Homage today to our inspirational leader Ben Franklin. I knew that Franklin favored the turkey over the bald eagle as our national emblem but I never knew why. Finally my extensive Ben Franklin collection serves a purpose. The following is from Carl Van Doren, Benjamin Frankin, p. 708.
Franklin said he wished the bald eagle had not been chosen as an emblem of America. "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 and robbing, he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides, he is a rank coward; the little kingbird, not bigger than a sparrow, attacks him boldly and drives him out of the district.... The turkey is in comparision a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America.... He is (though a little vain and silly, it is true, but not the worse emblem for that) a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his farmyard with a red coat on."
Now I've seen eagles haul goats off the side of a mountain on Animal Planet, so maybe Ben was watching a lazy cousin. I don't know, I think it's kind of fitting that our bird soars highest and pretty much keeps to himself despite being the strongest and baddest of all birds of prey. That has worked pretty well as a national policy. Getting roasted by the millions does not convey the same notion of autonomy and strength.
Happy Thanksgiving, Junto Boys.
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