As many of you, I'm sick and tired of having our rights trampled on by environmental extremist and those in government. Land closures, bans on kids ATV's and dirt bikes due to lead content, high taxes and excessive regulations by elected officials who don’t even read the bills they vote on.
It is a shame that we feel that we have to use this symbol of the U.S. revolution as a warning to our own government not to trample our rights.
Don't Tread On Me
History Of The Gadsden Flag From http://www.foundingfathers.info/stories/gadsden.html
The Fourth of July never fails to reinspire my patriotism and sense of community with my fellow Americans, even when those fellow Americans are a mob of drunken cretins and teenagers trying to get out of downtown Chicago at 11pm.
I like seeing all the American flags. I do have my complaints about the American government, especially about how intimately the Washington D.C. politicians feel they should be involved in the daily lives of their subjects, I mean, citizens. But the flag isn't just a symbol of the American government. It's a symbol of shared American values -- especially our highest common value: freedom.
When it comes to symbolizing freedom and the spirit of '76, I do think there's a better American flag. With all due respect to the stars and stripes, I prefer the yellow Gadsden flag with the coiled rattlesnake and the defiant Don't Tread on Me motto.
The meaning of Old Glory can get mixed up with the rights and wrongs of the perpetually new-and-improved government. The meaning of "Don't Tread on Me" is unmistakable.
There's also an interesting history behind this flag. And it's intertwined with one of American history's most interesting personalities, Ben Franklin.
If you so desire, you may download your flag here.
To download, right click on the image and click: Save Picture As
100 x 63
240 x 150
500 x 313
1280 x 800