Sentiment against that flag crested last year with the mass shooting at a black church in Charleston, South Carolina. The accused murderer, Dylann Roof, was an avowed racist who had photographed himself with the Confederate flag; after the murders, South Carolina removed it from the capitol grounds, and mainstream retailers like Walmart and Amazon stopped selling merchandise that featured the design. We have no real context for what that aggrieved postal worker experienced, or for the motives of his Gadsden-fan colleague.
We care about and interpret them on a personal level. More significant, those may be two wildly divergent, but equally fervent, perspectives. The Gadsden flag is just the latest example that disagreements and ambiguity do not undermine the emotional power of a symbol.
Sometimes, in fact, they are its source. By John Cassidy. Ralph Eubanks. Rob Walker is a writer in New Orleans. More: Flags Politics Revolutionary War. The Daily The best of The New Yorker , every day, in your in-box, plus occasional alerts when we publish major stories.
Enter your e-mail address. Franklin went on to outline to his friend Christopher Gadsden, the qualities of the rattlesnake that he admired as it related to the American struggle for independence:. His point was to admonish all colonial Americans to unite or die. It was conceived of and developed in a totally non-racial context during the revolutionary war. The Gadsden Flag was intentionally designed not to convey a racist message, but a patriotic one. HOWEVER, It appears as though the meaning of the flag has changed and is changing from a historic symbol of patriotism and more recently a general expression of personal freedom and God-given individual rights to something much more insidious and dishonorable.
In a word, it was politicized! Then, to add to the confusion and misrepresentation of the flag, some supporters of some of these groups were accused of being racist. The critics of those supporters then decided to use the flag itself as a symbol of bigotry and racism. The symbolism in the flag partnered by the image holds deep meaning. This tells people not to step on or take advantage of the Americans or they will strike.
Unfortunately, it appears that different groups and individuals throughout the country, interpret the symbol to mean a whole lot of other things besides its original intent. For example, in , an African American postal worker submitted an official complaint which made its way to the courts, alleging that he was discriminated against by a co-worker who simply wore a hat with the snake symbol.
Apparently, it was racist in his eyes because in his own words he stated;. Benjamin Franklin himself was a slave owner who treated his servants as family and gave them grace, mercy and opportunity.
The unfortunate truth is that often, the meaning of symbols is fluid and changing. Even the much-hated-for-good-reason Nazi Swastika was used in numerous contexts before the conception of the Nazi party. Believe it or not, it was even used in some official contexts within the American Military!
Among other meanings, it is clear that it is often adopted by those with a general or even vague approval or even outright enthusiasm for the concept of minimal government and freedom of rights for individuals. Currently, there are several variations of this flag but the message remains the same. The following are some of the minor changes that may be found for the Gadsden flag.
Upon development, the flag was used by various groups within America. The Continental Marines is one of the most popular groups that used this flag, unfurling it side by side with the Moultrie flag. The United States Navy also utilized an earlier version of the flag. As mentioned earlier, the first use of this flag was by Commodore Esek Hopkins. His ships sailed for the first time in the year on the month of February. Today, the flag is being used by the Tea Party Movement as previously mentioned — which is why the symbol is currently getting some bad reputation.
We understand that there have been white supremacist groups who have used the flag as part of their own symbolism, but most rational people can understand that just because a fringe group adopts a national symbol, that is no reason to persecute those who display the symbol since most who display the symbol probably display it as a symbol portraying its original meaning. Can you imagine if every Conservative Republican decided to persecute anyone who displays a photo of a rainbow because it has been adopted by the LGBTQ community?
The rainbow was originally a symbol of a promise given to us by God to never again destroy the earth with a flood. The symbol has been taken by the gay community to symbolize their lifestyle and agenda which has nothing to do with the original symbolism of the rainbow. Can you please return the favor? Nowadays, the United States is proud of its freedom — sometimes even stating that it is the freest country in the world. The Gadsden flag, however, represents the time when America is in the process of fighting for its freedom.
Young Americans will do well to know the impact and underlying meaning of this flag to their history. Besides, it would be insane to hate god. No middle 6 tail, therefore I call B. Dang dude, that was a great reply! AND Ya, lol, there seems to be a fixation for people looking for demons under every rock.
I was reading on how ridiculous about the post of being on a flag. I read your reply to him, I laughed so hard I had to read it to everyone in the room. Funny how you just resorted to an insult at the end there. Totally negating your entire unsolicited, and now hypocritical, retort. The TP has appropriated the Gadsen flag to divide Americans, to distort our collective strength, and not to unite as one people.
The TP has promoted the Gadsen flag as a directive to fracture U. You should know Tea stands for taxed enough already. The whole divide, fracture,racial thing you just spewed is complete nonsense. And making welfare system that makes you better off staying on it then working is not OK. Or having a system that uses racial quotas rather than merit for everything from education admissions to choosing our firefighters is not OK.
Hearing to Progressive Democrats blame everyone else for the malicious acts they perpetrate is really getting boring. What evil did the Tea Party commit? They, as a rule, quietly protested abuses by the federal government in an orderly and perfectly legal manner. They broke no laws, they destroyed no property, they blocked no roads and even cleaned up before they went home. Racism and the other bigotries favored by the Left are not a part of any Tea Party agenda.
Personal hatred is absent in all forms. There in one sure bet these days. Whatever ugliness The Left is blaming someone else for, they themselves are guilty of. One primary objective of the Democratic Party is the separation of various factions and demographics within the US. Power and control is the only thing they covet. The Gadsden flag was adopted because the screwed up tax law in this country is a common complaint between all Tea Party groups. Family values and government corruption are some others.
I challenge any Leftist too give proof of their accusations. The Gadsden Flag has significant import in our national heritage. Today it serves the same purpose representing the same ideals. It continues in use by elements of our military and yes by the Tea Party and other patriots. No, but the right would certainly think so if they were. The Tea Party should come up with their own flag as this flag represents all Americans.
America will now strike if taken advantage of. Fed-up of hand outs in lieu of a hand up. Well I was taught that a symbol of freedom was somthing to be proud of to have in our midst on this unforgiving world planit but we all must realize that we r more civilized in our society.
The words have grit and a powerfull mssge. How about this? Each state can attempt to do whatever social good it wants, giving the residents of the State just a little bit more local control over the eventual corruption and misuse of those funds Government always corrupts.
Until that happens, we all sit in the foul, filthy pool. I read it all. I agree with every word. That, combined with the massage therapy—are you single? Thanks for speaking your mind. I am an Independent. Bravo, kudos, amen, and everything good in response to your comment!! Okay listen up! Bottom Line A quote from George Washington. Why does there have to be a great debate over the meaning?
It is what it is. It has nothing to do with religion or politics. I know the true meaning. I really hate our two party system, but if vigilance is sacrificed on the global scale, there will always be an organization or country ready to take our country which allows your free condemnation without making an example of you and your family.
Yes this does still happen. I claim to be a Christian and also without a church. I would love to see true global humanitarianism but it will not happen until this society is wiped off the face of the earth and replaced by one God installs to continue the human race. Our political system is a very powerful perversion of what it was suppose to be. I really do applaud you wholesomeness and will tell you their will always be soldiers who are willing to fight to ensure your freedom to speak your mind.
I find it very disturbing when people think the solution to violence is more violence. Why is it that we stole this nation through violence, made some imaginary lines on a map and decided that everyone on the outside of the line is flawed? We can only build a truly great nation if we all stop focusing on our differences and embrace the variety humans offer.
So you like to threaten people? Let me know how intimidation works out for you. The message is loud and clear, historically and presently. The media and the adversary is so powerful and brainwashing. Today good is evil and evil is good. Many millenials today just want to take the easy path and say there is no sin. If there is no sin, there are no consiqences and there is no right and wrong.
If you take a quick look back at history, you will see where people go that choose the easier wrong rather then the harder right and trust me, you do not want to go to that dark place of misery. It really hurts mean to see where are Country is heading and especially where it is now.
My dad is a CEO and he works his A off and makes so much sacrifices to get what we have. He does not steal money from people, He works for it so its his! It is so sick how much money the government takes practical steals from him. People like my dad are true Americans.
Entrepreneurs are heros and they create jobs for people. We must vote. Not voting is like just handing American to the Devil himself. We at least try.
Faith without works is dead. You will drop dead and forget. Yes I believe that the systems messed up and the people in it, but we must get and keep people like that out. This years election is jacked up but I know that we should just sit there and do nothing. We need to give our vote to the person that we reach more agreements with, the person that our beliefs are closest too. Both candidates this year are not the best people, but my vote goes to Trump.
He is not perfect nor is any man or woman. Trump has a lot more pros than Hillary. Hillary is very deciving and knows how to hide her dark side. She and her husband have done so much evil far beyond Trump has. The difference is that Trump is very blunt and he will admit when his done something wrong. Kristiana—In other words you believe in a Utopia….. Will never happen; so you divise a system that will do the most good for the most people.
Capitalism has done more good for more people that any other system throughout the history of mankind. Your Utopia is a pipe dream. Get real. Some parts of the United States today have declared the flag unsavory with some [uncomforted] reports about arrests. Well said. It is time we start taking back emblems that are adopted, then desecrated by groups set on destroying our freedoms. Fly this flag to protest the current democratic regime under power.
If hillary becomes president I will be flying the black version. Socialism does more good for its people than capitalism. Capitalism leaves the door open for exploitation of workers, and tax evasion. Socialism evens out the playing field of Commerce and provides more equality. Please don't tread on me. YouDoYou Individualism. Happy Day! I still see "Don't Tread on Me" plates everywhere, and we just don't talk about how that language and symbolism has directly contributed to the rehabilitation of fascism in America.
In the s, the Gadsden flag inspired many parody memes. One substituted a red Lego for the snake. Because stepping on Lego, as many of us know so well, hurts!
Feedback We've Added New Words! Word of the Day. Meanings Meanings.
0コメント