About those snakes...

I love learning random things about Revolutionary War history.
I’m enjoying HBO’s John Adams series at present, which prompted me to do some research on the Gadsden flag. In reading its history I came across a passage by Ben Franklin, whose Join or Die cartoon somewhat prefigured the Gadsden flag, explaining his rationale behind selecting a rattle snake as a symbol of the fledgling nation:

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 pretentions of quarrelling 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 defenceless animal; and even when those weapons are shewn and extended for her defence, 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 treading on her.—Was I wrong, Sir, in thinking this a strong picture of the temper and conduct of America?

A fine analogy of a different America, sadly, than I will ever know.