Judge — January 29, 1927 — page 14: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon satirizes American patriotism and national symbols. The image shows a pirate flag (skull and crossbones) replacing the expected American flag, paired with the opening words of "The Star-Spangled Banner" ("Oh! say can you see—"). The satire suggests that America's actual conduct—represented by the pirate imagery—contradicts its patriotic ideals. The cartoon implies the nation is engaged in piracy or similarly dishonorable behavior, making a mockery of patriotic rhetoric. The specific historical context is unclear without additional publication information, but Judge magazine frequently critiqued American foreign policy, imperialism, and domestic corruption during the early 20th century. This likely references a particular controversial action or policy the magazine opposed.