Flightless Birds

People say birds are one of the best representations of freedom. This association makes sense if you think about it. For example, the bald eagle has become symbolic of majestic power and American freedom. I guess that is why when you see birds that are unable to fly it is so sad, since they can't be in the sky free to roam and travel as they please. But what about birds that naturally can't fly like penguins, turkeys, chickens, ducks, flamingos, and even peacocks? The more I think about it, I believe that those flightless birds are proper metaphors for us humans. Some of us find ways to cope and excel with what we have like penguins, some of us are unfortunately helpless and sometimes eaten like turkeys, chickens, and ducks, but many of us are simply shrouded in our own self glorification as we surround ourselves with unnecessarily gaudy garb like flamingos and peacocks. In the end, none of these birds are free; they are still flightless birds forever chained to the ground. Likewise, we are both literally and figuratively chained to the ground as well. There are social standards, natural circumstances, and perhaps even self-inflicting flaws that chain us and keep us apart from the freedom and individuality that we claim to seek. However, that doesn't mean we can't be like that majestic bald eagle or like the illimitable hummingbird. Every bird was flightless once: you just have to be willing to give up all the preconceived notions and unnecessary baggage that chains you to the ground and take that precarious leap, no matter how high or low the branch. Maybe then we can finally take flight and really be free.