Boards
How the Canadian Maple Leaf become a sign of high quality across Afganistan
or 'Why rebels love the Toyota Hilux'
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/10/14/why-rebel-groups-love-the-toyota-hilux.html
“In Afghanistan in particular,” he says, “[the trucks are] incredibly well respected.” So well respected, in fact, that some enterprising fraudsters thought them worthy of ripping off. The imitations, Kilcullen says, had flooded the market, leaving disappointed fighters in their wake. But then “a shipment of high-quality [real] Hiluxes arrived, courtesy of the Canadian government,” he explains. “They had little Canadian flags on the back. Because they were the real deal, and because of how the Hilux is seen, over time, strangely, the Canadian flag has become a symbol of high quality across the country. Hence the tattoos.”
fascinating