by June Griffin

Tea bags must be very scary. When the legislature of Tennessee was considering an income tax, the tea partiers wore a little ole' tea bag to the State Capitol. What an outcry! Even a piece of paper with "Give me liberty, or give me death" brought one citizen to be apprehended by the Highway Patrol and given the third degree, saying that this reminded the officials of Columbine! My, my! What an outcry tea bags bring!
 
What is this ancient memory from 1774 when their forebears gathered at Griffin's Wharf in Boston and threw their favorite beverage into the Boston Harbor, refusing to pay the hated tax? While the claim is to ignorance of our history, yet the vague memory of the result of this act plagues the mind of bureaucrats and those who wish to load us with heavier burdens.
 
Why the fear? And if tea bags worry bureaucrats, think what the Gadsden flag does. The famous "Don't Tread on Me" banner brings chills of dread to tyrants; the statement itself is enough to conjure images of muskets and 3-cornered hats. What on earth! One Bradley County citizen was denied the right to vote lest he cover his Tea Party shirt with a white piece of paper! The citizens of Rhea County ran up the Gadsden flag to honor Constitution Day and what a hornet's nest! Up came the denizens of darkness that fear these dreaded words: "Don't Tread on Me." Why?
 
Indeed, the Gadsden flag best represents the Constitution and the American spirit of Independence. In December 1775, Benjamin Franklin wrote his assessment of why the rattlesnake best represents We, the People:

"I recollected that her eye excelled in brightness, that of any other animal, and that she has no eye-lids - She may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance - She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage - As if anxious to prevent all pretensions of quarreling with her, the weapons with which nature has furnished her, she conceals in the roof of her mouth, so that, to those who are unacquainted with her, she appears to be a most defenseless animal; and even when those weapons are shewn and extended for her defense, they appear weak and contemptible; but their wounds however small, are decisive and fatal: Conscious of this, she never wounds till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of stepping on her - Was I wrong, Sir, in thinking this a strong picture of the temper and conduct of America?"

The Inspiration for such strong emblems of liberty is even more awesome, at least to those who have a vested interest in tyranny. Sinai is coming; its smoke rose November 2nd, and encircles the ancient Bedford flag and its fiery Pilgrims, whose sacrifices inspired the Founders to shout: We, the People!! With a firm reliance on divine providence, we who are endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights!!

We, the People, will not forget Thanksgiving, Bedford, Gadsden or Old Glory. Woe to those who do! The United States is HOLINESS TO THE LORD!!! Even today.


.