Mt. Pleasant resident Mark Hetterman says it’s time to take the symbolism of the Gadsden Flag away from fringe groups that have appropriated it. He makes his case in the August 12 Post & Courier in an op-ed column entitled “Retake national symbol from radicals who misappropriated it”
“Societal symbols can be inspiring as well as threatening. Thus, our Stars and Stripes stands in stark contrast to the Confederate battle flag.
It was of great concern that the U.S. flag was co-opted by those who flouted the law at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, misappropriating a banner whose positive messaging lies safe in our hearts. Our flag appeared in the same frame of many news clips with another often misappropriated symbol, the Gadsden flag, which features a rattlesnake on a yellow background and the message, “Don’t Tread On Me.”
As an admirer of the Gadsden flag, I did some research that led me to a rest-of-the-story moment. The flag was designed by iconic Charleston colonial businessman and Revolutionary War patriot Christopher Gadsden.
He was the Samuel Adams of South Carolina as a founder and leader of the covert chapter of the Sons of Liberty. Gadsden was appointed a member of the First and Second Continental Congresses from South Carolina. He left Philadelphia in 1776 and was commissioned a brigadier general in the South Carolina militia.” To see the rest of Hetterman’s column CLICK HERE. Non subscxribers to the Post & Courier will hit a pay wall.