“In America, they shoot eagles and applaud peacocks.” I read this quote in Dr. Cornel West’s book, Hope on a Tightrope: Words and Wisdom. The peacock metaphor was used to describe young African Americans’ attachment to materialism. A peacock is one who is constantly, as Dr. West illustrates, “walking around saying, ‘Look at me, look at me, look at me!’” While the Harvard graduate and Princeton professor is correct in describing a sect of society infatuated with “the cars, the houses, the mansions, the status,” I believe the peacock label can be used to characterize a broader range of American society.
Metaphoric Peacocks
The peacock, or male peafowl, is known for its colorful, dazzling “eye-spotted” tail. While its tail, or train, is a captivating image at which to gaze and marvel, it is simply that—a captivating IMAGE. When the peacock spreads its tail feathers, it forms a semi-circular fan causing it to stand out among almost any scenery. Ironically, due to the nature of the peacock’s tail, it rests in a category of birds that do not generally fly long flights. Typically, they tend to rise in short bursts, not quite reaching cruising altitudes. Central Park Zoo director, Jeff Sailer, speaking about a recent account of one of the birds escaping the zoo said, “[Peafowl] seek high places when they feel threatened.”
The metaphoric peacock is not much different from the real thing. And, we can notice the peacocks all around us if we paid close attention; any of us could be peacocks in any given situation.
Social Peacocks
Almost everyone falls into this category. The most extreme, we see as flashy—the ones with the shiny jewels, fancy clothes, and seemingly (or actually) expensive cars and homes. Even though everyone would not fall into the far extreme of this social bird, most do try to give off an appearance of what I would call greater worth. It goes so far that catch-phrases have been made up to promote the activity of peacocking (or having swag). Two of my favorites are: “Fake it till you make it” and “Dress for the job you want.” The direct translation would be: Put on a costume. It means to present yourself in a way that will be appealing to others; if you are ineffective or unsuitable, don’t look like what you are.
The settings for this bird changes often, but the general theme remains: Look greater than do. This is shown in the places where many meet on a regular for somewhat of a show-off; churches, schools, night clubs & parties, job fairs, workplaces, etc. The fanned tail feathers always seem to prevent this peacock from truly soaring. In showing their colors, functionality is lost due to the inability to rid them of constantly showing dazzling image.
*NOTE* The re-emergence of the Mohawk hairstyle is a clear indicator of humans parading as peacocks.
Peacock Organizations
Today, to have any organization or movement deemed legitimate, it must appear to be great. Much in the same way that we choose horrible tasting food and drinks based on its packaging, we judge an organization, business, or movement’s worth on the way it is presented to us. Recent movements, Occupy Wall Street & the Tea Party movement, reveal to us the urge to viewed favorably. When having events, both attempt to demand media attention to give the public a view of most importantly its size but also its passion.
Corporations and other organizations use graphics, signs, names, etc. to give off the light of legitimacy and worth as well. Corporations even go as far a filing unpaid debt as assets to give the illusion that it is much more successful than it actually is. The theme is generally the same: Even if the products and services are horrible, shield that fact from others by looking as if it is great.
Political Peacocks
The most notable characteristic of the bird is its appearance. The politician is a classic example. We’ve come to expect people to adhere to transformation into the peafowl. This is why most politicians fit into a familiar mold. The typical politician is a suit-wearing, clean-shaven, clean-cut male who is not typically overweight. They present themselves to the public in a manner that is likeable, but we all know that the image they attempt to portray is a stark contrast to what they are really like. This usually comes in the forms of broken campaign promises. To some observers, it is not as obvious. Plenty are duped by the smiles, rehearsed language, and practiced charm of this bird. Still, it is all a show, so someone does not conform to the proper image will not be taken seriously, or deemed viable, no matter how apt or suitable he or she might be to solving problems or governing effectively, in the context of governance.
Are You An Eagle Or A Peacock?
I’ve only given a few examples, but there are many more that we can see all around us. Each type of peacock borrows tactics from other types, creating a vast web of overlapping characteristics and behaviors. But, none seem to ever transform into the eagle.
The eagle has broad wings and strength to soar high in the sky over long distances. This is an important fact to know to better under Cornel West’s metaphor. Soaring would be his way of saying “being great”. Flying is going beyond reaching a status within a society that gives awards based on the merits of some illusion created. Since everyone expects and desires a peacock, we have been diminished to falling short of greatness.
We are so pre-occupied with projecting an image of what is considered “greatness,” that being great falls to the wayside, so we never get to soar. As Dr. West said, “Peacocks strut because they can’t fly.”
It has gotten so bad that we cannot even recognize greatness; if it were directly in front of us, we simply dismiss it as undesirable, because the packaging is wrong. This is what Dr. Cornel West means when he writes “In America, they shoot eagles and applaud peacocks.” Think about it. Who is celebrated? Who is dismissed and ignored?
Sources:
Hope on a Tightrope: Words and Wisdom
Central Park Zoo Peacock Flies the Coop
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