NPR Goes Into Concerned Hysterics Over Florida Placing the Gadsen Flag on License Plates – Opinion

Historical records are not to be believed, but there must be hate with the centuries-old flag that represents libertarian freedom from oppression.

It is always a joy to watch journalists abandon journalism when they are in an exaggerated emotional state. You can usually see it coming in the form of some overexcited yet underdeveloped pique of fervency over a topic — when you can practically see the smoke rising off of their keyboard after a flourish of lexicon delivery. The conflict between facts and emotions is what usually ends these writers’ writing histrionics.

Mike Miller described how the media reacted to the announcement by Florida of a new license plate. And the indolent thinking goes on. This particular version comes from Scott Neuman, at National Public Radio, and he falls prey to a common malady infecting the press at nearly outbreak levels – DeSantis Delusion Complex. A social media posting by the governor was the point of infection. The symptom is clearly visible opposition to his actions and a lack of a practical approach. Because Governor Ron stated something, a journalist should correct him.

Florida’s legislature approved a bill that allows residents to choose a plate with the historical Gadsen flag as the symbol of liberty and independence. Neuman is not slow to display his passionate opposition.

Florida governor. Ron DeSantis was recently tweeted an image of what he said was a new state license plate featuring a coiled rattlesnake and the words “Don’t Tread on Me,” he said it sends a “clear message to out-of-state cars.”

It’s a disgusting thing. This is a very shabby attitude. Despite his consternation, Neuman somehow manages to minimize the fact that the plates were offered to veterans groups.

Fake news panic abounds over the Gadsden Flag plate @GovRonDeSantisFlorida Veterans in Need was announced. This is being portrayed by the media as a symbol of “domestic terror” or racism.

See details & order online here: https://t.co/y819qcDllj pic.twitter.com/kQoSrBZo4Z

— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) August 3, 2022

Neuman believes that DeSantis’ embrace of this symbol is the problem. However, we see the tension roiling inside the writer early in the book. Neuman’s contemporary understanding of the flag being a symbol that hate and intolerance, is contrary to historical reality. It is almost impossible to imagine the tension that he experienced while attempting to resolve this conflict.

The imagery of the Revolutionary War-era Gadsden flag dates to Benjamin Franklin but has, for many, come to symbolize a far-right extremist ideology and the “Stop the Steal” movement that sought to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.

Many in the press resort this to infantilism. Two and a quarter centuries worth of messages have been erased by some sloppy mooks who left the flag in The Rotunda on Jan 6. Neuman makes reference to several other states. However, it is not clear that there have been dozens of people who offer these plates for decades, without any concern-trolling by the media.

Neuman then finds an “expert” to back his attempt at revisionist history, a spokesperson from the Sothern Poverty Law Center who declares the flag has been seen during some causes which were “really awful.” Ah, so some 250 years of symbolism have been completely eclipsed by things they do not like that occurred in the last couple of years.

Here comes the comedy portion of Neuman’s rant. Neuman gets credit first. At least he sought other voices to provide historical context. But then he resorts to focusing on more contemporary influences of the flag’s true meaning, in his estimation.

The Tea Party movement…adopted the banner in 2010 as a sort of catch-all symbol of disgust with government. The banner has become an emblem for individuals and groups that oppose government.

Ah Ha! Here it is! Gadsen is an offensive flag that can be considered problematic. This is because it is a new symbol of anti-government sentiments. This is precisely why it is completely wrong for these license plates to be offered up for the residents…uh…by…by the government. Oops, Scott.

This article also contains a paradox. Neuman may have problems with this governor, but he also joins the ranks of the evil people who oppose the government. It can be very confusing. The main issue with this whole thing was maybe the flying off-the-handle and the long columns of outrage over license plates.