Skip to content

Have you ever been to the beach and wanted to feed the…

“Have you ever been to the beach and wanted to feed the seagulls? The problem is you tear off a little crust from your sandwich and toss it to one, and ten more show up. Toss a little more and a flock descends. You start to wonder: if I run out of bread, will I become the meal? Turkeys are…” quote by Francine Rivers
Download Open image
““Have you ever been to the beach and wanted to feed the seagulls? The problem is you tear off a little crust from your sandwich and toss it to one, and ten more show up. Toss a little more and a flock descends. You start to wonder: if I run out of bread, will I become the meal? Turkeys are different. They startle easily and run for the barn. In the wild, they run for the hills. Of course, they’re very tasty. Benjamin Franklin thought them majestic enough to be an emblem for our country. I’m sorry, but Thanksgiving would be downright depressing. There’s our national symbol lying stuffed and roasted and ready to carve up for hungry guests. And then we have the eagles. Our forefathers were trained in the Bible. […]They would have known Isaiah 40:31. “Those who wait upon the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” They were making war on the greatest power in the world of the time; the world was watching them. What could this band of commoners do? What troubles me about our country today is how many seagulls there are, scrambling for more. Remember the movie “Finding Nemo”? “Mine, mine, mine!” And we sure have a lot of gutless turkeys running for the barn whenever hard decisions have to be made; like how to keep our country solvent so our children won’t be in soup lines… Where are the eagles? That’s what I want to know. Please, God, we need us some eagles!””

Francine Rivers

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A satirical lament comparing seagulls, turkeys, and eagles to national symbols and leadership, urging moral courage.

In simple terms: A critique of weak leadership using bird metaphors.

Key Takeaway

Seek courageous leadership.

Themes

leadership politics morality symbolism

Mood

critical concerned

Type

essay opinion

When to use this quote

  • political discourse
  • public speaking
  • media analysis
  • civic education

Key Concepts

satire social commentary

Questions to Reflect On

  • What qualities define an “eagle” leader?
  • How can societies foster moral courage?
A Different Perspective

Metaphors may oversimplify complex issues.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Francine Rivers

Explore all 114 Francine Rivers quotes

More Eagles quotes

Browse all 547 Eagles quotes