Don't tread on me license plate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My interpretation is this: “don’t you ever tell me what I’m doing wrong. I’m an a*hole”

SPOT ON!

Agreed 100%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH wants to get a "Don't tread on me" license plate (the yellow one with the rattlesnake). DH is very libertarian and does support gun rights, but he's not a Trump supporter and definitely isn't racist (I'm not white). DH keeps saying it's about individual rights and freedoms.

When I google, there's a few articles saying that people think it's racist, but that hasn't been my experience. The guys I know that have the flags/shirt are usually ex military and one of DH's friends is black with the sticker on his Jeep

Other people's thoughts?

If your DH is a Libertarian, then he favors both personal and economic freedom and opposes most (or all) government intervention in both areas. As such, I don't know why he would want to pay the government for a specialized license plate when he can, in true Libertarian fashion, make his own bumper sticker that reads: Libertarian - Don't Tread on Anyone, or, Libertarian - Stay out of My Bedroom and My Wallet. I would buy hime a Libertarian Party porcupine bumper sticker.

The "don't tread on me" people tend to favor economic freedom, freedom for themselves and people like them, and government intervention to control people who are not like them.

[Anonymous]

Intellectually I realize it is not racist but rather libertarian. But my gut reaction is to associate it with confederacy symbols and so my brain jumps to racism when I see it.

[Anonymous]

Just say he's a water polo player.

[Anonymous]

Your husband is right in that "don't tread on me" used to be about individual rights and freedoms, but now it means "i am a racist who likes guns".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He’ll get pegged as an idiot and racist. It’s a stupid license plate anyway.

+1. Does he want truck nutz too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's necessarily racist, but it's definitely anti-Democrat, anti-liberal, pro-gun, pro-military / cop, and anti-government. High correlation with authoritarian personality disorder and probably with racism. This is probably not someone you want to hang out with and discuss books or art.

I have one, and also a PhD and thousands of books. Happy to meet at the Sackler to discuss Asian art when they’re open again.

Lol, absolutely not interested in wasting any time interacting with you.

Also let me just say I’m extremely not surprised that “Asian” is your go-to art choice.

OP is definitely also Asian.

OP here. Not Asian!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Gadsden flag was actually really cool once. As a history nerd I always loved it and even had one up in my dorm room.

Unfortunately it’s been completely co-opted by a bunch of toothless moron racist cosplay dipshits, so I wouldn’t use it anymore. I’m even a libertarian and also happen to be a bit of a gun guy; by all rights I should be target audience. But yeah, you’ve gotta read the room a little bit. In 2020 America, everybody knows who you’re trying to align with when you put this on your car. I want nothing to do with it and would be embarrassed to have it on my car.

The First Navy Jack flag is so cool:



The Revolutionary War period produced some incredible flags.

[Anonymous]

I’ve seen non-Whites with the plates when I lived in Loudoun for 5 years. I just think some see it as a version of “live free or die” ala NH’s motto but in VA.

[Anonymous]

If you believe in freedom, let your husband get whatever license plate he wants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Gadsden flag was actually really cool once. As a history nerd I always loved it and even had one up in my dorm room.

Unfortunately it’s been completely co-opted by a bunch of toothless moron racist cosplay dipshits, so I wouldn’t use it anymore. I’m even a libertarian and also happen to be a bit of a gun guy; by all rights I should be target audience. But yeah, you’ve gotta read the room a little bit. In 2020 America, everybody knows who you’re trying to align with when you put this on your car. I want nothing to do with it and would be embarrassed to have it on my car.

OP here. I think we're probably most like you. DH and I are big history nerds and he keeps talking about the revolutionary war symbol. He thinks it's patriotic. He likes guns but isn't psycho (we hunt deer that we eat, no semi automatics). I actually hunted with my grandpa, so I always found that sweet.

I'm surprised by the turn that this thread took. I obviously didn't post it in the political forum. I personally am quite moderate and it seems like both sides are so stratified that there isn't a place for normal people anymore. I didn't get the racism bent, but I think that's something that's made up.

I personally would have thought that the racists would go for the Robert E Lee license plate, but whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Gadsden flag was actually really cool once. As a history nerd I always loved it and even had one up in my dorm room.

Unfortunately it’s been completely co-opted by a bunch of toothless moron racist cosplay dipshits, so I wouldn’t use it anymore. I’m even a libertarian and also happen to be a bit of a gun guy; by all rights I should be target audience. But yeah, you’ve gotta read the room a little bit. In 2020 America, everybody knows who you’re trying to align with when you put this on your car. I want nothing to do with it and would be embarrassed to have it on my car.

OP here. I think we're probably most like you. DH and I are big history nerds and he keeps talking about the revolutionary war symbol. He thinks it's patriotic. He likes guns but isn't psycho (we hunt deer that we eat, no semi automatics). I actually hunted with my grandpa, so I always found that sweet.

I'm surprised by the turn that this thread took. I obviously didn't post it in the political forum. I personally am quite moderate and it seems like both sides are so stratified that there isn't a place for normal people anymore. I didn't get the racism bent, but I think that's something that's made up.

I personally would have thought that the racists would go for the Robert E Lee license plate, but whatever.

Virginia introduceda the Gadsden Flag license plate in 2011, after the Tea Party co-opted the flag and interest surged among conservatives.

The current popularity has nothing to do with historical interest. It’s all about social signaling to other hard right, antisocial conservatives. If you’re actually a moderate, you should be aware of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He’ll get pegged as an idiot and racist. It’s a stupid license plate anyway.

Pegged. Lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My interpretation is this: “don’t you ever tell me what I’m doing wrong. I’m an a*hole”

This. I’ve noticed drivers with these plates are the worst. They cut people off, tailgate, speed, etc. They don’t want anyone treading on them but then they drive like a$$holes as though road rules don’t apply to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Gadsden flag was actually really cool once. As a history nerd I always loved it and even had one up in my dorm room.

Unfortunately it’s been completely co-opted by a bunch of toothless moron racist cosplay dipshits, so I wouldn’t use it anymore. I’m even a libertarian and also happen to be a bit of a gun guy; by all rights I should be target audience. But yeah, you’ve gotta read the room a little bit. In 2020 America, everybody knows who you’re trying to align with when you put this on your car. I want nothing to do with it and would be embarrassed to have it on my car.

OP here. I think we're probably most like you. DH and I are big history nerds and he keeps talking about the revolutionary war symbol. He thinks it's patriotic. He likes guns but isn't psycho (we hunt deer that we eat, no semi automatics). I actually hunted with my grandpa, so I always found that sweet.

I'm surprised by the turn that this thread took. I obviously didn't post it in the political forum. I personally am quite moderate and it seems like both sides are so stratified that there isn't a place for normal people anymore. I didn't get the racism bent, but I think that's something that's made up.

I personally would have thought that the racists would go for the Robert E Lee license plate, but whatever.

Virginia introduceda the Gadsden Flag license plate in 2011, after the Tea Party co-opted the flag and interest surged among conservatives.

The current popularity has nothing to do with historical interest. It’s all about social signaling to other hard right, antisocial conservatives. If you’re actually a moderate, you should be aware of that.

Except that most people have no idea what it means. I know several people with that plate and they all got it because it looked cool. Nobody cares what political nerd types think of their plate.