January 26, 1784 -

Prophetic quote from Benjamin Franklin:
Ben Franklin Says The Imperial Eagle Is A Thief!!!

Benjamin Franklin, noting the bald eagle was “a bird of bad moral character” who lived “by sharping and robbing,” expressed regret it had been selected to be the U.S. national symbol.

In fact, Franklin was critical of the bald eagle for its habit of scavenging for food and stealing from other birds.

“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 its nest for the support of his mate and young ones, the bald eagle pursues him and takes it from him,” Franklin said.


Source:
Carl Bunin Peace History January 21-27.
Quoted in GI SPECIAL (6A16), January 27, 2008.