Spring turkey season is dwindling around the country. Hopefully, you're in the win column with our good friend "Tom Turkey". If not, keep at it. Ben Franklin wasn't a fan of the wild turkey because it was an easy, ignorant bird.
In fact, wasn't he in favor of the wild turkey over the bald eagle as our national bird?
No, not really.
In an often misunderstood reference to bald eagles and wild turkeys, Franklin defended the Guru of Gobble in an unpublished letter to his daughter, Sarah Bache, in January 1784. But his founding father dis, in proper context, was for Franklin's disapproval of the insignia of the Society of Cincinnati, which used what he thought was a poorly drawn bald eagle.
Franklin, in his unique way, wrote: "Others object to the Bald Eagle, as looking too much like a Dindon, or Turkey. 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. You may have seen him perch'd 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 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, tho' exactly fit for that Order of Knights which the French call Chevaliers d'Industrie. I am on this account not displeas'd 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 serv'd up at the Wedding Table of Charles the ninth. He is besides, tho' a little vain and 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."
So, if you got your turkey this year, congrats. If not, it's nothing to be ashamed of. It's not like Ben Franklin refered to you as a "Bird of bad moral character."
(Research Credit - Harvard University's Declaration Resources Project Blog)
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