357
Doctor Removed From Ontario Medical Association AGM for Refusing to Take Off Watermelon Pin
(pressprogress.ca)
this post was submitted on 24 May 2026
357 points (99.2% liked)
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I did not know that.
Is it common knowledge outside of political action circles?
Seems like the Streisand Effect is at play here. I never would have noticed a watermelon as a political symbol if they hadn't reacted this, i would just think it's a bit of whimsy. Now tons of people are reading about it
Never heard of it before.
As many said, it's common knowledge if you've been generally knowledgeable about the colonialism from the 80s and/or if you've been informed because of the current escalation of the genocide.
Israel has had a "military rule" (administratively, judicially, and physically) over a good chunk of Palestinian lands since 1967 (other than what was colonized already). Under military rule law, even the Palestinian flag could put a child in administrative detention (prison with abuse) for an indeterminate amount of time (months to years).
To circumvent the oppressive rule, Palestinians took up the watermelon π which has the green, black, red, and white of the Palestinian flag.
I wouldn't have made that connection either.
I doubt I could recognize the flags of hundreds of countries, theirs included.
Yeah, of course! And other countries share those same colours on their flag - it's not about the colours, but knowing about the oppression that's important; and it's never too late or wrong to learn and share!
I have been well aware of the oppression, the bullshit that the Israeli "settlers" are doing and much more.
But I didn't know that the watermelon had been adopted as a symbol relevant to the issue.
Β
It's not realistic to expect that everyone can know every single detail of every situation.
I'm sure I know some details about certain situations that you haven't heard of, just the same as you probably know things that I have never been aware of.
None of that is any reason to treat others as hostile enemies simply due to lack of exposure to certain details (as some people in this thread seem to want to do).
I'm sorry, was I being hostile? I thought I was maintaining an informative tone.
No.
I would say it's well known among activists, and outside that community, it's only a little known. It's probably about on the level of sunflowers being used as a symbol for support of Ukraine. It's nowhere near as well-known as Winnie the Pooh being used as a symbol of protest against Xi Jinping.
Anyone with any knowledge of the middle east should be aware of it. The genocide has been going on for your entire lifetime. In fact there is no human alive today that was not alive during a period where zionists were not killing Palestinian children.
I grew up in a country that's officially anti Israel since forever, and even I don't know that. Just because it may be common knowledge in your circles doesn't make it so worldwide.
Yes, as long as you have any level of political awareness. It's on par with the kufiyeh
Another word I had to look up.
I recognize the object, but didn't know it's name.
Β
Something being common knowledge for some people doesn't automatically mean it is for everyone.
This entire comment section is a purity test. As if there has never been any other major event or ongoing conflict to be aware of.
I certainly didn't know that. I thought maybe they were a Saskatchewan Roughrider's Fan
I've always hated wearing ribbons & pins for this very reason. There's no central authority and it leaves too much up to interpretation.
or just a big fan of watermelon, it's refreshing.
I'm actually kind of shocked how many people are saying they're unaware. Not judging, just surprised people haven't been exposed to it with everything going on over the last three years. Are you familiar with the yellow ribbon in association with Israel?
Not aware of that one, either.
Considering it's been a symbol for dozens of causes, I wouldn't be surprised if someone hasn't heard of one specific one
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_ribbon
I'm not aware until this story either. For me, this is my only social media. I imagine a lot of people on lemmy aren't really plugged into a lot of places where you might learn that. I've also never heard of the yellow ribbon.
The yellow ribbon that's literally used in dozens of countries worldwide, sometimes with more than a single meaning per country?
I didn't ask about the yellow ribbon generally. I asked about it specifically in relation to Israel.
I am one of those remaining very unaware of these symbols. I read about issues, I vote where I can, I donate when I can. I talk to others and defend Palestine and it's people. I have for over 20 years now. But I guess I don't run in the circles where this would be something I learned.
I only know of the yellow ribbon from marching cadence
I heard this once a few years ago, said "really?", and then promptly forgot about it until now, where this was briefly new news to me again. Is this like, a very regional specific thing, or am I just out of some very big loops?
I've seen it in bios with Palestinian flags but never had it explained that the two were linked.
are watermelons grown in palestine? isnt it water intesive.
Explained in the article that it's because the Palestinian flag is illegal in Israel, so they use a watermelon with the same (or similar, I imagine?) colours.