Joe Biden, the current inhabitant of the White House, made a supposedly noteworthy contribution on Christmas Eve. He got around to signing a bill that officially labels the bald eagle as our national bird. Of course, this bill had sailed through Congress without opposition, an unsurprising feat considering the non-contentious nature of the subject.
With the inking of his signature on Monday, Biden amended Title 36 of the United States Code. This alteration officially bestowed the rank of national symbol upon the bald eagle, a predator that holds a distinctive place in our country’s symbolism. A cynical observer might wonder if, when faced with national and international crises, this is the most pressing issue that needs Presidential attention.
It’s worth noting that this bill, while technically correct, is more about paper-pushing and less about making any real change. After all, the bald eagle has graced the Great Seal of the United States since 1782 and various other national symbols making its association with the United States undeniable. The distinction of being named ‘national bird’ is a triviality considering the bird’s established status.
But there you have it, a Christmas Eve announcement, delivered courtesy of Biden’s team, trying to paint this move as a momentous one. Technically, it’s a correction; historical references to the bald eagle never gave it the title ‘national bird’, although it was designated as the national emblem by the US Congress in 1782, according to USA.gov.
The hallmarks of this predatory bird, the bald eagle, are no stranger to Americans. Its presence is a common feature on official paperwork, the Presidential flag, military insignia, and our nation’s money. It seems almost farcical to plant a flag on a designation that has been widely accepted culturally and historically.
Interestingly, a document once released by none other than the US Department of Veterans Affairs on VA.gov had incorrectly referred to the bald eagle as the national bird. So, in essence, the White House might want us to believe that this is a monumental accomplishment, but all they really did was correct a previously made mistake.
Despite the omnipresence of the bald eagle on American iconography, the Christmas Eve announcement comes across as a hollow gesture, bereft of substantial progress. It exposes the inadequacy of Biden’s administration in focusing on what truly matters, opting instead for symbolic and, in this case, redundant proclamations.
This hollow symbolic act prompts some to question the priorities of the Biden administration. Faced with wide-ranging and complex issues, they have chosen to invest energy into designating the bald eagle – a symbol that has been inextricably tied with American identity for centuries – as a national bird. Does such an act truly warrant a substantial place in his growing presidential legacy?
This revelation, however, does not completely diminish the significance of the bald eagle’s image and existence. Some might recognize its survival story, going from the brink of extinction to achieving a strong presence across the United States. Yet, the issue with Biden’s decision lies not within the bird itself but within the reason and the manner of its official designation.
The question remains – is this really a milestone in Biden’s tenure or is it merely a diversion tactic? Given the less than stellar performance in his administration, Biden appears to revel in these type of superficial victories. Highlighting these small acts is perhaps the only way his administration can seem competent to the general public.
As we usher in a new year, Biden’s focus should be on addressing the real issues. Yet, at this critical juncture, we have a Christmas Eve announcement of an irrelevant development that leaves one scratching their head. It’s a questionable move at best, pointing towards a complete lack of understanding of priorities.
Biden and his adjoining team, including Vice President Kamala Harris, need serious introspection. Their tendency to bask in such needless limelight underlines a preference for minor victories and misdemeanors over significant actions. To many, this reflects their apparent disdain for discernible progress.
Instead of demonstrating a commitment to forward-thinking and solution-oriented leadership, Biden’s gesture towards the bald eagle highlights a glaring absence of both. It seems Vice President Kamala Harris, as part of this administration, is equally indulged in these interpretive strategies to divert the public from the issues at hand.
Stripping away the boundary of partisan politics, it’s clear that Americans need concrete solutions, not empty shows of symbolism. Any hope for change lies in the current administration prioritizing key issues over such nominal proclamations. However, with this wasteful emphasis on the bald eagle status, it appears Biden and Harris are yet to take this hint.
The bald eagle’s official recognition might seem petty to some, but, in the grand scheme of things, it exposes a concern for anyone interested in effective governance. If all our leaders can achieve are cosmetic changes and superficial victories, then the American people might be in for quite a tumultuous presidency under Biden and Harris.