Today, the Union flag on the Bank of Scotland has been replaced with a red and black flag.
The red and black flag goes from bottom left to top right, with red on top and black on bottom.
The red is the red of the communist flag, and symbolises material equality, or the principle of “from each according to their abilities, to each according to their needs”. The black is the black of the anarchist flag, and symbolises social freedom, the freedom of each individual to do as they please so long as their actions don’t cause harm to others.
Together red and black symbolise libertarian communism. It goes diagonally as a negation of nationalism and a reaffirmation of internationalism.
Meanwhile, other than the heads up your own arseholes, noone cares
Cliff
Irony alert.
Tom
Hey Cliff.
I think I understand what you’re trying to communicate – you consider this effort to be ineffectual. You think the people who instigated it to be self-referential and insular. You appear to be suggesting that this effort is ‘a waste of time’. It’s difficult to be sure of exactly what you mean from the structure of the language in your single-line, inarticulate post.
These people should be applauded – this high-profile publicity stunt took courage and stealth.
Rose Sélavy
Haha, classic! Good gag, would have been a bunch of fun i’m sure!
Gabby
I assume you were absent from school the day that they covered the massive failings, the killings, the slaughter and the imprisonment in the USSR?
f*ck off and read The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksander Solzenhitsyn, then tell me you think it’s cool to go waving the communist flag. I’m pretty sure that anyone that was taken to the Stasi HQ in Berlin would disagree – I know I got the f*cking willies going there of my own volition. Grim place, and hey! Whadda ya know? It was the HQ of the secret Police in a Communist state.
God, you people – you’re all so full of empty, stupid rhetoric – “smash the state!!! Free teh wurkers” and the like. You just fill your little heads with empty, meaningless slogans, then parrot them out, thinking “Oh, we’re so awesome. We use long words and don’ give a shit that Stalin was a murdering despot”.
It’s great you’re all lacking in credibility and haven’t a prayer in getting elected to any office with any authority of power.
Jen
I’m neither an anarchist nor a communist, but I do know enough to realise that Stalin invented neither communism nor the red flag, and thus flying it does not imply support or approval of his regime. You realise, for example, that it is a long-time symbol (and anthem) of the British Labour party?
SpudTater
The Soviets had anarchists murdered, why the hell are you talking about anarchists here?
“haven’t a prayer in getting elected to any office with any authority of power.”
yeah, thats the whole point in anarchism, dumbass.
ConcernedCommenPerson
Jen, Anarchist-Communism =/= Communism
blah
Nice try Jen, but it would help if you knew what you were talking about. Anarchists were opposed to the Soviet Union. People like us fought for socialism against the Bolsheviks (see Kronstadt and the Ukraine). I see the uprising in Hungary 1956 as one of the most inspiring events of the last century. As Castoriadis put it: USSR – four words, four lies.
We want a democratic bottom-up society, the antithesis of the so-called communist states. By the way, a cursory look at anarchist ideas would tell you we don’t want to get elected.
Perhaps it’s you who needs to fuck off and read a book or two.
Mark
Everyone, for or against Anarchism, must understand its true philosophy. The individual’s right to personal freedom goes hand in hand with the simultaneous benefits of a social interaction.
Anarchists believe in equality at all levels and this applies, most of all,in establishing true communes, where all are equal and there is no hierarchy or leader – hence “an-archy”.
In human history, any organisation that develops a leadership and administrative hierarchy is, in the anarchist’s view, an oppressive power structure that inevitably becomes the cause of social division and thereby leads to the enslavement of the individual. Anarchism is therefore true communism with a small “c”, as opposed to Communism witha large “C”.
Thus, the following “hierarchies” are, in the Anarchists’ view, the cause of inequality, strife and injustice throughout the world and human history:
Monarchies, democracies, dictatorships, tribes, Communist regimes and any other form of “ruling hierarchy”. Furthermore, the tools of such regimes all perpetuate the hierarchical power over the individual – laws, taxation, police, army, prisons, wars, elections and so on.
Thus, the anarchist philosophy, in support of individual freedom expressed through small, but interacting communes, cannot be countered by citing Stalin’s (“Communist”)excesses against the Russian people, nor can it be replaced by other groups, such as the Anti-facists or extreme left-wing groups.
Above all else, anarchists must be strictly NON-VIOLENT in pursuit of its aims. The Anarchist sees all those that oppose his/her philosophy as those who are ignorant of true anarchist principles and who, therefore, must be persuaded by open debate or better still, the example of individual anarchist communes that are successful and in which all members both thrive individually and collectively.
The power and logic of Anarchism has no need of advancement through violence or hatred, but can only be truly expressed by non-violent, but committed, persuasion.
Joseph
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhWq6h968AM
Haven’t added the link to this video yet, the police prove less able to remove a flag in daylight than “persons unknown” were at getting it up in the middle of the night.
stanleymilgram
Isnt anarchism against all form of organised politics? Why the fuck do you always align yourselves with the left. Both sides are as bad, controling and exploitive as each other. Dont align yourselves. Then again you,ve probably got a hidden agenda like the rest of the cunts
James from berwick
Who is aligning themselves with the left?
Anarchists think equality cannot be acheived through the ballot box and are against formal leadership, this is true, but they aren’t against being organised and fighting struggles through being organised.
blah
Also that bollox about being non violent to secure your aims, by joseph (post above). Bollox to that. Kick off at every oppertunity as thats the only thing the cunts in power will listen to. Walking around with banners or getting another wanky petition that the politicians will use to light there cigars will get you fucking knowhere. Want peace? Prepare for war
James from berwick
I agree with this.
blah
I think this tunt is pretty cool, but in my oppinion you are not different from anybody else, especially ones you fight against! Red and Black also symbolise aggression, which I dont see as good example to follow. Essentially you driven by the same powertrip!
Martin