Posted by Eugene Volokh:
Mascots:
[1]Nick Gillespie (Reason's Hit & Run) reports on the Department of
Homeland Security's new mascot:
Reports USA Today:
Starting next month, children in grades 4 though 8 and employers
nationwide will be asked to help get families and companies better
prepared to respond to a crisis.
In schools, on the Internet and in TV and radio ads, youngsters
will be introduced to a new Homeland Security mascot: a dog (an
American shepherd) that will be named in a contest. The campaign,
using the dog and a set of Ad Council advertisements, will
encourage families to develop an emergency plan and talk about
where kids should go, who will pick them up and how they will make
contact.
. . . [T]here exists some real questions as to whether there is in
fact an "American shepherd" breed of dog. There is something called
the American Tundra Shepherd, a mix of the Alaskan Tundra Wolf and
German Shepherds (those German Shepherds have ways of making you
talk).
(Go to [2]the Hit & Run post for links.)
So here's my question (one about symbolism, but the whole point of
mascots, whether Lions or Banana Slugs, is symbolism): If the Homeland
Security mascot is an "American shepherd," what does that make us?
References
1. http://www.reason.com/hitandrun/006454.shtml#006454
2. http://www.reason.com/hitandrun/006454.shtml#006454
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