Jun 12, 2025, 4:17 PMHistorically, only dictators have a nation’s military march for a birthday. Historically. Or am I missing an example out there???
#TrumpFailArmy
- Jun 12, 2025, 4:17 PM
Replies
wibblewibble@urbanists.socialJun 12, 2025, 5:42 PM@lauxmyth Trooping the Colour springs to mind, and though that still goes on in places, it began in 1748, which seems historical enough.
It is, however, held on the King's "official", or bogus, birthday rather than the real one, and sometimes not even then, so might escape on a technicality.
Though some will argue (despite Magna Carta and the Division of Charles I) that a monarch is a dictator, so I guess it's a matter of taste.
- Jun 12, 2025, 8:40 PM
@wibble
True enough for 1748 and the English Crown. It has evolved and I would say not an autocratic royal house now. In fact, I find them a bit pathetic. (I would find them more pathetic if not for the wealth they control.) 
David Mitchell :CApride:DavidM_yeg@mstdn.caJun 12, 2025, 7:44 PMI grew up in the era of military dictators, military parades presented by oppressive regimes were a staple on the nightly news, presented as inimicable to liberal democracy. 🤔
- Jun 12, 2025, 8:38 PM
@DavidM_yeg
I would think we have all grown up in a time of dictatorships. I have spoken to people who grew up in the place and time — but I did not. Thinking back on my life, I can mention Cuba, Uganda, Soviet Union, China and know that is not close to a complete list. A military parade for the birthday of the supreme leader seems a benchmark of such states.If nobody in the US can tell Trump not to do this, then I would add there and now to the list of dictatorship states.
- David Mitchell :CApride:DavidM_yeg@mstdn.caJun 13, 2025, 12:08 AM
The line between authoritarian ruler and dictator is fuzzy, but just off the top of my head… the Philippines, Chile, Argentina, Romania, Cambodia, North Korea, Yugoslavia, Iraq, Iran, Ecuador, Bolivia, Egypt, Congo, Libya, Mali.
And yes, I’m afraid we may need to add the USA to that list.
- Jun 13, 2025, 1:38 AM
@DavidM_yeg
As I recall some historian* say, “A democracy can elect a dictator into power. The test of the dictatorship is the election after that.”*Not clear who to credit this paraphrase of the quote.