The Wall Street Journal had a front-page article Wednesday about the growing number of suburban Americans being attacked by wild turkeys. Their fighting spirit is nothing new — it’s one reason Ben Franklin wanted the wild turkey, not the bald eagle, as the national symbol.
Franklin wrote his daughter disparaging the bald eagle as a thief and “rank Coward.” The turkey, by comparison, he argued, was 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.”
Clearly, turkeys deserve more respect — maybe that’s why they’re so angry?
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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25 Comments
Considering how many wild turkeys are attacked by suburbanites (dressed in the latest camo from Abercrombie and Fitch, and boots from L. L. Bean), I don’t wonder that the turkeys are fighting back!
Right on, Jed,The great turkey wars of the early twenty-first century. Where’s my shotgun!
By the way, Shouldn’t Thanksgiving be outlawed from any and all government, Federal, State and local, doings? After all, it is a day the stared with the Pilgrams thanking God for everything.
We need to get the ACLU on this right away. We can’t have government monies being spent celebrating anything that Thanks God. Why, thats just plain unAmerican!
The government isn’t who should get rid of Thanksgiving- you know, that holiday where we thank god for all he’s done for us by committing the deadly sin of gluttony! Ever get the feeling he’s looking down, shaking his head, and saying “They just don’t get it!”
Walker
We ought to thank God for showing how bad “government” really happens to to be.
Hope you libs have a great day at work (surely you wouldn’t be hypocritical and take this day with such clear religious overtones off) see you slaving away on Christmas!
Hey man,I’m self employed. I haven’t had a holiday in six years!
Always a little politics: The wrong “turkey” at the White House got pardened.
pardoned.
The wrong Cluck.
Ed,You better be careful who you call “turkey!” Them real wild turkeys will be out to cook your goose if you compare them to dubya!
Thanksgiving= A holiday cooked up (sorry for the pun) to give thanks for the blessings received in the previous year, or…
n 1: fourth Thursday in November in the United States; second Monday in October in Canada; commemorates a feast held in 1621 by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag [syn: Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Day] 2: a short prayer of thanks before a meal (compliments dictionary.com)
Anybody see the word “God?”
So I guess that means that a person can thank anyone he/she wants to thank, huh? God, Allah, Jehovah, Goddess, Bhudha, Mom, Dad, Uncle Jake for those savings bonds that are paying for college…
Happy T-Day, bloggers!
Let’s see….turkey’s are stupid and attack without much thought or provacation? Sounds like it just may be a better national symbol afterall.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Jed,
You’re right. But a cooked “turkey” is not much of a threat.
But I’m thinking that Bush’s turkey got away, but at least his goose has been cooked!
Happy Thanksgiving….Bloggers and Bloggettes.
Especially to all my Zionist friends. Opps, I don’t have any Zionist friends, well, you can’t win em all.
By Franklin’s definition the eagle as a thief and coward is a better symbol for American poltics than the turkey. But then there is, as Mr. Scholfield says, the silly and vain part about the turkey. As tough a choice now as it was in Franklin’s time.
What a Totally Meaningless and Useless post!!
Yeah, ain’t it! That’s what makes it fun!
Hey, anyone observing “buy nothing” day?
Roo,My wife & I will be observing “buy nothing” day today. “Black Friday” would best describe my mood if dragged out among the greedy masses on the day after Thanksgiving!
RD(b),Come on now, you know that the only dictionaries you read are politically correct ones. The word “God” isn’t even in them:-))
I see Walker’s still stinging from our previous debate. That’s too bad.
I’ve never tasted bald eagle, but I suspect it’s not as good as turkey.
JM, sorry to disappoint you, but God isn’t mentioned in my very worn 10th edition of Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. It does however mention ‘divine goodness’. But then I guess ‘collegiate’ would mean ‘liberal’ huh? Point me to a non-pc dictionary and I’ll check it out. Promise.
Roo,Given the Bush economy, I observe “Buy Nothing Day” a whole lot more than I’d wish!