The eagle--if you have ever seen one soaring through the sky, you understand how this magnificent bird came to be forever tied with freedom. I've been wondering today, thanks to this graphic I stumbled across, would the eagle resign as our Republic's mascot if it understood the infringement on liberty that continues to take play in our union. Most most recent attack on freedom of course is the Republicans desire to continue the Patriot, which of course is a direct attack on the Bill of Rights--far more dangerous than Obamacare, even though I would never advocate Obamacare either.
I got to thinking about the eagle today, and I remembered reading somewhere that Benjamin Franklin didn't approve of the Eagle as a symbol of the new Republic. Franklin, picked out a much stranger bird, the turkey. That might sound strange today considering the negative connotation of the word turkey (ie: Obama is a turkey), but when you listen to Franklin's reasoning why the great eagle should not be a national symbol you have to wonder if Franklin foreshadowed the road ahead for the Republic. Read Franklin's comments about the Eagle written to his daughter, and consider the America we live into day with the eagle Franklin describes.
"For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.
"With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping & Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country . . .
"I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America . . . He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on."
In many way, our federal government has taken on this persona. They confiscate large amounts of wealth like Franklin describes the eagle taking from the fishing hawk as if it were an entitlement for the eagle. They promote the lazy while penalizing achievement.
Don't get me wrong, I have a great admiration for the American bald eagle. I just find Franklin's words a little hard hitting considering the current state of the federal government.
