"Don't Tread On Me." The words on the Gadsden flag are all too recognizable - an American catchphrase, representing the necessity of individual freedoms. Your rights, your land, your money. On the flag, there's a depiction of a rattlesnake, a fierce symbol of a sharp and independent people.
The snake pictured is a species called the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, a common snake in the area of the original thirteen colonies. Just for kicks, I did some research. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Eastern Diamondback population and habitat has declined consistently in the Southern United States - to quote, it's been "reduced and fragmented by agriculture, forestry practices, and urbanization."
So in effect, this symbol of freedom against government oppression - that's been hijacked by American political groups such as the Tea Party - is ironic in and of itself. Those who fly the flag so vehemently fight this oppression, while the symbolic snake itself is an actual victim.
From now on, I think I'm going to imagine the snake saying the phrase. I mean, it's the one that's literally being "treaded on." And to anyone who tries to use this flag - I think I'll try to point out that there are far more victimized crowds out there. Some even represented in their hand. BOOM.
This is hard to read on a phone. You're spicy.
ReplyDeleteI love the "just for kicks, I did research" line... Makes me giggle. ^_^
ReplyDeleteMay be late to the party here, but the idea IS that the snake is saying it. The snake is endangered, as are people's rights. Get it? We're the snake.
ReplyDelete