The meaning that I took from the woman's statement was that SHE gave the US the finger. As any good liberal would. And as her audience had been taught to do - flip off the US because it is basically such a terrible place.
The fact that everything the woman has, she has because this country gave her the opportunity.
Not that she would be appreciative or anything.
She probably got up one day thinking how clever her analogy would seem - possible next time she will think about what she is doing before she does it.
Why anyone would thinking flipping the bird as part of a speech would be well received, I cannot imagine. Regardless of the meaning we take from this, it is a rude gesture and one that would not be appreciated by anyone I know.
As I understand my world history, Old Europe ran off our freedom-loving ancestors with their monarchies and totalitarianism. I can't think of any meaningful democracy or republic from the time of Athens to the American Revolution.
Didn't our republic start before the French Revolution?
Or do I really need to go back and crack the books?