what's the meaning of the symbolism of rattle snake on yellow flag?

[Sheepshank]

I see it being used, I've seen the Rep Senators wave it at their tea bagging rabble. I think I understand who uses it, I just knot know what it's trying to imply, I just don't really understand the symbolism.

[Warren DeMontague]

1. "don't tread on me"

[Uben]

2. "Don't Tread On ME?"

ISn't that a state motto somewhrer?

[emulatorloo]

3. Here's a wikipedia article about this flag and the symbolism of the rattlesnake

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadsden_flag

[Cleita]

4. It's from our revolutionary war warning the British.

Why they would want to use it against their own government is beyond me, unless they want to start another revolutionary or civil war.

[HereSince1628]

5. Step on me and I'll bite your ass! It's easier to understand

than that freakin Pine Tree that was also used during the Revolutionary War.

What was that about? "mishandle me and I'll make your hands sticky??????????"

[tonysam]

9. Or, "It's My Life and I'll Do What I Want" n/t

[amandabeech]

23. Thank you Eric Burden. n/t

[rampart]

6. "don't tread on me"

the rattlesnake has been a respected flag since the american revolution.

unfortunately glenn beck has hijacked the rattler as symbol of his "9 principles and 12 values" which you should really google for a big laugh.

[FBaggins]

7. Revolutionary war symbolism

It's a variant on Gadsden's Flag - "don't tread on me"

[Donnachaidh]

20. umm, it IS the Gadsen flag.

check the link I posted. :eyes:

[Donnachaidh]

8. Google is your friend

http://www.foundingfathers.info/stories/gadsden.html

Don't Tread on Me
The history of the Gadsden flag and how the rattlesnake became a symbol of American independence
by Chris Whitten, July 5, 2001, updated September 2002

American unity

Benjamin Franklin is famous for his sense of humor. In 1751, he wrote a satirical commentary in his Pennsylvania Gazette suggesting that as a way to thank the Brits for their policy of sending convicted felons to America, American colonists should send rattlesnakes to England.

Three years later, in 1754, he used a snake to illustrate another point. This time not so humorous.

Franklin sketched, carved, and published the first known political cartoon in an American newspaper. It was the image of a snake cut into eight sections. The sections represented the individual colonies and the curves of the snake suggested the coastline. New England was combined into one section as the head of the snake. South Carolina was at the tail. Beneath the snake were the ominous words "Join, or Die."

Franklin's Join or Die snake woodcut
Newspaper Serial and Government Publications Division,
Library of Congress.]

This had nothing to do with independence from Britain. It was a plea for unity in defending the colonies during the French and Indian War. It played off a common superstition of the time: a snake that had been cut into pieces could come back to life if you joined the sections together before sunset.

The snake illustration was reprinted throughout the colonies. Dozens of newspapers from Massachusetts to South Carolina ran Franklin's sketch or some variation of it. For example, the Boston Gazette recreated the snake with the words "Unite and Conquer" coming from its mouth.

I suppose the newspaper editors were hungry for graphic material, this being America's first political cartoon. Whatever the reason, Franklin's snake wiggled its way into American culture as an early symbol of a shared national identity.


more at the link --

[glinda]

10. Cripe, these people need to grow up and get an education....

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. It would help if we actually like educated them whike in school

the Gadsen Flag should be like basic US History knowledge... so should be HOW the government works.

[Donnachaidh]

19. true -- my kid takes it next year

It should be verrrrrry interesting to see what sort of dribble they are calling *American History* these days.

[Dead_Parrot]

12. "I live under a rock" nt

[Emit]

18. lol!

good one

[Walk away]

13. It means the republican party is eating it's own...

<>

[newspeak]

14. Love the cartoon!

:rofl:

[TheCowsCameHome]

15. So McCain and Palin will know where not to step during their weekend love-in

[Old Codger]

16. Cowardly

Yellow snake in the grass.. from what I have seen

[Touchdown]

17. Talking snakes are real, and they can fool women into eating fruit.

:shrug:

[Donnachaidh]

21. and flying monkeys can really pick up and fly with a girl from Kansas

:shrug:

[spanone]

22. who's treading on the teaboogers?

cheney & bu$h* tread the entire world

[formercia]

24. Don't tread on Me.

I can step on my crank without any help, thank you.