This is great event. However, it seems that RT cameraman or camerawoman has captured a man wearing an American South supremacist confederate flag sign and a Saint Patrick Irish symbol. I do hope he was a lone person and that others in the parade do not share the values the insignia of the confederate flag signifies.

Doublespeak, the Confederate Battle flag symbol really shook you up - didn't it? The symbol is quite popular in Europe and the Russian Federation - even in Japan. The Confederate Battle Flag represents courage and valor shown by the Southern troops who fought the greatest military power on earth barefooted, starving and poorly armed. The Confederate Battle Flag was adopted after the civil war began. The purpose of the new flag was to identify Southern troops and to inspire courage in the troops - which it did magnificently. The second purpose was to instill fear in the enemy, which it still does to this day. This flag is the most inspirational battle flag in human history. The American liberals , communists, anarchists, and others of their ilk, fear this flag because of the inspirational impact of it. That is why they want to eliminate this flag. Obviously Doublespeak got rattled when he saw the Confederate Battle Flag patch on a Russian. I have seen similar patches on Russian guys in Tallinn, Estonia. One had such a flag cover the entire back of his jacket. A bit of historical info: The slave ships which brought the black African slaves to the US flew American stars and stripes flag, and not one of the ships flew the Confederate Battle Flag. The flag that flew over the capitals of the Southern slaves states for over 150 years was the American Stars and Stripes, and not the Confederate Battle Flag. And, the flag that was carried by the US cavalry when they attacked the indian villages and killing all men, women and children was the American Stars and Stripes flag, and not the Confederate Battle Flag. If any American flag is stained with the blood of the innocents, it is the Stars and Stripes, and not the Confederate Battle Flag. The Confederate Battle Flag is exactly what the name implies - a battle flag. "Fear the Flag".

as an irishman, I am very pleased to see a new level of cultural exchange, as outlined in this article, between Ireland and Russia, I have long lobbied politicians to build closer ties with Russia, there are many areas of common interest and also, many areas we can benefit from mutual experience, such as how to tackle alcohlolism in society (both our countries seem to have alcohol abuse ingrained on the culture) and also, how to deal with terrorism, our experience in dealing with a troubled part of our country, a northern part, that is & Russia's expertise in dealing with terrorism. I hope this is only the beginning of what could be a great bilateral relationship, in fact, Irish economic recovery may well be decided on how well we diversify our economy away from dependence on American investment, and build relations with the BRIC countries, and Russia, in particular, as it's an integral part of a stable Europe.

Doublespeak: "...values the insignia of the confederate flag signifies." What are the "values" of the Confederate Battle Flag"???? I don't think you know. The Confederate Battle Flag stands for courage in front of overwhelming odds.

The Irish are a people noted for their sense of human and joy of life. One of the first foreign taverns to open up in Tallinn, Estonia, after the demise of USSR, was the Irish George Brown Tavern on Harju street in the middle of Old Town. Spent numerous wonderful evenings there listening to various bands and downing Bushmill. Alas, Georgian Brown is closed down to make room for some shopping boutique. There are other Irish bars on Viru street, but there was only one George Brown. Hate that change called progress.

In Europe m we also see widespread resurgence of SS warship, reactionary politics, Ismaphobia, and other various forms of xenophobia, so I am surprised the confederate flag is popular in Europe. I love the Irish. I think the Irish and the Russians have to riches cultures in Europe and its great to see wider celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day in Russia. Racism is a big problem in Ireland as it is in Russia. Whereas Russian skin heads target people from the Caucasus and blacks are the primary target of racial violence, in Ireland, it is often eastern European immigrants who are primary target for disecrimination. As for the confederate flag, it stands for historic racial violence, the lynching of black man, segregationist social and political order predicated on the colour line, Jim Crow, the Clansman and Birth of a Nation. The photographer who took this image was clever because this insignia speaks for itself.

Doublespeak, It is estimated that almost 10 million black Africans died during their shipment from Africa to the US on vessels carrying the American stars and stripes flag (that Americans salute today). Please tell me how many Blacks were lynched where someone may have carried the Confederate Battle Flag? A dozen - if even that many. "Fear the Flag"

Doublespeak, I have to disagree with you on your point about discrimination in Ireland: you say "in Ireland, it is often eastern European immigrants who are primary target for disecrimination", from my experience in Ireland, it in fact, anyone and everyone who is in the least bit different who are targets for discrimination in Ireland, africans, asians, and, yes, eastern europeans, the Irish apply racism to all ethnicities and races, in heavy doses. while at the same time, forgetting that it was only 20 years when Irish were emigrating in their masses to the US, UK, etc. As for the confederate flag debate, as an Irishman it has no part in our history, and it is an insult to have someone use a foreign symbol or flag on our national day, and therefore has no place on Saint Patrick's day.

jsmith: "As for the confederate flag debate, as an Irishman it has no part in our history, and it is an insult to have someone use a foreign symbol or flag on our national day, and therefore has no place on Saint Patrick's day." The world does not revolve around your "national holiday" and RT does not need to take the sensibilities of the Irish into account when posting a photo on their website. The discussion about the Confederate Battle Flag was initiated by Doublespeak. I failed to mention that numerous Irish brigades fought and died carrying the Confederate Battle Flag. One of the famous Irish brigades fought for General Robert E. Lee at the battle of Fredericksburg in Virgiana. Sorry if I infringed upon your sensitivities with this post.

RT should do a story on the Army of Northern Virginia and the Confederate Battle Flag. Would be interesting for the readers since in "politically correct" America, the media seldom gives the topic any coverage. Sort of like Tsarist Russia was ignored during the USSR era.

kihnu writes : "The world does not revolve around your "national holiday", sorry, where were you on march 17th? on the moon?parades in ireland, china, moscow, america, australia, it would seem, that, for one day at least, the world does revolve around this national holiday. Frankly RT can show whatever they want in their coverage of St. Patrick's day, however, I believe that someone wearing a certain flag and to associate it with Ireland, when in fact there is no connection, is totally ridiculous, and unacceptable. How about wearing Shamrocks on July 4th? Singing La Marseillaise on Australia day? The problem is not this person showing this flag being picked up in the background for a news report, that could happen anywhere, the problem is that people will start to think that Irish values are similar to those of American values, and that Ireland supports America, when, in fact, quite a lot of us don't. that's the problem. Your last paragraph proves how you totally miss the point: those people fighting for the confederate flag were not fighting for Ireland, but America. In fact, while they were off fighting someone else's war, their own people could have used them back home to fight an Irish war, for Irish people. Them fighting in America did not mean that Ireland supported them, we had our own serious problems, frankly, people fighting to keep their slaves would have been the least concern for the Irish who had to deal with famine, hunger, cultural and lingustic repression, and I could go on and on, but there is no need to, as you will inevitably miss the point either way.

jsmith, The cleanup crews know quite well when the St Patty Day Irish have been around. The day is just an excuse for the Irish to make fools of themselves around the world. If that brings the Irish a few hours of publicity - so be it. However, the onlookers on this Irish Fool's Day can wear whatever patches they want, regardless of how much the Irish, or their supporters, whine on RT. I don't celebrate the Irish Fool's Day - I leave that to the Irish.