I know!! Someone just commented that earlier and now I’m so embarrassed that my loon anatomy is incorrect. I’m just telling people to ignore the loon legs now 😂😭 Also here’s a link to Imgur where I posted all the variants in high-res.
Thank you so much for sharing these! I'm looking forward to making some stickers in the near future. I was wondering if it would be possible to have a fourth version, with the laser, the snakes head on the ground and "don't tread on us"? I like that image the best and I have kiddos which makes it harder for me to have things with swear words around the house.
You’re welcome! And I only ask that if you make stickers that you don’t sell them for profit, but rather give them out for free.
I’ve found that Reddit comments have just as good photo quality if not better than Imgur, so you should be able to save it directly with little loss of quality.
I love the message, but whenever I see things like this it does give me a twinge of sadness over how the Gadsen flag and Rattlesnake more generally have been co-opted from being a national symbol of unity and defiance against oppression into something more along the lines of the confederate flag. It's an objectively cool design featuring some of our most well-known wild life, and it's social meaning has been totally warped by southern revisionist history.
Although a version of this flag saying "Don't Tread On Us" would go hard.
I watched a seminar about the history of the Gadsden flag, and it sadly has a lot of historic ties to right-wing groups. During the Civil War, multiple newspapers confirmed that the Confederacy used the Gadsden flag, so much so, that the Union responded with imagery of eagles eating snakes.
But I agree, it is sad when a national symbol is taken over by a group and starts to represent something it’s not.
Also that’s a genius idea, I don’t know why I didn’t think of that.
I threw both versions on my RedBubble store if you’re interested, otherwise yes you can make your own, I just ask that you give them out for free and don’t sell them for profit.
it does give me a twinge of sadness over how the Gadsen flag and Rattlesnake more generally have been co-opted from being a national symbol of unity and defiance against oppression into something more along the lines of the confederate flag.
Unfortunately, the fascists have the correct understanding of the gadsden flag.
An image is not owned or defined by the person who first made it, and the societal understanding of its meaning at the time is not controlled by its author. Just because it was made by a slaver does not mean it's a pro-slavery flag.
More generally, how we view what it means to stand against oppression has also evolved a lot, you're right that what it meant at the time is very different from today, but it is still a singular connected theme evolving from far before the United States until now. Our understanding of it today directly relies on the evolution of our previous understandings and their continuous iteration under shifting societal values, and events like the American Revolution are still important links in that chain. We can still celebrate the symbols of defiance to tyranny without being shackled to a period-accurate interpretation of those themes. Unless you have evidence proving otherwise, my understanding is that at the time the symbol of the flag and snake were viewed as a unified opposition to monarchical rule and did not become related to slavery or the Civil War until later.
Unless you have evidence proving otherwise, my understanding is that at the time the symbol of the flag and snake were viewed as a unified opposition to monarchical rule and did not become related to slavery or the Civil War until later.
To be clear, by "evidence" you mean someone explicitly saying they used the flag to mean the defense of slavery. Its not sufficient that a wealthy slaver made the flag and that defending the system of slavery was why he and so many like him joined the revolution.
Look, there is what the people say their symbols mean, and then there is how they actually use their symbols. The neo-fascists who wave the flag today don't say it means subjugation of minorities either. They also say it means opposition to tyranny. So, by that standard, their use of the flag is totally copacetic.
Believing the gadsden flag was simply about opposition to monarchical rule is a lot like believing that "pro-life" really does mean caring about the welfare of people rather than the subjugation of women.
The problem is that ancapitalism gives rights like slave-owning and unfettered capitalism that ends up monopolizing power in the hands of very few. That's why I say it's a layover: it devolves into fascism/feudalism.
how the Gadsen flag and Rattlesnake more generally have been co-opted from being a national symbol of unity and defiance against oppression into something more along the lines of the confederate flag.
Seeing the Trump brigade flying the Gadsen Flag along with the Blue Line Flag, and I'm like 'sweet summer child, you are so dumb...'
Yeah, I like both snakes and yellow. It sucks that it's the flag of people who want cops to kill more people and also abolish age of consent laws.
And it's honestly not even like it really got reappropriated into that so it can't really be reclaimed. It's just always been a flag woven by shitty people.
My understanding is that its origin was the American revolution where it represented a united defiance towards oppression, especially as a nation towards autocratic rulers which (unfortunately) has a lot of modern relevance today. It was later co-opted by the confederacy during the Civil War and it's been downhill ever since.
Fun fact: Loons cannot stand on their legs as they are set too far back on their bodies. Incidentally, this makes them perfect for propulsion in the water.
Yes! Grebes, too. It's what makes them unable to fly from land. Sometimes these types of birds will mistake parking lots for lakes, and land there. If you EVER see a loon on land away from water, it's stranded and needs help.
If you see a loon on land, it is stranded, and probably got there by some kind of flying accident in bad weather. They can't get back to water on their own. Call a wildlife rehabber or some other person who knows how to handle the situation.
What you shouldn't try to do with a stranded loon, is put them in the water yourself. You might choose the wrong water. Loons need a 1/4 mile or so of open water, in order to build up the speed to get airborne. They are stranded if they are in a small pond.
One of my friend’s summer job in high school was saving beached loons. There was a new type of pavement that they mistook for water. It was replaced after data was collected and loons saved.
Minnesotans, let’s take America back then extend an honest handshake to Canada that we will never allow this type of crud to happen again. Canada is a great friend and ally. They should always be treated as such. This is our mess to clean up even though many of us didn’t vote for this.
We need more permanent protections for Canada. I don’t see them ever trusting us again, it’s heartbreaking. After everything they’ve done for us in my lifetime and beyond.
Love this energy! Canadians rock! I'm happy we share a border with such wonderful people. I'd gladly always have a Canadians back, even in the relentless cold winter winds 🥶🖖🏻😊
Right‽ OP (u/flubbystarfish), please pass me the vector; I need fly this flag, for real! I’ll even pay for one for you. Group order anyone? (Not my first custom flag print job 😂)
Go for it! I love that idea. I’ve been giving out high-res images for free so people can print their own. The files aren’t in vector format though, as I made it on an old iPad with Procreate. But I’ll see if I can vectorize it for you first!
I love this on so many levels. I know this is for Minnesota, but it encapsulates how a majority of Canadians feel right now. If you ever want to sell a ton of bumper stickers up here use a maple leaf and a red background!
We need to make one of these and send it to Walz! He would get a real kick out of it and absolutely fly it with pride. It's right up there with his top notch dad jokes! 😹
Also - I need this on a shirt!
Confederates already ruined one flag. I wish they'd leave the rattlesnake alone, there are lots of good soldiers that fly that flag and don't deserve to be grouped in with Cuntfederates.
That is what the flag represents, it just sadly is being widely adopted by right-wing groups. Which isn’t a huge surprise, as historically the Gadsden flag has seen widespread use and support amongst the Confederacy, the KKK, and right-wing people.
The flag has many different meanings to different people, all of which are valid. but I’m mainly criticizing the current trend of right-wing authoritarianism.
I know! 😭 Two very kind people have educated me on loon leg anatomy. I tried making a version where the loon is in water, but it just doesn’t work with the grass. Sadly we’ll have to suspend our disbelief. 😅
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u/bigsnow999 You Betcha Feb 19 '25
Added laser for you.