Okay, first off you can tell this isn't Mass because that's about the most neutral description of the Tea Party I think I've ever seen in print. Note to Boston Globe, NYT, et al: See? You can refer to the Tea Party movement without using the word "teabag" or one of the variants. It's nice to see a news article that doesn't pass judgment one way or another, but simply reports the facts as they are without injecting opinion and/or conjecture.WARREN — The Warren Fire Department drew fire Friday morning when members raised one of the nation’s oldest — but these days, controversial — flags from one of three flagpoles they maintain at the Warren Town Common.
Their flying of the Gadsden Flag, a Revolutionary War-era flag depicting a coiled rattlesnake with the slogan “Don’t Tread On Me” below it, angered some residents because though it was originally created to protest the British government prior to and during the American Revolution, it has become a symbol to some of the American Tea Party movement. That conservative movement questions many of the policies, particularly fiscal, of the federal government.
Secondly, it's sad and disturbing to see such a shocking lack of knowledge about our nation's history - and this is something I've noticed, having had a Gadsden on my vehicle for about 10 years now and flying one on my house for the best 5 or 6. People have no friggin' clue what it is, where it comes from, or what it stands for. They don't know the history behind the rattlesnake and its significance as a symbol of the American Revolution*; they don't understand that it's so much more than just a rallying symbol for one particular faction of American patriot.
It's unfortunate that the flag was taken down; it would be heartening to know that there are still men with backbone left in New England.
That is all.
*Per Ben Franklin,
"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."Link sent by PISSED, who was as incredulous as I was that it was taken down as offensive...
6 comments:
Thank you very much for that quote from Mr. Franklin. I'd never actually heard it before.
tweaker
While not in Mass, that part of RI is very very close. The Mass-RI boarder down in there is pretty blurry.
Am sure the next "offensive" flag will be the Stars and Stripes.
Excuse me while I sharpen my bayonets and press my Confederate flags.
I am upgrading my cheap-o polyester Gadsden flag to a nice, double-sided nylon one, and am seriously considering a Jolly Roger with a bold "F*CK YOU" under the crossed bones.
Maybe they should've used the Navy Jack... red and white stripes, with a stretched out rattler and DTOM emblazoned on it. I fly my Gadsden every day and night here in TX. My neighbors all want one!
Interestingly, my lovely bride killed one in the back yard last night... tough little muther, 4 times with a pellet rifle, then had to use the Ruger Security Six loaded with rat shot to finally kill it!
Let's not forget that RI is also extremely "capital-D" Democratic, just as if not moreso than even the Bay State. Wouldn't be hard to find the type of person who would outlaw the Republican party in that town.
When you're a small-town fire chief who has to fight for every dime you can get for your department, and some busybody goes running to the town manager complaining about a flag, you take the flag down. It's not worth the risk to the bigger picture in return for zero appreciable gain. We both know how vindictive some people are....
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