Turning to peace
On the 250th anniversary of independence, the US Mint, and why it matters which way the eagle faces
A series of dimes being struck to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence will feature an eagle clutching the arrows of war but looking to an empty claw where the olive branch should be. It’s called the “Emerging Liberty” design, in reference to the peace and liberty sought by the generation of the Founders but denied by their subjugation to England.
■ It’s good that many Americans notice the absence of the olive branches and recognize the symbolism. And to the attentive eye, the eagle on the special dime is looking to its empty talons -- it wants peace, but the peace is denied.
■ There should never be any doubt or confusion about which the eagle (or America) prefers: The peace of liberty. In cases when that peace is denied, we might be forced to resort to the arrows of war. But never as a matter of preference.