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Your Favourite Flag ? (pg. 5)
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| jupiterone |
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| TazZ-erT |
Its the flag for my country :D |
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| VAR |
Benjamin Franklin diverts an idle hour
[Benjamin Franklin, portrait by David Martin, 1767. White House Historical Association.]
In December 1775, "An American Guesser" anonymously wrote to the Pennsylvania Journal:
"I observed on one of the drums belonging to the marines now raising, there was painted a Rattle-Snake, with this modest motto under it, 'Don't tread on me.' As I know it is the custom to have some device on the arms of every country, I supposed this may have been intended for the arms of America."
This anonymous writer, having "nothing to do with public affairs" and "in order to divert an idle hour," speculated on why a snake might be chosen as a symbol for America.
First, it occurred to him that "the Rattle-Snake is found in no other quarter of the world besides America."
The rattlesnake also has sharp eyes, and "may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance." Furthermore,
"She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage. ... she never wounds 'till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of treading on her."
Finally,
"I confess I was wholly at a loss what to make of the rattles, 'till I went back and counted them and found them just thirteen, exactly the number of the Colonies united in America; and I recollected too that this was the only part of the Snake which increased in numbers. ...
"'Tis curious and amazing to observe how distinct and independent of each other the rattles of this animal are, and yet how firmly they are united together, so as never to be separated but by breaking them to pieces. One of those rattles singly, is incapable of producing sound, but the ringing of thirteen together, is sufficient to alarm the boldest man living."
Many scholars now agree that this "American Guesser" was Benjamin Franklin.
from
http://www.foundingfathers.info/stories/gadsden.html |
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| Paulie |
| quote: | Originally posted by jennypie
Macedonia and Seychelles' are cool. I do like Albania's as well. I also like South Africa's, Great Britain's, Sweden's, Guyana, Hong Kong, Turkey, Israel...annnnnnnnd everyone else's can go themselves. |
No disrespect but Macedonia is a state of greece...i think you might of got cunfused between between albania or bulgaria... |
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| RJT |
:) |
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| nchs09 |
| quote: | Originally posted by RJT
:) |
But there are so many like it.... |
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| RJT |
| quote: | Originally posted by nchs09
But there are so many like it.... |
None of them have the same memories attached :) |
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| CSB |
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| Lesbianosaur |
| quote: | Originally posted by Paulie
No disrespect but Macedonia is a state of greece...i think you might of got cunfused between between albania or bulgaria... |
And I vote Zimbabwe:
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| Paulie |
| Lesbian you have got to be kidding me... |
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