The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy, together with the creative agency Banda Agency, have created a new gesture, which should mean “Trident of Independence”. When demonstrating it, the index and middle fingers, as well as the little finger, should be extended, and the ring finger bent or lowered. According to the plan, it is with this new gesture that Ukrainians should congratulate each other on the Independence Day of Ukraine.
According to the Ministry of Culture and Banda Agency, this gesture means the letter “H”, which begins the word “independence”.
“This is the Trident of Independence. The strength of our emblem pulsates in it and the spirit of Independence lives, because in sign language it means the letter “H”, ”the agency explains the meaning of the gesture.
The initiators invited Ukrainians to actively use this gesture and share it on social networks, signing publications with the hashtag #TRIDENTATE. Some Ukrainian celebrities and famous people managed to join the flash mob, including Dasha Astafieva, Alyona Alyona and the head of the Ministry of Culture Alexander Tkachenko. However, ordinary Ukrainians criticized the initiative of the Ministry of Culture and Banda Agency.
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The Ukrainian community explained to the initiators of innovations that in Ukraine the gesture denoting the trident has long been known and actively used – the index, middle and ring fingers raised up. This gesture was used by the leader of the “People’s Movement” Vyacheslav Chornovil.
As for the gesture proposed by Banda Agency, it has also been known for a long time, it is called Shocker and has a sexual connotation. It is also known as “two for pink, one for stink”. He describes the penetration of two fingers into the vagina and one finger into the anus during the sexual stimulation of a woman. It was this meaning of the gesture that angered the Ukrainians most of all, who expressed their indignation at the actions of the authors of the “new” gesture.
After a flurry of criticism, Banda Agency removed its original post and made a new one – with explanations. The agency noted that they wanted to create a “safe gesture for all territories of Ukraine”, because the traditional gesture can be dangerous for demonstration in the occupied territories.
“Of course, we know and respect the traditional gesture of the Trident from fingers, which was used by Vyacheslav Chornovil. However, unfortunately, now it is dangerous to raise it in Russian-controlled Ukrainian regions. And he is quite strongly associated with one of the political parties,” the statement says.
Under pressure from the public, Banda Agency agreed that the traditional trident gesture is respected and supported by Ukrainians.
“However, your comments have convinced us that the power of Chornovil’s trident is indisputable. We respect this position and suggest using the trident gesture that you like. Do not forget to add the hashtag #TRIDUBNEZALEZHNOSTI,” the Banda Agency said in a statement.
