Until recently, I never appreciated the real meaning behind the Gadsden Flag: A rattlesnake with the motto "Don't tread on me". My high school education left me thinking it was just some goofy symbol the early patriots started with before they realized how much better the eagle was. Who wants a stupid rattelesnake for a symbol, anyway? Not only can't it fly, but it can't even walk, and is a general nuisance and danger if you're not careful.

Then I picked up the book entitled "The Creature from Jekyll Island" by G. Edward Griffin (an excellent, well researched book about the Federal Reserve Bank), which has a note inside regarding the decision to put the seal of the United States on the cover. That seal consists of an eagle holding arrows and an olive branch. (It's the same one on the back of the one dollar bill).

On his book, G. Edward Griffin has this to say:

About the Cover
"The use of the Great Seal of the United States is not without significance. At first we contemplated having an artist change the eagle into a vulture. That, we thought, would attract attention and also make a satement. Upon further reflection, however, we realized that the vulture is really quite harmless. It may be an ugly bird, but it is a scavenger, not a killer. The eagle on the other hand, is a predator. It is a regal creature to behold, but it is deadly to its prey. Furthermore, as protrayed on the dollar, it is protected by the shield of the United States government, even though it is quite independent. Finally, it holds within its grasp the choice between peace and war. The parallels were too great to ignore. We decided to keep the eagle."

Then I encountered a contemporary, high powered publication called "The Resister" which uses the rattlesnake as its cover mascot. The Resister is a throwback to the original ideals upon which the country was founded. While I did not renew my subscription to that magazine, it did give me an appreciation of the significance of the rattlesnake: It's a creature that minds it own business, gives fair warning to any that might come too close, and will deliver a deadly, poisonous bite if provoked.

Compared to the eagle, the rattlesnake is a far better symbol of what this country is about. The eagle constantly circles overhead watching & waiting for something to make the mistake of coming out into the open. The eagle knows everything, watches all, and places itself far above and out of reach of all others.

The rattlesnake, on the other hand, doesn't care what other animals do as long as they stay away. It minds its own business, and expects others just to mind their own too.

"Don't tread on me". Rattlesnakes are cool.

Neil McIver

All information presented here is done so under the protection of the First, Fourth, Ninth, and Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, and article I section 2 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Furthermore, as established in the famous trial of William Penn in August 1670, and contrary to the unlawful instructions given by most American judges, in addition to judging the facts of a case, juries also have the right and duty to pass judgement on the law (meaning they may acquit a violator of the law if they believe the law in question is unconstitutional, immoral, just plain stupid, or if the penalty is deemed too harsh). Juries are also lawfully free to vote according to their conscience, above all other considerations.