Conservative and Labour members of a parliamentary committee in Scotland have been clashing over whether to name the golden eagle Scotland's national bird. One leading Labour MP said she was opposed to the eagle, intimating it symbolized America's war-mongering imperialistic tendencies as personified by George W. Bush. Never mind the difference between bald eagles and golden eagles. She wanted the dove of peace, instead.
Here is the transcript from the committee hearing. (The following excerpt can be located more quickly if you dial up "Bush" on your browser's highlighter).
(Conservative MP and Golden Eagle backer Annabelle Goldie)......If the Parliament was minded to consider any bird as a national emblem for Scotland, it has to be something that, at first sight, is synonymous with and is already an icon of Scotland. However meritorious the dove might be—(Labour MP) Helen Eadie: But the eagle reminds people of Bush and all the worst aspects of aggression. The eagle is one of the emblems of America.
Miss Goldie: It does not. If I may say so, that is an unfortunate ornithological lapse. The committee member is confusing the bald-headed eagle with the golden eagle. As a Scot, my blood rises and courses through my veins to think that there could be any possible confusion. The golden eagle is, of course, an indigenous Scot and a dramatic, heroic and fine example of all the best qualities of Scotland.
Tell it, Miss Goldie!
The country's leading daily newspaper, The Scotsman, editorialized (third item, bottom):
Due to a division of opinion that could be seen as a challenge to the eagle’s political correctness, the committee is to write to the Scottish Executive urging it to get involved in the decision. How could the choice of national bird be politically contentious?
It all started when The Scotsman began a public campaign in favor of the golden eagle. Also throwing weight behind the golden eagle was Scotland's version of the Audobon society, known as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
One Duncan Orr-Ewing (God, dontcha just luv names like that?) of the RSPB put it nicely:
The Scottish people have voted and chosen the golden eagle as our national bird. We hope the Scottish Parliament public petitions committee will now endorse this proposal.The majestic golden eagle, regarded by many as ‘the king of birds’, is a fitting ambassador for Scotland and is embedded in our culture - eagle feathers were worn by clan chiefs as part of ceremonial dress. Scotland has one of the most important golden eagle populations in the world, in terms of number of breeding pairs, and everyone recognises this species as typically Scottish, a symbol of beautiful and rugged landscapes.
Unfortunately, however, for Duncan Orr-Ewing and other golden eagle backers, the decision is, ah, up in the air, and not just because an ornithologically-challenged Labour MP sees the golden eagle as Bush's bird of war. A recent RSPB poll has found the humdrum robin is the favorite birds of Scotsmen (er, excuse me, Scotspersons).
Sad to say, though, the robin is already the national bird of England, according to this BBC Scottish politics round-up (last paragraph in link). Scotland's ongoing identity crisis as a stepchild of the UK will surely not be lessened by adopting Mother England's national bird as its own.
The most recent (Dec. 1) news reports on the turnabout were curiously silent about any further action by Parliament or the Executive one way or other.
To them I say: Dither no more. The eyes of the world are upon you. Let the Golden Eagle fly.
Posted by Matt Rosenberg at December 9, 2004 11:34 AM
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