bup
05-26-2006, 08:33 AM
Everybody in the US gets taught, over and over and over, that Ben Franklin wanted the turkey to be the "national bird." That's because a whole lot of people are idiots.
If you see the whole argument, it's clear he's just making fun of the symbol of the old boys' club, the Socety of the Cincinnati (which fraternity he hated).
Here's the whole passage (Franklin's writings are public domain, no?):
For my own part, I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as 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, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labor 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. He is therefore by no means a proper emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America, who have driven all the kingbirds from our country; though exactly fit for that order of knights, which the French call Chevaliers d'Industrie.
I am, on this account, not displeased that the figure is not known as a bald eagle, but looks more like a turkey. For in truth, the turkey is in comparison a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America. Eagles have been found in all countries, but the turkey was peculiar to ours; the first of the species seen in Europe, being brought to France by the Jesuits from Canada, and served up at the wedding table of Charles the Ninth. He is, besides, (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. (http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~insrisg/nature/nw98/franklinturkey.html)He makes a pun about the kingbird.
He talks about how the turkey has been served as food at banquets.
He talks about how they're vain and silly.
And, even if you still think he means you to take him at face value, the last sentence makes it clear he's talking about domesticated turkeys.
On behalf of Ben Franklin, I hate everyone. Thank you.
If you see the whole argument, it's clear he's just making fun of the symbol of the old boys' club, the Socety of the Cincinnati (which fraternity he hated).
Here's the whole passage (Franklin's writings are public domain, no?):
For my own part, I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as 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, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labor 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. He is therefore by no means a proper emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America, who have driven all the kingbirds from our country; though exactly fit for that order of knights, which the French call Chevaliers d'Industrie.
I am, on this account, not displeased that the figure is not known as a bald eagle, but looks more like a turkey. For in truth, the turkey is in comparison a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America. Eagles have been found in all countries, but the turkey was peculiar to ours; the first of the species seen in Europe, being brought to France by the Jesuits from Canada, and served up at the wedding table of Charles the Ninth. He is, besides, (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. (http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~insrisg/nature/nw98/franklinturkey.html)He makes a pun about the kingbird.
He talks about how the turkey has been served as food at banquets.
He talks about how they're vain and silly.
And, even if you still think he means you to take him at face value, the last sentence makes it clear he's talking about domesticated turkeys.
On behalf of Ben Franklin, I hate everyone. Thank you.