• brewery@feddit.uk
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    23 hours ago

    Growing up in England but consuming so much US media, these things stand out to me as utterly bizarre when I first learned about it or saw it myself:

    1. The pledge of allegiance (reminds me of North Korea documentaries)
    2. Flags everywhere on houses (don’t you know what country you’re in??)
    3. Singing the national anthem before domestic sports matches
    4. Picture of George W. Bush on the wall of the immigration office on the border with Canada, when I first visited with family (everyone in the world knows what your president looks like. This just reminded me of the dictator of Turkmenistan plastered all over their airport on a stopover, and videos of Iraq)
    • DiarrheaSommelier@lemmy.ca
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      10 hours ago

      Canadian here, and I agree with the above.

      But don’t most government offices in the UK have a portrait of the sovereign up somewhere?

      • brewery@feddit.uk
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        8 hours ago

        There are a lot of things with the monarchy around but I don’t recall seeing a picture in many government offices in ransom offices, mostly central government ones or very traditional parts. Feels a bit different though. The USA is supposed to be a rejection of a monarchy.

    • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      18 hours ago

      I think all federal buildings in the US have a photo of the President (and also, likely, the cabinet member who is in charge of whatever bureau you’re in).

      It might vary by state, but state government building will also usually have a photo of the Governor of said state (chief executive).

      I’m not sure when that started… My guess would be either WW2, or Reagan

      • warbond@lemmy.world
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        16 hours ago

        Similarly, US military buildings often have the entire chain of command’s pictures posted, from the Commander in Chief down to the CO of that building