Country

Madhacker, That is an interesting analysis, though it appears to be a bit myoptic.  Chess knows no boundries to truly dedicated players.

That's what came to my mind too  :=)

"Da war ain't ovah... we in da saouth ah just reloadin'!" An odd quote that I read somewhere.

No, it wasn't really inappropriate. The Confederacy, whether or not one approved of it's existance, was a government comprised of a group of states that seceded, lawfully or unlawfully, with the intention of become a separate nation.  That intention was never fulfilled because they were first never recognized as such by foreign nations, and second forced to dissolve through war.  The United States itself wasn't a recognized country either until they gained that status through war.  The symbolism of the flag, however, is something attached to it later, again with or with just reason, because the Confederacy did stand for slavery, but other things as well. Using the flag to respresent the "other things, " as you most obviously did, seems appropriate to me.  Had you used it as a symbol of slavery, then probably not.   Anyway, that's how I see it.

I'd say getting recognized by 93 countries counts as being recognized.

I'd also say wanting to see a war counts as being a warmonger.

Chess often referred to as a '' sport ''. Chess.com is '' fun '' chesssite & follows this pattern of country-recognition.

I am privilieged to fall into category comprising only 0.1% of chess.com & like my country ( Scotland )

If that was ever to change & I was unable to represent Scotland on this website I would be gone from here in an instant never to return.

I am sure Catalonians, Kosovians, etc feel the same...

Am sure this could be US only website if the owners desired that but that would be insular & self-congratulatory hence achieving nothing ?

Since for the most part America is rubbish at chess compared to world-regions where it is traditional the site is better to be international so you may learn how to improve.

Hurray for John Cochrane!! (seriously)

and

Cecil de Vere, George Mackenzie, Jonathan Rowson, David Levy and all the other Scottish players I can't recall!

Thanks BG... 

( Of course I do speak '' Tongue-in-cheek '' as usual ) 

But population US = ? population Scotland = 5-million approx...

& ( like most Americans ) I have other ethnic-diversity & am part-Lithuanian.

Can't believe you of all people missed David Forsyth (who I just now heard of under Scottish Chess Players in Wikipedia so don't feel bad or anything).

He invented the notation that became FEN, and was one of the first to write a regular column on Go (again, Wikipedia).

Also Ivan Scotland had possession & discovery of the the '' Lewis Chessmen  '' ?

I believe my ancestors (Picts) were actually genuises at the game & very probably even invented it ??

( India's claim easily refuted. )

I await the Scottish '' Renaissance '' in world-chess....

I myself am Scots-(blarghahemIrishcough) but we came over well before the Revolution.

:)) hehe..

Anyway back to topic. Nakamura & Kamsky. World-force in chess or not ?

What is their '' country ''. US or something else ??

I know of David Forsyth. I just didn't realize he was Scottish.  I give him my plaid cheer!

...personally, I really don't see the big deal...especially since there is no validation of nationality on chess.com...anyone can put any flag they wish regardless of their true original birth place. I would side on the individual's choice...and let it be...

I doubt there are any flags that dont offend someone somewhere , so why are any allowed ?  

But you are flying one too Reb ? 

Think they should be done away with ?? ( except team-matches )

We could all have chosen '' International '' yet we didn't...