Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People From Around The World Break Down Their Nation's Greatest Shame

People From Around The World Break Down Their Nation's Greatest Shame
Anna Church on Unsplash

The citizens of most countries are quick to boast about their country and tout their patriotism.

Few, however, are willing to acknowledge some of the things they are embarrassed about regarding their homeland.

Many would never volunteer that information unless asked directly.


Fortunately for us, people came forward and admitted some of their country's faults when Redditor frodesu asked:

"What is your nation's biggest shame?"

When it comes to constructing something, these nations seemed to have an open-ended date.

Slow Progress

"In Romania, they took 11 years to make one km of a highway."

– deivid_theboi32

"I live in the states and we have a freeway in my city they’ve been working on since 2001. It’s only half done and expected to be completed in 2029."

– PomPomdog

Waiting To Worship

"We took over 1000 years for a church."

– Random_German_Name

"Trust me when I say that Germany taking a 1,000 years to build a church is the least of your shame."

– spillledmilk

The Stadium In Progress

"We have been working on a NATIONAL STADIUM for 25000 people since 1987. Every now and then, a politician will mention that it will be completed by the end of the year."

"Simply google 'Lithuanian national disgrace.'"

– LogicalPrinciple6

Political leaders get major scrutiny.

Australian Prime Minister's Past

"Our PM sh**ting his pants at a Mcdonalds"

– Jackwahbe

Philippino Dictator

"Ex-President Dictator who holds the Guinness World of Record for Greatest Robbery of Government son will probably win the next election."

– ZoeWeird28

The Klepto President

"Czech Republic: During a live broadcast in Chile, our previous president stole a ceremonial pen."

– BeautifulBreaksalt

"You should see the video. It’s genuinely hilarious. He gives this little nod like he’s so f'kin’ clever."

https://youtu.be/dMoaJCd6qMk

"Just don’t Google czech president. We have some embarrassing ones."

– orincoro

People brought up things about Ireland the denizens weren't very proud of.

How Unmarried Mothers Were Treated

"Ireland, the Treatment of unmarried mothers, they were put in church run institutions against their will and forced to work, their children were put up for adoption."

– torqers

Irish Psych Ward

"The Magdalene Laundries."

– FrostyGrotto

"Never heard of Magdalene Laundries until I read an article about how Sinead ‘O Connor spoke up about how she was sent there as a teen. She got a lot of shit when she tore up a picture of the pope on SNL in protest against their abuse. She was right though."

– xOogieBoogey30

People discuss the sad histories of these nations.

Cambodia

"My parents nationality... The Khmer Empire.."

"The Khmer Rouge really f'ked up the country. Cambodia went from being a pretty decent country to downright f'king poverty at one point. It's gotten better but most of the traditions and other practices are either forgotten or just rarely taught."

– vedrahh

Exploitation

"Our second monarch (Leopold II) used the Free Congo State as private property, enslaving, torturing, and killing 10 million Congolese people over the course of 25 years."

– WasternCandid

As outsiders, it's interesting to observe the specific aspects of a country we're unaware of.

The negative examples provided by the Redditors above showed there is always another side to a nation.

And while some nations have shameful history and governments that are perceived as worse than others, all countries have their imperfections.

It's in how much a nation is willing to make improvements for the good of the people that places them above the rest.

Want to "know" more?

Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

Never miss another big, odd, funny or heartbreaking moment again.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

G-Dragon
Han Myung-Gu/WireImage/Getty Images

K-Pop Star Sparks Controversy After Wearing Shirt With Dutch Racial Slur On It During Show

On May 2, K-Pop group BigBang member G-Dragon, also known professionally as Kwon Ji-yong, performed at K-SPARK in Macau wearing a shirt with an anti-Black racial slur, written in Dutch, on the back.

The shirt also featured an offensive caricature of a Black person on the front.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Todd Blanche
Meet the Press

Acting Attorney General Gets Blunt Reality Check After Making Bizarre 'Restaurant' Analogy In Defense Of Voter ID

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche had people raising their eyebrows after he defended voter ID restrictions by attempting to bring up a real-world scenario in which people have to show their IDs... going inside restaurants.

Blanche was speaking to Kristen Welker on Meet the Press when he argued that attention should shift away from criticism of Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices for weakening the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and toward what he framed as the more pressing issue of voter ID requirements.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Trump Dragged For Not Understanding How The Game Uno Works In Cringey Meme About Iran War Negotiations

President Donald Trump was dragged online after he shared an image of himself holding a bunch of Uno cards to brag about holding "all the cards" in Iran war negotiations, only to be called out for not understanding how playing the game actually works.

Trump’s post came as Iran put forward a new proposal to end the war, reportedly demanding that the U.S. lift sanctions, end its blockade, withdraw military forces from the region, and halt hostilities—including Israel’s operations in Lebanon—according to Iranian outlets with close ties to the country’s security establishment.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump; The Mandalorian
Alex Brandon/Pool/Getty Images; Disney+

White House Celebrates May The 4th With AI Image Of Trump As The Mandalorian—And 'Star Wars' Fans Are Livid

The White House was called out after it commemorated Star Wars Day by sharing an AI-generated image of President Donald Trump as the Mandalorian, sparking backlash from Star Wars fans.

The image depicts Trump as the armored protagonist of The Mandalorian, accompanied by the alien child and Jedi apprentice Grogu—better known to many fans as “Baby Yoda”—while carrying an American flag.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tucker Carlson; Lulu Garcia-Navarro
The Interview/New York Times

'New York Times' Hits Tucker Carlson With The Awkward Receipts After He Denies Calling Trump 'The Antichrist'

Former Fox News talking head Tucker Carlson sat down with journalist Lulu Garcia-Navarro for a deep dive for The New York Times podcast The Interview. Garcia-Navarro used the opportunity to ask Carlson about his split with MAGA Republican President Donald Trump.

Carlson had been critical of Trump over his Iran war, Trump's increasingly unhinged rhetoric, and the infamous meme Trump posted, then deleted, depicting himself as Jesus Christ.

Keep ReadingShow less