Merchandise with the politically charged symbol of a Gadsden flag recently went on sale at the Gettysburg Museum & Visitor Center bookstore. Officials say these items speak to history, not conservative politics. (THE EVENING SUN -- TIM PRUDENTE)
The name might not be recognizable, but you've probably seen a Gadsden flag, typically yellow with a coiled rattlesnake and the warning "Don't tread on me."
The flag was flown by colonists rebelling against British rule. And more recently, it's become the adopted symbol of the Tea parties and conservative Republicans, prompting questions as to whether it's an appropriate theme for merchandise sold at the Gettysburg battlefield bookstore.
There shoppers will find Gadsden flag shot glasses, mugs, magnets and pins. The souvenirs are the only items representing the Revolutionary War sold in the bookstore, said an employee. Mostly, the store offers merchandise that speaks to historic events a century later.
"It isn't sold in a historically relevant context," said Paul Gioni, a battlefield enthusiast from Mahwah, N.J., who contacted the National Park Service and The Evening Sun after visiting the park recently. "This is blatantly political merchandise."
The nonprofit Gettysburg Foundation operates the bookstore and a spokeswoman said the Gadsden flag merchandise serves a goal of representing the broader context of American history. Furthermore, Cindy Small said, there remain connections between the Gadsden flag and fighting at Gettysburg.
"During the Civil War, the flag was used in some Southern states as a symbol of secession," she said.
Federal regulations call for all merchandise sold at National Parks to be approved in writing by a park superintendent. At Gettysburg, the Gadsden flag merchandise has received approval from park officials, according to spokeswoman Katie Lawhon.
National Park Service Chief Spokesman David Barna said the merchandise falls in line with efforts to educate the public.
"The Gadsden flag, to us, is a piece of history," he said. "At these Civil War sites, we don't try to just have Civil War history. But we try to pique people's interest in history throughout the nation."
Elsewhere, though, the flag has become a politically charged symbol brandished at political rallies and demonstrations.
A group of Republican congressmen unfurled a Gadsden flag from a Capitol building balcony during the debate on healthcare reform. And a Colorado man made national news when his homeowners association ordered him to remove a Gadsden flag from his roof.
Also, a group of retired Marines was denied a request to fly a Gadsden flag at the Connecticut State Capitol. Lawmakers there defended their refusal by saying the flag was a political symbol with Tea party connections. And debate raged when Arizona's conservative governor Jan Brewer signed a law providing the Gadsden flag the same protections as "Old Glory."
"The flag is legitimate in the proper context," Gioni said. "The problem is this flag has been hijacked for the political stage. It's definitely partisan and definitely inappropriate. The park should be politically neutral."
There have been other complaints of inappropriate merchandise sold at National Park bookstores. The Park Service has drawn criticism for selling a creationist book that says the Grand Canyon was formed by Noah's flood.
Others have objected to the sale of books containing American Indian folklore, particularly one that says the towering rock formation in northeast Wyoming called Devil's Tower was formed by bears.
Barna said the Park Service follows strict guidelines to prevent the appearance of religious or political affiliations.
"We're very careful about what we do, especially in an election year," Barna said. "These items with the Gadsden flag were not selected to have anything to do with current political issues out there."
Gioni doesn't believe the Gettysburg bookstore is pushing partisan politics. Rather, he said, the items are probably stocked because they sell.
"When you're in an election year, you know this stuff is going to make a fast buck," he said. "They're disregarding what's appropriate in the interest of money."
The Gadsden flag merchandise arrived about two months ago and there has only been one complaint, said a store employee. In fact, some visiting veterans have praised the merchandise, saying the flag speaks to U.S. military history.
Early reports of the flag can be traced back to around 1775, when a Continental Navy and Marines Corps was founded to capture British ships laden with gunpowder. The very first Marines carried yellow-painted drums with the rattlesnake and the warning "Don't tread on me."
Gioni has also taken issue with past policies of the Gettysburg Foundation, particularly its stewardship of the vast collect of Civil War artifacts. A self-described liberal, he said the merchandise is inappropriate, no matter what one's politics.
Merchandise at the bookstore has drawn scrutiny after bobblehead dolls of President Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth, were offered for sale, prompting the criticism of historians.
Those items were removed from the shelves in March. But the Gettysburg Foundation has no plans to pull the Gadsden flag merchandise.
"The Gadsden flag for sale in the museum bookstore is one of a number of items available for purchase that broadly represents American history," Small said. "Therefore, we will continue to sell it in our store."
No comments:
Post a Comment