Posted on 12/02/2002 10:44:48 PM PST by Nitro
On Thanksgiving Day, like most Americans, I sat down to a turkey dinner with family and friends. That got me to thinking about turkeys.
The wild turkey is a lean, fast-moving bird that is reputed to be quite clever. It can run at 25 mph and fly at 55 mph. The Founders considered it for our national symbol, though the flashier bald eagle was chosen. But then something happened.
Turkeys were domesticated. They were bred for tender meat. They became too heavy to fly or run fast. In the process, their brains shrank. They became too stupid to protect themselves. It is said that turkeys sometimes look upward in a rainstorm until they drown. Whether or not this is so, they clearly aren't the Einsteins of the bird world.
Domestic turkeys' deficiencies aren't important, so long as the farmer continues to provide food and protection from predators. But the poor birds wouldn't be able to survive on their own, as do their wild cousins. They couldn't find food, or protect themselves and their young. They couldn't recognize enemies, much less fight or flee.
Are these stupid creatures the only ones that have been so domesticated that they have lost the ability to protect themselves and their young? Are they the only ones that have had the independence and cunning bred out of them? Are they the only ones that depend on their owners to feed and protect them? Are they the only ones that have become property rather than self-reliant individuals?
Regrettably, there are human turkeys who have become so used to being cared for that they are now unable to recognize enemies, much less to protect themselves and their young. There are human turkeys who have been treated as domestic animals for so long that they have come to think of themselves that way.
And in the process, their brains shrank. Overall intelligence remained the same. The shrinkage was localized to the segment of the brain that recognizes danger and evokes a vigorous response. The deficiency developed in the part of the personality that sees itself as a responsible individual, rather than a mere member of a flock. The deficit appeared in the portion of the mind that initiates action on its own behalf, rather than waiting for the owner to do something.
Consider the differences between wild and domestic turkeys. Consider which type many of us have come to resemble. Then consider which of them would be the more appropriate symbol of modern Americans.
Wild turkeys are naturally lean and muscular. They must be able to move fast to escape enemies. But many Americans, especially young ones, are overweight to the point of obesity. They eat huge portions of fattening foods and get little exercise.
Wild turkeys are alert and cunning. They have to be to stay alive. But many Americans have lapsed into a pacifist stupor. They are interested only in making money and having fun, and they assume everyone is like them – materialistic. So they can't understand religious fanaticism. They can't believe there are people who hate them, spit on their way of life, and want to kill them. They assume "it's all about oil."
Wild turkeys recognize predators. But many Americans are unable or unwilling to do so. They fear Evangelical Christians more than they fear Middle Eastern terrorists, Republicans more than al-Qaeda, and George W. Bush more than Saddam Hussein.
Wild turkeys care for their young. But many Americans have abdicated that responsibility to the government. They expect schools to provide lunches, perhaps the only nutritious meal of the day. They expect teachers to provide guidance on behavior, ethics, and especially "safe sex." They expect teachers to keep their kids away from drugs and gangs. They expect the state to provide money if there is no father. And they expect all this to be done without inconveniencing them in the least.
Wild turkeys protect themselves and their young. But many Americans expect police to protect them, then tie the cops' hands. They support ethnic and gender quotas rather than hiring on merit, then are angry when some of those hired are ineffective. They require cops to sit around filling out reports on each other, then are upset when there are too few cops on patrol. They blame cops for violent arrests, then are alarmed when arrests decline sharply. They scrutinize shootings by cops to fix blame, but gloss over shootings of cops. They condemn "profiling," then are shocked – shocked! – when increasing numbers of African-Americans and Hispanics are murdered.
Wild turkeys mature into self-reliant adults. But many Americans remain childlike. They assume that if they don't have guns, they will be safe from armed criminals. They assume that if they don't build a missile defense, they will be safe from missiles armed with nuclear, biologic or chemical warheads. They assume that if they don't search for terrorists at home, there will be no problem. They assume that if they close their eyes, the boogey man can't see them.
Wild turkeys live in flocks, then separate into family groups to mate and rear their young. But many Americans no longer see the family as the unit of civilization. They have children out of wedlock and go from one partner to another. Their primary concern is their own comfort, not their children's well-being. They pursue their careers, but allow their kids to be raised by others. They "love all the peoples of the earth," but neglect their own families. They want to "save the planet," but not their own marriages. They are "citizens of the world," but not their own nation. Of course, being a "citizen of the world" imposes no obligations other than breathing.
Wild turkeys are independent. Nobody owns them. But many Americans no longer see themselves as individuals responsible to a just God, but merely as cogs in a socialist machine. They have abdicated to the state the responsibility for all important decisions, and (even worse) for the moral consequences of those decisions. They feel no more responsibility for the decisions than domestic turkeys feel for the decisions of the farmer who owns them. Be honest. Ask yourself whether many Americans resemble wild turkeys or domestic turkeys. You'll have to admit that the answer is the latter. But domestic turkeys are notoriously stupid and helpless. They make poor role models.
They lead thoughtless lives and leave all important decisions to their owners. And even when they see the truck unloading cans of cranberry sauce, they don't concern themselves with their future.
Worst of all, they are utterly unaware of their purpose in the scheme of things. Turkeys make up an important part of Thanksgiving Day, but they have no notion of what we should be thankful for, or to Whom we should give thanks.
Even if they were capable of gratitude, domestic turkeys wouldn't be grateful for freedom. They would only be confused and frightened by it.
Yes, the domestic turkey would be an appropriate symbol for many modern Americans. It would be more fitting than the wild turkey, and certainly more fitting than the eagle. But before we go to the trouble and expense of redesigning our Great Seal, our military insignia and our money, we might consider redefining ourselves.
Who wants to be a turkey anyhow?
Be honest. Ask yourself whether many Americans resemble wild turkeys or domestic turkeys. You'll have to admit that the answer is the latter. But domestic turkeys are notoriously stupid and helpless. They make poor role models.LOL! ahem... err...um… no comment.Yes, the domestic turkey would be an appropriate symbol for many modern Americans. It would be more fitting than the wild turkey, and certainly more fitting than the eagle.
There's something to be said for some Wild Turkeys, especially of the distilled persuasion!
Happy Thanksgiving Day
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