[meteorite-list] Turkeys, Americans and Meteorite Hunters

[MexicoDoug]

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