From www.foundingfathers.info:

When it comes to symbolizing freedom and the spirit of ’76, I do think there’s a better American flag. With all due respect to the stars and stripes, I prefer the yellow Gadsden flag with the coiled rattlesnake and the defiant “Don’t Tread on Me” motto.

The meaning of Old Glory can get mixed up with the rights and wrongs of the perpetually new-and-improved government. The meaning of “Don’t Tread on Me” is unmistakable.

From Comcast must die! by Bob Garfield (Advertising Age, November 19, 2007):

In the digital age, never get in a dispute with someone with access to a computer. Because if he is agrieved enough, and righteous enough, and persistent enough, and connected enough, he can burry you. Or at least make your life miserable for a long, long time. He doesn’t need to have a chain of newspapers, all he needs to have, basically, are fingers and rage…

For people with anger issues, the internet is a cathartic godsend and/or lethal weapon. You know the type — people who might accept the ordinary indignities of life with reasonable equanimity but become suddenly radicalized when lied to, cheated, bullied or otherwise personally abused…

Some of us — no matter how generally sweet-natured and generous, no matter how friendly and thoughtful, no matter how empathetic and transcendently kind — are simply not to be screwed with. Because when we are wronged, we will go to rather extreme lengths to be righted…