Photo credit (edited), fair use
In a blogpost entitled Don’t Tread on Me, I used my perspective on rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) when outlining a logical and reasonable (collectively “rational”) case for use of the Gadsden flag. Notably, the flag represents opposition to oppressive and tyrannical rule.
For those who remain unfamiliar with the Gadsden flag, and with a punctuation error corrected, I’m referring to the bright yellow flag that states, “Don’t tread on me.” In modern parlance, the phrase essentially means “don’t mess with me” or “leave me alone.”
I find it odd how many people misunderstand, misinterpret, and misrepresent the meaning of this flag. In particular, I’ve observed a trend whereby members of Hollywood television and film studios depict people who use the Gadsden flag as racist, paranoid, and scary.
For example, in the film Queenpins (2021), two women commit coupon fraud and use money laundering to disguise their behavior. One method of their laundering relates to the purchase of firearms. According to one source, “They later sell off their guns to a militia,” in a scene depicted thusly:
Property of STXfilms and Paramount+, fair use
Presumably, frightening men – some donning skull face paint and masks to let the audience know how truly scary they are – support the sentiment of the Gadsden flag. Therefore, opposition to authoritarian oppression equals horrifyingly unhinged behavior.
Later in the film, militia members are raided by a federal law enforcement organization. Noteworthy, founders of the United States were opposed to a standing army which could be used for tyrannical control of the people. According to one source:
In general, there were great concerns about the need for a standing army outside of times of war. The Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia provided checks on any standing army by allowing the President to command it, but Congress to finance it using short-term legislation.
Militias were preferred by the founders. These clusters of defense perceivably weren’t as likely or capable of oppressing the populous as that of a standing military. One wonders what is so frightening about a “leave me alone” stance when considering damage done by today’s military forces.
Aside from Queenpins, in season three, episode two of The Righteous Gemstones (2023), one source describes how popular characters of the series visit “Camp Wooden Feather, a Christian militia operation where heavily armed men prepare for end-times.” In the scene, a Gadsden flag is featured:
Property of HBO Entertainment, fair use
The audience is left to conclude that Christian white men who serve in a militia are disgraceful, as Camp Wooden Feather is later raided by a federal law enforcement agency. I’m detecting a theme here.
Apparently, whoever supports a “don’t mess with me” message is also supportive of criminal activity. Therefore, tyrannically oppressive raids by federal law enforcers are the depicted antidote to people wanting to be left alone.
Of course, Hollywood depiction of those who support a “don’t tread on me” attitude is farcical. Personally, there’s nothing morally or ethically wrong with the preferential should belief expressed on the Gadsden flag.
Contrarily, I dispute the absolutistic and conditional should beliefs maintained by those who unhelpfully demand to do the treading. In any case, when contemplating this matter I’m reminded of a rap song.
On his 2008 album entitled Self Made, rapper Rocko released the song “Umma Do Me,” which essentially translates to “Imma do me,” “I’m a do me,” “I’m going to do me,” or, “I’m going to tend to myself.” For example, “You don’t like the Gadsden flag? Fine. Umma do me.”
Lyrics of the chorus include, “You just do you (And what?), umma do me (Ayy).” The inferred meaning is similar to a “leave me alone” perspective. What person finds it morally or ethically reprehensible for an individual wanting to be left alone?
A coiled snake exercising a preferential should narrative isn’t assaultive by nature. For those individuals who irrationally demand to tread on it, I suppose depictions of a scary venomous serpent would make sense.
Ergo, Hollywood depiction of those who support the Gadsden flag suggests more about people’s intention – when mischaracterizing an entire group of people through use of unhelpful global evaluations – than it does about those who merely want to be left alone. No step on snek.
If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
Barker, R. (2024, May 9). “No step on snek” – Its meaning, origin & usage. History of English. Retrieved from https://www.thehistoryofenglish.com/no-step-on-snek
Hollings, D. (2024, July 9). Absolutistic should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/absolutistic-should-beliefs
Hollings, D. (2024, July 9). Conditional should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/conditional-should-beliefs
Hollings, D. (2022, October 31). Demandingness. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/demandingness
Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer
Hollings, D. (2023, September 1). Don’t tread on me. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/don-t-tread-on-me
Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use
Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better
Hollings, D. (2023, September 13). Global evaluations. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/global-evaluations
Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/
Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching
Hollings, D. (2023, January 8). Logic and reason. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/logic-and-reason
Hollings, D. (2023, October 2). Morals and ethics. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/morals-and-ethics
Hollings, D. (2024, September 27). My attitude. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/my-attitude
Hollings, D. (2024, April 22). On disputing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-disputing
Hollings, D. (2023, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings
Hollings, D. (2024, July 10). Preferential should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/preferential-should-beliefs
Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt
IMDb. (n.d.). Queenpins plot. Retrieved from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9054192/plotsummary/
MarcuzDaNigg. (2007, November 22). Rocko – Umma Do me [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/HNemkBDsfgc?si=K9aYnCoVO3LdeQaN
National Constitution Center. (2020, September 29). On this day: Congress officially creates the U.S. Army. Retrieved from https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/on-this-day-congress-officially-creates-the-u-s-army
Tobias, S. (2023, June 18). The Righteous Gemstones recap: Hell of a wheelman. Vulture. Retrieved from https://www.vulture.com/article/the-righteous-gemstones-recap-season-3-episode-2-but-esau-ran-to-meet-him.html
USFlagStore. (n.d.). US Flag Store 3ft x 5ft Gadsden Flag [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.usflagstore.com/US_Flag_Store_3ftx5ft_Gadsden_Flag_p/60-100-84145.htm/
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Gadsden flag. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadsden_flag
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Queenpins. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queenpins
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Rocko (rapper). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocko_(rapper)
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Self Made (album). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self_Made_(album)
Wikipedia. (n.d.). The Righteous Gemstones. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Righteous_Gemstones
Kommentare