About 240 years ago, as the founding fathers were deciding on the design for the Great Seal of the United States, they ultimately chose the striking bald eagle. However, Ben Franklin, a notable dissenter, famously advocated for the wild turkey as a symbol of our nation. Despite his efforts, the eagle took flight as our national icon.
As a kid, I was captivated by the idea that seemingly trivial choices could have significant consequences. Imagine if Franklin had triumphed, and the turkey became our emblem. Would we still celebrate Thanksgiving with the same enthusiasm? Would tossing turkeys become a playful way to insult one another?
Let’s explore this further. Could our choice of symbols reflect and even shape our national identity? The bald eagle, as a bird of prey, embodies power and aggression, swooping down to hunt. In contrast, wild turkeys are foragers, more inclined to peck at acorns than to hunt. What if we had chosen a symbol that represented foraging over hunting? Might this have influenced our historical concepts of Manifest Destiny, or our approach to foreign policy in the 20th and 21st centuries?
If the turkey doesn’t convince you, consider our national colors. The red, white, and blue of the American flag derived from the colors of the British flag, since the original colonies were part of the British Empire. While their meanings weren’t initially defined, they’ve evolved over time.
Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, stated, “White signifies purity and innocence. Red signifies hardiness and valor, while blue symbolizes vigilance, perseverance, and justice.” The stars and stripes hold hidden significances as well. A 1977 publication by the House of Representatives suggested that the stars represent “the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial; the stripes symbolize the rays of light emanating from the sun.”
What if we had ascribed different meanings to these colors? Could the white represent appreciation for our country’s resources, or the blue embody our aspiration for peaceful coexistence with others?
Let’s also examine our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Adopted by President Wilson in 1916, it reflects a battle from the War of 1812. Would our national character be different if we had selected the gentler “God Bless America,” written by Irving Berlin in 1918? Although Wilson couldn’t have chosen it at the time, it raises an interesting thought.
Perhaps I’m mistaken in believing our symbols impact our identity, and they are merely random selections made by influential figures. But consider this: while Franklin championed the turkey, it wasn’t his top choice—instead, he initially preferred the rattlesnake.
For more on how our symbols shape our understanding of identity, check out this enlightening post. And if you’re curious about the process of home insemination, resources like Make a Mom’s BabyMaker are excellent. Additionally, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine offers valuable insights into pregnancy and home insemination techniques.
In summary, the choices we make regarding national symbols, whether they are animals, colors, or anthems, not only reflect our values but can also have lasting effects on our identity. The hypothetical scenario of the turkey serving as our national emblem invites us to ponder how different symbols may have altered our national narrative and character.