[meteorite-list] Turkeys, Americans and Meteorite Hunters

From: MexicoDoug <mexicodoug_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2011 15:42:22 -0500 (EST)
Message-ID: <8CE7900B383AEAE-1BA8-2C785_at_webmail-m078.sysops.aol.com>

Dear List,

On this special festive day when Americans speak of giving thanks, I
though I'd stir up and honor the turkey-pot with a quote about the the
difference between your typical eagle-like meteorite hunter and
hard-working meteorite finding turkey (I was tempted to make a few
modifications to the quote to fit this, but didn't wish to defile the
writings), written by none other than Ben Franklin, the father of
meteoritics, who understond the cosmic origin of meteors while, with
all due respect, Herr Chladni just stopped pooping in his diapers.

Note: dindon is an obsolete term for a Tom Turkey, from the French Coq
de Inde ==> d'Inde + male (on) ==> dindon (male turkey).

Ben, while discussing the absurdity of titles of nobility, gave some
insight on hawkish objections that the newly minted American symbol,
the Bald Eagle, thought too look too much like a turkey, in a letter to
his daughter I believe from Passy, France on January 16, 1784. Yes,
that's Passy. Near Switzerland and Italy...


"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:
he does not get his living honestly; you may have seen him perched on
some dead tree, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the
labor 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, 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 his 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; though
exactly fit for that order of knights which the French call chevaliers
d'industrie. I am on this account not displeased 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 served up at the wedding table of Charles the Ninth. He is
besides, (though a little vain and silly 'tis true, but not the worse
emblem for that) 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."

Kindest wishes
Doug
Received on Thu 24 Nov 2011 03:42:22 PM PST