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

Chappell Roan
Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty Images

Chappell Roan Announces She's Leaving Talent Agency After CEO Is Named In Epstein Files

The United States Justice Department recently released risqué emails exchanged between a then-married Casey Wasserman and convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell and others sent to child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

The emails were contained in the files compiled during the investigation and indictment of both Maxwell and Epstein, her co-conspirator, registered sex offender and longtime friend of MAGA Republican President Donald Trump.

Keep ReadingShow less
Robert F Kennedy Jr.
C-SPAN

RFK Jr. Ripped After Giving Exteremely Telling Explanation For Why It's A 'Joy' To Work For Trump

Throughout his life, people who worked for or with MAGA Republican President Donald Trump got burned. Employees and contractors never got paid. Loyalty was repaid by being thrown under the bus to save his own skin.

The pattern continued into his public life. Members of Trump's first presidential administration were sacrificed and vilified to cover for Trump's failures and incompetence.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Piers Morgan and Megyn Kelly
Piers Morgan Uncensored

Megyn Kelly Claims 'Football Is Ours!' In Epic Tantrum Over Bad Bunny's Halftime Show

Far-right pundit Megyn Kelly had people shaking their heads after she threw a bonkers tantrum over Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show performance, declaring that "football is ours!" and that the Puerto Rican rapper performing in Spanish was “a middle finger to the rest of America.”

The rapper, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, delivered a largely Spanish-language show that has been hailed as a "love letter to Puerto Rico" and that drew from his latest album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, which won the Grammy for Album of the Year just a week ago.

Keep ReadingShow less
JB Pritzker; Donald Trump
Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images; Alex Wong/Getty Images

JB Pritzker Trolls Trump Hard By Hilariously Redacting White House Memo Urging Republicans Not To Panic

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker trolled President Donald Trump after the White House sent a memo to Republicans urging them not to panic ahead of the release of official economic data, which critics have accused officials of delaying to obscure the scope of the country''s economic downturn.

Layoffs surged in January, climbing to 108,435—the highest monthly total since 2009 and an increase of roughly 118 percent compared with the same time last year.

Keep ReadingShow less

People Describe The Fastest Divorces They've Ever Seen

"Happily Ever After" is a beautiful sentiment, but it's not the destiny for every couple.

In fact, some couples break up so quickly after getting married that some people wonder whether the happy couple married for love... or for a party.

Keep ReadingShow less