Friday Night Light
by digby
You may recall a story a while back about a bunch of miscreants in the New Hampshire legislature decided to step on the dreams and budding civic enthusiasm of a bunch of 4th graders --- because they have the sense and sensibilities of 1st graders:
Fourth graders from Lincoln Akerman School in Hampton Falls received a warm welcome at the State House last Thursday. They and their teacher, James Cutting, were guests in the Gallery.
That reception quickly turned chilly as students got a glimpse of the cold, harsh realities of politics in the Granite State.
In the spirit of learning by doing, students drafted a bill to learn the process of how a bill becomes law. They proposed House Bill 373, an act establishing the Red Tail Hawk as the New Hampshire State Raptor. Even though it passed through the Environment and Agriculture committee with a majority vote, some representatives were far from receptive.
Rep. Warren Groen, a Republican from Rochester said, "It grasps them with its talons then uses its razor sharp beak to basically tear it apart limb by limb, and I guess the shame about making this a state bird is it would serve as a much better mascot for Planned Parenthood."
That comment, considered offensive by many, was made while the fourth graders sat, watched and listened. The tough lesson didn't end there.
Rep. John Burt, a Republican from Goffstown said, "Bottom line, if we keep bringing more of these bills, and bills, and bills forward that really I think we shouldn't have in front of us, we'll be picking a state hot dog next."
Nice.
As it turns out a red-tailed hawk happened to recently take residence at the White House. And the administration, trolling with incredible finesse, decided to ask these 4th graders to name it!
Thy decided to call him Lincoln. Here he is with his first tweet (so to speak --- I'm sure he screeches IRL):
"The students' reasoning? Well, a political moniker seemed apt, given this young bird's proclivity for the East Wing. And the name recognizes the visionary leadership of our 16th President and the proximity of the Lincoln Memorial to the White House -- all with the added bonus of sneaking in a plug for their school (Lincoln Akerman School in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire)."
I know it's hard to believe, but there was a time when a Democratic White House would have been afraid to do this because it might offend creepy Republicans.
Is it possible that those days are finally coming to an end?
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