A group of veterans from the US armed forces burnt their uniforms in a show of solidarity with the airman Aaron Bushnell, who died after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington in a protest over the war in Gaza.Footage by Alissa Azar shows veterans lining up and taking turns to burn their military jackets at a vigil in Portland on February 28.A banner can be seen behind them, reading: “Veterans say: Free Palestine! Remember Aaron Bushnell.”The event was organized by the group About Face: Veterans Against the War, which told attendees to gather in front of the Wyatt Federal Building in Portland at 5 pm.Before setting himself on fire, Bushnell filmed himself saying he would “no longer be complicit in genocide". He then yelled “Free Palestine” several times as flames engulfed him. Credit: Alissa Azar via Storyful
  • Grayox@lemmy.ml
    1017·
    9 months ago

    Tankie has become shorthand for anyone who believes in Communism, Russia isn’t Communist China is.

    • assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world
      132·
      9 months ago

      I don’t know that I’d call them communist honestly. They have a pretty equal blend of capitalism and communism.

      • babypigeon@lemmy.world
        123·
        9 months ago

        There’s capitalism and communism in both, but first and foremost they’re dictatorships.

        • Count042@lemmy.ml
          5·
          9 months ago

          Russia is more capitalist then we are.

          I don’t see how you could say after ‘shock therapy’ that Russia is still a blend of communism in good faith.

          Like, I’m not trying to say Russia is a democracy, because obviously it isn’t, but the communist party is explicitly banned in Russia.

          • assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world
            6·
            9 months ago

            It’s quite understated just how much worse capitalism is in Russia. They have outright oligarchs, who make US CEOs look like equitable angels.

            You can use them as a litmus test for Western politicians who claim to be leftist. If they rail against domestic billionaires and corps but have no issue dining with Russian oligarchs, they’re just trying to trick you. Jill Stein is the foremost example that comes to mind.

    • Kedly@lemm.ee
      61·
      9 months ago

      Its shorthand for those who suck off Russia and China. If you are a communist who understands that those two countries are the exact opposite of ideals we should shoot for, you are not a Tankie