Gadsden Flag

It would seem that the Obamacrats are somewhat angry about the public opposition to Mr. Obama’s ideas of universal health care, which of course I can well understand. Having looked through the proposed universal health insurance system, it is, in my view, nothing more than a European style plan for socializing our medical care nationwide. That however is not the subject of this weeks rant. But rather, the loony left is also upset by the “small yellow flags” being handed out as a symbol of “resistance” at some of the Town Hall Meetings where assorted politicians attempt to convince us that all those expensive ideas are intended to do “what’s good for us”, and of course to “save us from ourselves”.

Those small flags being passed out are copies of the renown “Gadsden Flag”, reputed to be the first flag flown by the fledgling the United States of America. The flag was designed by, and is named after, an American general and statesman, Christopher Gadsden of South Carolina. It was reportedly used by the United States Navy and Marine Corps as their first national banner. There's also an interesting history behind the Gadsden flag, and its diamondback rattlesnake, entwined with one of America’s most outstanding personalities, Benjamin Franklin.

In 1751, Franklin wrote a satirical commentary in his Pennsylvania Gazette suggesting that as a way to thank the British for their policy of sending convicted felons to the colonies, Americans should send rattlesnakes to England. In 1754 he published the first known political cartoon in an American newspaper, which was the image of a snake cut into eight sections, each representing one of the individual colonies. The small New England colonies were combined into one section as the head of the snake, while South Carolina was at the tail. Beneath the snake were the ominous words "Join, or Die", meaning that the colonies must unite politically if they were to survive England’s ministrations. The snake illustration or variations of it were reprinted from Massachusetts to South Carolina, and Franklin's rattlesnake became an early symbol of American national identity.

A merchant ship called the Black Prince returned to Philadelphia in 1775 from a voyage to England, and was carrying letters to the Second Continental Congress informing them that the British government was sending ships to America loaded with munitions for the British troops stationed in the colonies. Congress decided that General Washington needed those arms more than General Howe, and devised a plan to capture the British ships. They authorized the creation of the first Continental Navy, and additionally the mustering of five companies of Marines. Christopher Gadsden was an American patriot leading the Sons of Liberty in South Carolina who was later made a colonel in the Continental Army. In 1775 he was in Philadelphia representing his home state in the Continental Congress. He was also one of the Marine Committee who decided to outfit and man the first Navy ships (one of which was the Black Prince, armmed and renamed “Alfred”).

In December 1775, "An American Guesser" wrote to the Pennsylvania Journal: "I observed on one of the drums belonging to the marines now raising, there was painted a Rattle-Snake, with this modest motto under it, 'Don't tread on me.' As I know it is the custom to have some device on the arms of every country, I supposed this may have been intended for the arms of America." The writer then speculated on why a snake might be chosen as a symbol for America. First, "the Rattle-Snake is found in no other quarter of the world besides America. The rattlesnake also has sharp eyes, and may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance." Furthermore, "She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage. ... she never wounds 'till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of treading on her." "I confess I was wholly at a loss what to make of the rattles, 'till I went back and counted them and found them just thirteen, exactly the number of the Colonies united in America; and I recollected too that this was the only part of the Snake which increased in numbers. "'Tis curious and amazing to observe how distinct and independent of each other the rattles of this animal are, and yet how firmly they are united together, so as never to be separated but by breaking them to pieces. One of those rattles singly, is incapable of producing sound, but the ringing of thirteen together, is sufficient to alarm the boldest man living." Many scholars agree that this "American Guesser" was Benjamin Franklin.

Congress chose a Rhode Islander, Esek Hopkins, as the first commander of the new Navy. The flag that Hopkins used as his standard was designed by Gadsden, adapted from those yellow drumheads with their fierce rattlesnake, and was presented to Hopkins. It's reported that John Paul Jones, as the first lieutenant aboard the flagship, ran it up the gaff. The Gadsden flag was widely used during the American Revolution as there was no standard flag at that time, which left people free to choose their own banner. After the Revolution, George Washington and many members of Congress preferred stars and stripes to rattlesnakes, and the Gadsden flag, losing official favor, became associated with the spirit of the rebellion and its resistance to tyranny, rather than serving as our national ensign.

Reportedly, a Louisiana driver was recently stopped and detained for having a "Don't Tread on Me" bumper sticker on his car. The "suspect" was held for some time, being investigated for "extremist" activities, and warned about the "subversive" message it sent before he was released. This incident is rather suspicious I’d say, particularly as it occurred shortly after the DHS report warning of “potential terrorists” and political bumper stickers was sent to tens of thousands of law enforcement officers. Still, the report can’t be confirmed, and it does read somewhat like an advertisement for bumper stickers.

But then perhaps I’ll be an extremist as well, and acquire a Gadsden flag with its fierce coiled rattlesnake and defiant ‘Don't Tread on Me’ motto, flying it as a reminder to all that some of us still prefer our liberty and independence, rather than the latest home grown version of communism.