens rights." (140 characters is so few). 4/X
LawlessWalrus
That was quite well put, really. I fully agree that our size affects our influence, but this serves as propaganda more than a call to act.
eyemgur
Just because others are worse doesn't make this false though.
vgfnjs
Yes. I am reading about the Sedition Act from WW1, where it was illegal to speak out against the war. History puts things in perspective
uberRegenbogen
¹⁄₂ So we should worry about them first? Oh wait; if we go down the shitter, we won't be any good to anyone.
uberRegenbogen
²⁄₂ You know how, on airliners, they tell you, in the event of cabin depressurisation, to put the air mask on yourself before your child?
uberRegenbogen
³⁄₂ Oh; i forgot about that a number of other countries' problems are related to the high-level corruption that's running the USA aground.
Azated
Remember, african children don't get to eat mcdonalds, so you can go starve your ass in my basement while africans starve in the sun.
dembonz00
Doesn't warrant an excuse for inaction. Founding fathers would disapprove of your shenanigans.
TBKU
Sure, but were certainly not the "best" country complaining about our first world problems anymore.
silrog
Still not funny when you consider where US and UK rank among the western countries these days. And where they used to be.
Mos2414
Not trying to belittle other countries, but I really don't give a fuck.
LawlessWalrus
And I'm saying this as an American. Most people aren't living in constant fear of murder and mutiny. Even in troubling times, we are stable.
Heisenberg4077
Unless they live in Detroit
fastdriver0
Things are not stable, Government is broke and shut down. The NSA is watching your every move like the old USSR. Police are bullies.
uberRegenbogen
Side note: the NSA are, of course, NOT shut down.
ToxicPineapple
This ^
HarryPotterGeek
1. I can say the exact opposite. In this great country, people die b/c they don't have insurance, kids go to bed hungry, etc. Yes, people
HarryPotterGeek
2. have it worse than we do but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be held to a higher standard due to our privilege. It could be worse,
HarryPotterGeek
3. but it SHOULD be better.
2flower
There's clusters of cameras on every corner in the center of London, I read.
rapdasian
Yes yes, we are the most watched city on the planet.
LawlessWalrus
Big Brother is watching.
Edgemerian
We're hoping we don't end up as one of those 'worse situation' countries.
sowetoninja
Not in terms of debt though...
TheFeralDog
Not what this picture is referring to, so irrelevant.
sowetoninja
Well I assumed that "the times" was party a reference to the gov shutdown. But I don;t see how privacy is any better than other countries.
MrBalloons
What is this, a measured and reasonable response? On the internet? I don't even...
LawlessWalrus
I have lost the ability to even, I just can't...
interstellarowl
Who gives a shit? We live here, this is our problem more glaring than what's going on elsewhere. Don't pull that. We need to take care of us
lolpirate
In lifeguarding they teach you to keep yourself safe before others, cause if you're rendered useless.. you double the problem.
gegh
America has on of the highest GNP in the world, which means you should have the money to fix everything that can be fixed with money.
Llama11amaduck
Yet we're trillions of dollars in debt; we're rapidly approaching default on our loans.
LokiKingOfJotunheim
Our government has been running a fiat currency scam for the last 50-60 yrs. They think printing more money will solve our economic woes...
uberRegenbogen
100 years. The ‘Federal’ ‘Reserve’ was created in 1913.
LokiKingOfJotunheim
Well technically we could say either 150 or 80 years ago. The first fiat currency was issued in 1861 and in 1933 when notes were no (1/2)
LokiKingOfJotunheim
longer redeemable in gold. So I was wrong. It wasn't until about 1976 I think that we officially turned to a pure fiat money system (2/2)
Sinosaur
Not giving significance to problems in your own country simply because "it's worse somewhere else" is how problems get worse.
LawlessWalrus
This dead horse has been beaten enough, though. Raising awareness/complaining can only go so far.
vgfnjs
It's also better elsewhere.....so maybe we should doubly not care!
JohnnyMnemonic
Problems bet worse when our Scumbag Steve politicians kick the can down the road instead of dealing with them.
ElGatoGordo
Yeah this is definitely an NSA camera that's pointed straight at your b-hole, not a privately owned security camera or anything...
Relsus
Shut up, Meg.
impulsivepassion
to the top, to the top!
TheDerpFace
I have a feeling people are really exaggerating about the cameras.. How else will they find criminals/rapists, etc.?
jackbos
The UK is the most CCTV observed nation on Earth. I don't see fascists taking over there, so I think we're good.
sixtwobravo
Yes, but you're all insufferably well-mannered in the UK. Here in the U.S., we've got real a**holes.
silrog
Yep. Friendly UK spying on Belgian telco and EU. Liberal UK taping data from foreign undersea cables. Everything is allright in the UK.
ImJustHereSoIDontGetFined
The camera in this picture is being used as a metaphor for government surveillance, which, in the US, comes in many forms.
piggypiglet
You're not looking very closely then!
HardcastleMcCormack
Tell that to David Miranda.
FenTigger
Uh oh, here come UKIP. You spoke too soon.
fixedpressman
Only a couple of steps behind the UK, following in DAD'S foot steps
DidItForScience
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/20/nsa-snowden-files-drives-destroyed-london
ardia
The UK is two swirls from going down the drain of human history.
piggypiglet
Agreed.
ScottishBiker
How?
mcshady
It seriously creeped me out how many cameras there were in the UK. Like I was being watched 24/7. I did not like it at ALL.
notmeplspls
90% are owned by private companies that likely only view their tapes if the need to
mcshady
90% of me doesnt really care. Someone is still taping my every move...
notmeplspls
SO EDGY
mcshady
Not... not really..... I just get uneasy when I feel like Im being watched...
ReasonablyUnattractive
You're not actually serious right?... Right?
jackbos
What part of my statement do you think it incorrect?
ReasonablyUnattractive
The part where you say that the UK is the most observed nation on earth and pass it off as anything but a form of fascism. That's terrifying
ReasonablyUnattractive
Anyway, enjoy your police state. I hope you have your papers on you.
StarrryNight
Umm so how is the UK a police state? And.. I don't have any "papers"
jackbos
Your instant comparison of whatever you don't like to fascism is an insult to everyone who actually suffered under real fascism.
shadowex3
go look up the bullshit they pull with ASBOs and tell me they aren't a police state.
ReasonablyUnattractive
Real fascism? Like fascism only came in one form and it started and stopped in 1945, right? Whew, I'm glad it's gone and unable to reappear.
lordconker
Fascism comes in many shapes and forms, and more importantly, it all starts small.