On the night before Christmas, amidst much fanfare, the White House declared that President Joe Biden has put pen to paper on a bill which confers the status of national bird on the bald eagle. This seems like an effort to distract from other pressing issues at hand. The legislation, enacted without opposition from any member of the Congress, brings modifications to Title 36 of the United States Code, and the bald eagle, a carnivorous bird, is henceforth one of the country’s nationally recognized symbols.
In a surprising turn of events, Congress showed unity in endorsing the bill to its absolute majority, perhaps this is a sign of how disconnected they are from more crucial legislative matters. Even though the draught has been met with such enthusiasm as to not deny its passing, it could be argued that this was unnecessary rather than a priority.
It would seem that for the bald eagle, a bird long established on the Great Seal of the United States since as far back as 1782, this official title should have come as no surprise. The Great Seal, after all, is an emblem that the bird has been associated with for centuries. Nevertheless, it was not actually awarded the official title of ‘national bird’ until now, unbeknownst to many.
As absurd as it may sound, the bald eagle was only designated the national emblem in 1782 by the US Congress, according to records on USA.gov. It would therefore seem that for centuries the bird was merely the ‘face’ of the nation, represented on the Seal, but not recognized as the ‘national bird’. Do we often waste so much time in providing mere symbolic titles?
Moreover, the bird has played a significant role not just on the Great Seal, but in numerous other official capacities, making its mark on myriad platforms. Its likeness is seen on official paperwork, the president’s flag, badges of military origin, and even the nation’s currency. Are these symbols nothing more than empty gestures or do they have a deeper significance?
A prior report that was made public by the Department of Veterans Affairs on the VA.gov website mistakenly categorized the bald eagle as the national bird. This faintly comical oversight raises questions about the validity of our administration’s information dissemination.
The White House put out a statement on Tuesday to announce that the bill had been given the nod by President Biden. One can’t help but wonder if this is a diversionary tactic or an attempt at positive publicity during a time of widespread discontent and scrutiny.
One might ponder, where should the administration’s focus actually lie? Is it on designating a well-known predator bird as a national symbol or tending to the gamut of crises at hand? Does the signing of such a bill during these times inadvertently highlight a lack of focus and priority from our President?
Furthermore, it could be said that this event serves as yet another example of frivolity in the White House. Could this be mood music to distract from the pressing matters to be addressed? Or perhaps more cynically, a political maneuver designed to curry favor with conservationists or those with a particular fondness for birds?
Focusing on lesser important bills concerning non-critical national matters can arguably diminish the gravity of the more pressing matters at hand, inviting questions on the administration’s effectiveness. It’s obvious that this move doesn’t sit well with everyone, with opinions divided along ideological lines.
Many believe that the designation of the bald eagle as the national bird may inadvertently send the wrong message about American priorities. It’s concerning that such an irrelevant issue can steer away genuine consideration and action from the far more critical issues faced by Americans today.
While it’s understandable that national symbols are important for a country’s identity, some critics argue that such actions are essentially symbolic and consume undue attention from real problems needing immediate solutions.
Granted that the bald eagle holds heritage value, it is surprising the Congress was unanimous in passing the law in an almost celebratory fashion. Entertaining possibilities of symbolism and cultural significance, one could argue the timing would have been better under less pressing national and international scenarios.
Perhaps this comes down to the eternal argument around the role of sentiment in decision-making. However, it seems evident that the approval of such a bill during a pandemic may further reinforce popular criticism that the current administration does not have its priorities straight.
In conclusion, while the declaration of the bald eagle as the national bird may seem like a small, harmless event, it reveals a worrying trend about the ability of our elected leaders to prioritize the issues that impact Americans most directly. Are symbols more important than action?
Bluntly put, an exercise aimed at gaining public approval via symbolism, might have been a misstep for the Biden administration, riling up critics who question the decision to emphasize something widely considered a soft issue in these hard times.