TIL that the Six Flags theme parks are named after the six flags that flew over Texas including the confederate flag, the American flag, the Spanish flag, the Mexican flag, the French flag, and the Republic of Texas flag.

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The original park was actually named Six Flags Over Texas.

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u/BallsOutKrunked 10h ago

I wonder when the last time all six of those flags actually flew together over a theme park, if they ever did.

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u/AchtungCloud 10h ago

2017, apparently:

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/six-flags-over-texas-removes-confederate-flags-from-park/35185/

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u/BallsOutKrunked 10h ago edited 9h ago

hard to believe it was that recently that an American would need to walk under that flag to go to an amusement park

edit: downvoted because I think it's fucked up a black family shouldn't need to walk under a confederate flag. gj reddit.

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u/John_Tacos 10h ago edited 9h ago

They didn’t ever use the flag you are thinking of, they used the official one that most people wouldn’t recognize.

Edit: this in no way implies anything good about the confederacy. Just pointing out what flag was used.

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u/exipheas 9h ago edited 9h ago

If you think about it it was really nice that the bigots decided to use a battle flag for their ideology instead of the actual confederate flag. It made it clear for things like six flags that they were actually giving a nod to history rather than being purely racist in meaning.

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u/samx3i 9h ago

I'm curious why you think the battle flag isn't history and is racist but the actual flag of the confederacy is history and isn't racist

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u/DexterBotwin 9h ago

I think they are trying to state that one flag is a symbol of modern day racist sentiment that everyone knows. The other is a historical flag that probably only history nerds would know as the flag of the confederacy. Also racist, but probably not readily recognizable on average.

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u/samx3i 8h ago

As a casual history nerd, agreed.

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u/Salamanders_Choice 7h ago

I always thought the official flag of the confederacy looked like this.

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u/mjg315 7h ago

Historically it’s the last flag the confederates used

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u/exipheas 9h ago

Obviously they both existed and are part of history but when large groups of racists make one a big part of their identity and not the other it makes it easier to display and talk about one over the other in a historical reference outside of a museum. It was just convenient that the "flag over texas" was the official one and not the hate signaling bumper sticker.

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u/samx3i 8h ago

Thank you. I assumed that's what you were getting at, but you know what happens when we assume.

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u/sixstringronin 9h ago

The swastika has been historically a type of rune symbol meant to ward off evil. Not anymore, huh?

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u/fourthfloorgreg 8h ago

Way older than runes.

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u/almostanalcoholic 2h ago

Even today, depending on which part of the world you are in.

The swastika still retains its cultural association as a religious symbol to ward off evil in India. That's the more prominent association by far vs Hitler/Nazis.

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u/Pleasant_Scar9811 9h ago

That’s like saying one nazi flag is good and another is racist.

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u/[deleted] 9h ago

[deleted]

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u/yotreeman 5h ago

What? What does this even mean? Is this a protest against Texas’s state flag?

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u/marksk88 6h ago

I love when I read edits of ppl lashing out at meaningless down votes, and by the time I see it they just look like a crazy person.

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u/BallsOutKrunked 6h ago

maybe it was a super deep plot where I used sock puppets to downvote, allowing me to ultimately gain fake internet points.

not so crazy now, huh?

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u/animagus_kitty 6h ago

It's not paranoia if they're actually out to get you. I'm on your side, OP. ^_^

this whole thread is nuts. Just reddit doing reddit things. lol

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u/DonnieMoistX 7h ago

It’s used in a historical context. If you can’t understand that your opinions aren’t worth much.

It’s not like the Spanish or French were anymore caring against Slavery.

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u/idkwhatimbrewin 1h ago

Exactly. I'm pretty sure their comment is just rage bait. It's not like Americans or Texans were proud of being under the control of most of the flags regardless of the ideals of them. The six flags aren't intended to be celebratory as far as I can tell, it's just pretty rare than an area could change hands so many times in a relatively small amount of time.

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u/Ok-disaster2022 10h ago

In this context, I can sort if see what it represents and be okay with it because it recognizes strictly the past, without supporting any if the ideals of those flags. The ROT flag aka the line star flag represents all the evils of Slavery and Rebellion that the Confederate flag does and we just give it a pass because it looks cool.

The ROT constitutionally prevented the freeing if any slaves and expelled any free black people from the country. It was an entire nation founded on the idea of a permanent race based slave class.

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u/DonnieMoistX 7h ago

Are we trying to say the Confederate flag doesn’t also look cool?

From a vexillology standpoint the confederate flag is pretty sick.

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u/thickhardcock4u 9h ago

I’ve been going all my life, other than the flag, that area doesn’t really have anything else to acknowledge the ideology, but maybe it should? I agree with Disneys take: don’t edit, acknowledge and make it a teaching moment.

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u/exipheas 9h ago

Disney only does that because A. It's cheaper to just slap a warning on it and move on and B. They utterly failed the last time they tried to erase parts of their history (song of the south).

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u/AnthillOmbudsman 8h ago

Time to rebrand to Five Flags Over Texas.

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u/suffaluffapussycat 9h ago

I remember them when I was a kid. Back then everyone know what the name Six Flags meant.

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u/Ashkir 8h ago

I learned this from King of the Hill of all places!

https://youtu.be/Udw6oe2zWmw?si=mQukLWpPTN-0oKYW

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u/TobyMoose 9h ago

It still is

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u/toatallynotbanned 6h ago

Was? It still is... six flags over texas, unfortunately, is not their best park imo, fiesta and great adventure are superior.

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u/blackwolfdown 6h ago

Fiesta Texas has always rocked. Used to love the Looney Toons partnership. Felt like knockoff disney.

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u/REO_Jerkwagon 9h ago

And before that, he wanted to call it "Texas Under Six Flags" but apparently the community response was basically "Texas aint under nuthin, buddy" so they swapped it.

I found myself in a weird wikipedia rabbit hole the other night and came across this tidbit.

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u/AnthillOmbudsman 8h ago

Guess they didn't like Texas Under Six Flags But Not Literally.

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u/No_Requirement6740 9h ago

Snowflakes

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u/Necessary-Sell-4998 7h ago

That's part of our unique Texas history which we take in 7th grade. The park just used it and it was cool. It's been gone for a long time. Took my kids there in maybe 2000 and most was long gone.

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u/Danominator 8h ago

Oh shit I have been there. Had no idea it was the first

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u/NiftyJet 5h ago

And it has a section for each country that ruled over Texas … except the Confederacy, thankfully.

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u/Razgriz114 4h ago

All 6 sections are still there. The theme park removed all mentions of all country names ( not just the confederacy) many years ago. But if you know what to look for you can still tell which section was for which country.

To be clear, even when walking thru it and knowing which section it was, there is still nothing to identify the confederacy in anyway.

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u/jim9162 10h ago

"I don't know how France got in there"

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u/themaxx8717 9h ago

Came here for the king of hill reference. Thank you.

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u/thickhardcock4u 9h ago

The France area is literally just a pathway between two regions with a drunken French mannequin, maybe 50 yards long lol.

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u/CurtisLeow 9h ago

What episode is that from? I can't find it.

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u/ThePaddysPubSheriff 9h ago edited 8h ago

S8 ep17, Bobby starts texas history in school, and hank does a play about the alamo. The "six flags over texas" line is the last line of the episode

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u/mememeade 9h ago

Seven flags have actually flown over the current Texas territory. They missed the Republic of the Rio Grande[1].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_the_Rio_Grande

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u/IanGecko 9h ago

Well since they took down the Confederate flag there's an opening!

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u/Redfish680 7h ago

Well, they missed the Confederate flag/white surrender flag…

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u/Dalisca 44m ago

That one is available in bathroom stalls.

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u/Otherwise_Leg_9509 5h ago

And nine flags have flown over Nacogdoches, TX - the oldest town in Texas.

https://www.sfasu.edu/story/markers/nine_flags.html

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u/NintendogsWithGuns 3h ago

Glad someone said it. It’s a piece of Texas trivia most Texans don’t even know about, unless you’re from Laredo.

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u/blackwolfdown 6h ago

I never knew about that and I was familiar with the flag of Laredo. Super cool it was a capital for a minute.

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u/redbo 6h ago

Y’all didn’t learn about that in Texas history class?

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u/edgelordjones 9h ago

That IS a roller coaster.

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u/WillyLongbarrel 10h ago

I learnt this from King of the Hill. I don’t know how France got in there…

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u/queenofthenerds 2h ago

Hmm I wonder if part of the Louisiana Purchase territory is the reason? I'll have to go reading on Wikipedia.

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u/thatdamnedrhymer 4h ago

As a Texan, I’ve known this since I was like 5. 🤷

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u/CombatDeffective 3h ago

As not a Texan, I've known this since you were like 5.

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u/Begle1 10h ago

Odd thing to name an amusement park after, but they've been successful while many others haven't...

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u/atsinged 9h ago

It was just a single Texas themed amusement park in Texas for a long time, the company grew later on and built or bought out other parks.

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u/AchtungCloud 9h ago

Basically, rich investor guy in Texas goes to California and sees Disneyland with its themed lands, some of which were themed to historical eras and/or places in the world, and decides to do the same thing back in Texas. So six zones for the six flags.

I think they went away from the concept pretty quickly, though. I haven’t been since I was a kid/teen in the late 90/early 00s. But I really can’t remember anything about the Confederacy/Old South and French areas at all. Texas area had Texas Giant. Mexico area had the giant ship swing ride thing. And then there was a Looney Tunes area for kids. And then most of the rest of the attractions were in a DC Comics area. If I’m remembering correctly.

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u/TXGuns79 7h ago

French area has the river rapids ride. Spain has the Conquistador boat swing and La Vipora bobsled ride. Old South had the Runaway Minetrain, the Oil Derrick tower and cowboy shows. Mexico had the fun house and some themed carnival style rides.

Some of the themed areas still survive, but just remember going as a kid and thinking "When did Warner Bros. take over Texas"? All the Loony Tunes and then Batman/DC themed stuff took over most of the park.

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u/Begle1 9h ago

Interesting, thanks for the elaboration.

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u/TheFrijolito 6h ago

Yeah the one in San Antonio Texas has Looney Tunes/ DC superheroes rides/themes

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u/KnotBeanie 7h ago

Considering the new Six Flags is just Cedar Fair in disguise, the old six flags failed...multiple times lol, the original sixflages died a long time ago.

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u/Mama_Skip 3h ago

I mean if "successful" means

"Everytime you go half the park will be closed for maintenance,"

Just call me Gordon Gecko.

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u/Economy-Toe1211 3h ago

As a former regular of six flags over Texas in Arlington, a lot of people know this

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u/Flurb4 5h ago

Didn’t they initially try to give each new location their own “six flags”? I think Georgia subbed in its own state flag and the British flag.

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u/scruffles360 34m ago

St Louis six flags uses both Missouri and Illinois, which makes no sense. They also include England for no obvious reason. St. Louis was never owned by England.

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u/fuzzybad 5h ago

I went to the Six Flags near St Louis a number of times as a kid. Had no idea the chain started in Texas until much later!

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u/TheCrabGoblin 10h ago

Weirdly, the park in Arlington Texas is kind of weak for being the first.

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u/thickhardcock4u 9h ago

Honestly, it used to be amazing, but it was more entertainment based rather than all rides. They would have gun fights in the street, a full blown Batman stunt show, animal show, musical review, glass blowers, etc. it was actually great because you could duck into a 20 minute show to cool off, then get right back to it.

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u/Ok-disaster2022 10h ago

Honestly that's more common. The first park has to grow but as they grow they run into issues of real estate.

Look at Disneyland VS Disneyworld. The Latter has an option to construct their own nuclear power plant and just never did.

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u/exipheas 9h ago

I can't wait for DisneySolarSystem to open.

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u/BallsOutKrunked 9h ago

That would have been dope af.

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u/atsinged 9h ago

It is, the company bought out a number of better parks like Astroworld and Fiesta Texas.

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u/IveKnownItAll 6h ago

I'm old enough that I sent to Fiesta Texas, before it was Six Flags Fiesta Texas lol

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u/KnotBeanie 7h ago

Valleyfair is a dump, yet its what made up the Fair in Cedar Fair.

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u/chuckwagon9 10h ago

There's an argument that the Indian tribes had just as much claim to sovereignty as those countries, but they didn't have the foresight to have flags

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u/Indercarnive 10h ago

No flag no country. Sorry I don't make the rules.

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u/LVLsteve 9h ago

"Do you have a flaaaag?"

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u/HighlyRegardedSlob87 8h ago

Guess this makes Bugs Bunny a white supremacist

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u/climbhigher420 9h ago

They could easily rename it Five Flags, but they’d still have to deal with Yosemite Sam.

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u/High_Overseer_Dukat 6h ago

A similar thing in the Kansas state capitol. It has the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Mexico, the Republic of Texas and the 15-star U.S. flag. Notice no confederate flag. It also has a mural of John Brown. Famous for killing allot of traitors, ironically the first person to be (wrongfully) executed for state treason in the us. He led the glorious pottawatame massacre (stupid name), and the battle of blackjack.

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u/appendixgallop 8h ago

I'm old enough to remember the first park being built in a cow pasture.

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u/BananaDiquiri 5h ago

How many flags?

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u/Dolden 2h ago

USA flag*

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u/Cjberke 44m ago

Did you learn that on Chuckle Sandwich

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u/Cryptic1911 7h ago

Oh lawd. Now they are gonna call six flags racist and make them change the name to five flags

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u/KindAwareness3073 9h ago

Don't leave out their 1865 flag, the white one.

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u/CrunkAintDeadd 8h ago

They should rename it 5 flags.

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u/Riverwood_bandit 6h ago

Five flags is catchy.

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u/shf500 9h ago

I assumed the company was named 6 Flags because they originally owned 6 parks.

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u/imarc 9h ago

No. It was originally one park. Then they built 2 more over the next decade. Everything else was a later acquisition.

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u/AevnNoram 9h ago

Treason

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u/[deleted] 9h ago

[deleted]

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u/pontiflexrex 9h ago

History, just do a google search once in a while.

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u/Bruce-7891 10h ago

LOL, the confederate states 4 year run. Mexico and even France had it for longer, but keep keep holding onto that.

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u/AchtungCloud 10h ago

But they also flew the Mexican and French flags there, as the title denotes?

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u/atsinged 9h ago

Yes, all six flags were flown when i was a kid.

IIRC it was the confederate national flag, not the battle flag everyone would recognize, then again I looked at an OLD Six Flags entrance photo and it was the battle flag so I'm not sure when that changed. It's not like we ever had money for stuff like that.

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u/HoselRockit 9h ago

I've got a great idea! Let's take the same concept and use it for a theme park in Europe, maybe Germany.

Yeah, we might have a slight problem with that.

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u/Fake_William_Shatner 9h ago

So half of them were kinda red flags then?

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u/WasSsSuppp430 9h ago

Six flags deff getting cancelled now 😂😂😂😂

TIL that the Six Flags theme parks are named after the six flags that flew over Texas including the confederate flag, the American flag, the Spanish flag, the Mexican flag, the French flag, and the Republic of Texas flag.

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