Apropos the day
Nov. 26th, 2009 03:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakThough I visited the US quite often, I never was there in November and thus never witnessed the event myself. So, here's what a non-American from abroad learns about Thanksgiving from the American media:
- there are hotlines with turkey recipees available; sometimes, geeky Presidents use them
- on Thanksgiving, you even have to take a vampire in; saving him from bears, however, is optional
- on Thanksgiving, we find out Tony Stark is the son of Mrs. Robinson; this makes so much sense (obscure Home for the Holidays allusion is obscure)
- rewriting history for a school play so that the pilgrims get all slaughtered makes it more fun
- the President gets to pardon a turkey (but not to decide which turkey it should be; that's for his poor press secretary to do)
- Benjamin Franklin thought the turkey would have made for a far better national symbol than the eagle anyway.
I must say, I'm with Franklin there. Every other European nation used and is still using the eagle already. Why go for a remake, America, when you can do an original? Or, as Mr. Franklin put it:
"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."
Benjamin Franklin: part of what I love about the US. American friends, enjoy Thanksgiving (and the Birds of Courage)!
- there are hotlines with turkey recipees available; sometimes, geeky Presidents use them
- on Thanksgiving, you even have to take a vampire in; saving him from bears, however, is optional
- on Thanksgiving, we find out Tony Stark is the son of Mrs. Robinson; this makes so much sense (obscure Home for the Holidays allusion is obscure)
- rewriting history for a school play so that the pilgrims get all slaughtered makes it more fun
- the President gets to pardon a turkey (but not to decide which turkey it should be; that's for his poor press secretary to do)
- Benjamin Franklin thought the turkey would have made for a far better national symbol than the eagle anyway.
I must say, I'm with Franklin there. Every other European nation used and is still using the eagle already. Why go for a remake, America, when you can do an original? Or, as Mr. Franklin put it:
"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."
Benjamin Franklin: part of what I love about the US. American friends, enjoy Thanksgiving (and the Birds of Courage)!
Thanks!
Date: 2009-11-26 07:56 pm (UTC)Of a
turkeyn eaglet being born...I <3 Benjamin Franklin. The turkey is a truly Noble bird. Now Ima go eat one. :)
Re: Thanks!
Date: 2009-11-26 08:51 pm (UTC)