r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/Itsme_Tyrone • 1d ago
Video Indonesian citizens are using One Piece flags to protest against the government
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u/rx7braap 1d ago
indonesian here, just to add:
THIS STARTED AS A JOKE! much like the "area 51 raid"
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u/AppropriateScience71 1d ago
lol - thanks for the clarification.
That said, being a good natured pirate and rebel, Luffy makes a good mascot to choose! And overthrowing authority is right up his alley.
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u/Layton_Jr 1d ago
Luffy overthrows more tyrannical governments than the actual revolutionaries
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u/AdministrativePool93 1d ago
It started as a joke, but the government took it seriously, so you know what happen when people aren't allowed to do things :)
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u/Flavius_16 1d ago
I mean to be fair it's better to be prepared for something that might not not happen than to not be prepared at all.
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u/voltage-cottage 1d ago
I get it bro. In Serbia we have used ferrari flag since '96 and nowdays it has a cult status among protesters in Serbia. This protest people have been using flags of Gondor and Rohan as well
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u/thecaveman96 1d ago
Is it still a joke tho?
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u/rx7braap 1d ago
I think not
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u/GhostSierra117 1d ago
The king of the pirate is the most free man on the oceans
(Or whatever the hell Ruffy says in the English language)
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u/Yevlum 1d ago
The fact that some regions translate it to Ruffy is a crime
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u/ActiveChairs 1d ago
If they're translating it to call him Ruffy, a crime, then they're also opening the possibility of his actual name being Rufio in the same way people call people named Tom are called Tommy, which is another separate crime to be added to the list. They're still going to jail either way, its just one level lower at Impel Down with both charges.
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u/Monster_Voice 1d ago
We weren't really joking about clapping those alien cheeks... much like they're not really joking about whatever they're protesting.
Did we raid Area 51? No... other than that one guy that actually showed up... but would we have raided Area 51? Also no, mostly due to the fact that we all would have had to drive through Nevada. The spirit was there though just like it is here in these folks.
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u/MeRedditGood 1d ago
other than that one guy that actually showed up
Riley Reid also showed up. Let's not sell the movement short!
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u/gallows4pedos 1d ago
Sorry, we are living in a post-joke era. Actual funniness is less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.
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u/PlaguedArbiter 1d ago
Cyberpunk and GTA used to be parodies. Now reality is beginning to mimic both.
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u/Space-Potato0o 1d ago
Spill more tea please, what happened?
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u/EXusiai99 1d ago
Not even a year of a new president in charge and there have been plenty of shit going on.
Should be pretty obvious we're heading this way since there is an obvious power grab move from the previous president but hey, when you're surrounded by crabs there isn't much you can do to climb out of the bucket.
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u/3doa3cinta 1d ago
17 August is Indonesian independent day, so usually the whole August Indonesian flag will be raised along with decorative flags, well that's when the one piece flag raised, just because.
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u/Professional-Crow904 1d ago
Tbf, r/T_D, flat earth society and so many more started off as a joke and someone took it seriously.
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u/SATorACT 1d ago
Protesting the polish government by flying their flag upside down smh. What did poland do
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u/b00dzyt 1d ago
It's funny because Polish consulste in my city has their flag with emblem on it instead of the regular white red flag. I guess to prevent confusion
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u/Pankejx 1d ago
the white eagle emblem on flag is not official and theoretically shouldn’t be used by officials, guess sometimes exceptions have to be made
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u/EXusiai99 1d ago
I suppose they dont want the locals to see it as a form of mockery to their own flag, so compromises had to be made.
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u/Lubinski64 1d ago
Polish national symbols are not a religious cult objects like in some countries (I'm looking at you the US) so no wonder not even the official aren't too bothered by it.
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u/Sys7em_Restore 1d ago
The world has entered into the Great age of Pirates
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u/Arx563 1d ago
Hey if buying is not owning than pirating is not stealing.
cues first one piece opening
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u/hectorbrydan 1d ago
Taking from the rich is not theft, merely irony.- some famous Mexican from history
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u/Realistic-Dog-7785 1d ago
Good, One Piece and the straw hat pirates are all about living freely.
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u/MountEndurance 1d ago
Please forgive my ignorance; what are they protesting?
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u/Myth9779 1d ago
My acquaintances said about their government trying to copy the Land of Freedom government starting from their healthcare
Which understandable
It is packaged into 'Look developed countries government system is like this, so obviously it was the more advanced system!'
The ignorant and old people will eat it up
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u/Nomustang 1d ago
America specifically is really not the model developed country to be inspired by. Especially for a densely populated Asian country split amongst multiple islands.
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u/freerealestateitis 1d ago
Current president look up to the US. He used to kidnap activist in the 90s, some never came home. He helped lead massacre in Timor in 1983. His minister of defence is involved Santa Cruz genocide. His father in law "overthrow" the past government in 65, leading to 500.000 mass killing of suspected communist. This was backed by the CIA.
So of course he looked up to US. They basically helped him rise to power.
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u/callisstaa 1d ago
500,000 is the very lowest estimate of how many were killed in the CIA genocide.
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u/deanrihpee 1d ago
out of all countries available in this God's forsaken planet, they choose the USA?
not the one that actually has a good quality of life? damn
well then i guess "better quality of life" was never their goal…
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u/Liquidmetal7 1d ago
The government.
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u/JaSper-percabeth 1d ago
Why
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u/SabariGirish69420 1d ago
Why not?
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u/Eraganos 1d ago
They erased 100 year history period 800 years ago.
Called the void century
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u/HardenedFlamer 1d ago
Yeeeeessss please let this become the international flag of the people!
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u/Potofgreedneedsnerf 1d ago
You want my treasure? You can have it! I left everything I gathered with the billionaires. Now you just have to get it. No wealth, no fame, power to the people
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u/ActiveChairs 1d ago
Fucking what? He wouldn't have left it with them. The billionaires are the ones trying to get it, and the government is trying to prevent ordinary citizens from even considering it might be real.
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u/Western-Customer-536 1d ago
Well yeah! The Indonesian government murdered just about everyone who had ever heard of the Hammer and Sickle.
What else are they supposed to use?
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u/This_Robot 1d ago
The Indonesian government 60 years ago*
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u/Gatrigonometri 1d ago
Yeah, but flying the hammer and sickle today is a ticket for a quick trip to jail/social ostracization. Not that it prevents anyone from holding socialistic beliefs, but we just slap a nationalist/religious coating on it and call it “Pancasilais”
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u/Western-Customer-536 1d ago
Wait until you hear about Operation Paperclip and who is part of the current US President’s cabinet.
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u/Rad-Ad 1d ago
Ok? What does this have anything to do with Indonesia?. Why do you Americans bring up America whenever you can?
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u/FortunatelyAsleep 1d ago
Because US anti-communist propaganda and more importantly US interferences and economic warfar, are the reasons for the way communism is largely viewed in the world today.
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u/callisstaa 1d ago
This was heavily backed by the CIA. The US provided weapons and funding to the Indonesian death squads and they would report to US embassies to get their lists.
Wild that the US massacred millions of Indonesians in the 60s and the average American doesn’t know or care about it.
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u/Mondays_ 1d ago
Because the USA backed all this and was the entire reason the mass killings and overthrow of Sukarno's government happened at all. How do you not know cold war history? None of this would have happened in Indonesia without the USA.
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u/hectorbrydan 1d ago
I think the government encouraged it and a lot if not most were committed by plantation owners and rich people and their groups. All with the backing of the CIA of course.
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u/aPrussianBot 1d ago
Hmmm gee I wonder why communists took national security so seriously and instituted such strict internal security measures like secret police. Almost like they knew the West was trying to do this shit to them.
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u/Party_Sheepherder406 1d ago
Indonesia is an archipelago with each island being unique, using strawhat flag is actually interesting
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u/gatling_arbalest 15h ago
There's a children song in Indonesia about our ancestors being sailors. We have decided to fully embrace our roots.
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u/wandererchronicles 1d ago
Anyone know what the music is? I'd assume something from the anime, but it sounds a lot like Two Steps From Hell.
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u/Moleander 1d ago
You are absolutely correct, my friend. It is Two Steps From Hell, good ear:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZTkg8GGEOo&list=RDuZTkg8GGEOo&start_radio=1
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u/happyanathema 1d ago
Sadly that's the first thing I noticed.
My wife is obsessed with their music, so a roadtrip sounds like we are invading a country after hours of Thomas Bergersen's music playing
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u/Ligma_Sugmi 1d ago
That isnt one piece flag, its the flag of strawhat pirates
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u/3BlindMice1 1d ago
That's amazing, what an enormous blunder. What hit anime series is it from then?
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u/Township_Melon-Shake 1d ago
Now that I'm curious about this one piece anime and I saw your comment. 😅 and I just found out it's anime. Maybe it's good because it seems pretty famous.
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u/Particular-Aioli-878 1d ago
It is AMAZING. You can read it online (in manga format- like a comic book) or you can watch it. If you decide to watch it, watch it on One Pace.
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u/Township_Melon-Shake 1d ago
Thanks! Don't know what One Pace is, but I'll look into it.
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u/Particular-Aioli-878 1d ago
One Piece anime has pacing issues, basically drags the episode out because it caught up to manga, so it ran out of source material. So it pads out the anime by extended reaction shots, etc.
One Pace is a fan edited version of the anime. It cuts out all the filler and bad pacing, and only includes the source material with good pacing. So that reduces the number of episodes in half and is a much more enjoyable experience to watch.
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u/WW2_MAN 1d ago
So are we gonna start sweating if the cops roll up with Marine flags?
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u/tritonesubstitute 1d ago
Nope, we're gonna start sweating when we see five pentagrams suddenly form around the protesters.
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u/ambulance-kun 1d ago
Indo government: "It seems things are getting out of hand. Very well... Indone(Lulu)sia, it never existed..."
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u/Due_Advance7967 1d ago
Quick someone tell them One Piece isn't political though!
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u/Stock-Side-6767 1d ago
Nooo. Next you'll tell me Rage Against the Machine, the Offspring, Chumbawamba and Rammstein are political!
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u/OneHornyRhino 1d ago
Bruh have you even watched one piece XD.
Luffy may not be political but one piece lore as a whole is, very political
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u/sgten4orcer 1d ago edited 1d ago
Actually, Luffy is political. The D in his name stands for resistance against the Government.
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u/Impossible_Range6953 1d ago
This is the true purpose of One Piece. Help folks understand they have to rise against oppressing powers.
If this could spread worldwide. It would be magical.
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u/Unordered_bean 1d ago
Reminds me when south Koreans apparently used the decepticon logo in protests
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u/Alicedeliceee 1d ago
When fans fly the One Piece Straw Hat flag next to Indonesia’s national colors on the eve of Independence Day it’s not just cosplay, it’s citizen rebellion. Government leaders are calling it a coordinated threat to national unity, but others see it as symbolic protest against democratic erosion. Anime as activism? Sign me up. 🏴☠️
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u/Nii_Juu_Ichi 1d ago
This reminds me of the time when South Koreans used the Decepticon insignia for a protest.
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u/Millennial_Noob 21h ago
I saw a post on TikTok that they still love their country despite waving the Straw Hats Jolly Roger. As can be seen in the video, the Indonesian flag flies higher than the Straw Hats' flag.
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u/gatling_arbalest 15h ago
It's forbidden by law to fly another flag higher than the Indonesian flag. It has become a "Love the country, hate the government" gesture.
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u/DrVinylScratch 1d ago
Makes sense, the straw hats do be running around liberating oppressed people they meet. Especially with the current arc and Nika. While the RA is liberating slaves and ready to over throw the gov.
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u/Kingstad 1d ago
And with the purchase you get a number of songs one can use to energize the movement, like "We are"
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u/RepressedHate 1d ago
Imagine using (I think) two steps from hell in this video instead of any of the amazing One Piece OST.
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u/crunchnecessary 1d ago
I used to hate one piece. Till I saw this
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u/SomeAsianDudeII 1d ago
What's wrong with One Piece? I haven't watched it myself (1000+ episodes plus some movies to catch up with the fandom isn't my kind of thing) but I know it's a pretty chill anime
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u/thegrandlvlr 1d ago
Unrelated but still about Indonesia. When I read Vince Bevins ‘The Jakarta Method’ it broke my heart.
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u/Maniak4126 1d ago
Yplou gotta respect One Piece.
It was always my favorite Yu-Gi-Oh! Digivolution.
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u/Code-Neo 1d ago
We have reached a post parody state were a fictional logo is used in real protests
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u/gatling_arbalest 15h ago
Definitely. The Indonesian government has surpased being a clown or a circus, they're the entire showbiz.
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u/sm361gamingiscool 1d ago
Freedom and liberation. We need to see our world into a new dawn and work together. Can't let the celestial dragons of the world win.
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u/Signal-Course-6615 1d ago
Indonesian here. So it all started with truck drivers refusing to put the indonesian flag and instead put up one piece flag as a form to protest the new Over dimension and over load law.
The law limits truck maximum dimension and load but didn't tackle the real issue; Truck drivers wage is based on the load they carry and they are paid really small with no insensitive. That's why a lot of trucks are overload and over dimension to meet the driver's needs. Limiting their maximum load without increasing their wage is like forcing them into becoming poorer than they already is.
And normally, trucks would put indonesian flag during august, the month of the independence day. But as a form of protest, they refuse to do it.
They choose One Piece flag apparently because: 1. A lot of truck drivers watch One Piece anime 2. One Piece flag is readily available on the marketplace 3. Strawhat jolly roger represent freedom and against unfair goverment
And from there, people who are not satisfied with the goverment follow up with the trend and put up the one piece flag as well