LogFAQs > #962703120

averagejoel posted...

what evidence is there that it originally referred to the wings of an eagle?

All of its initial usage, and to that same extent its current, was made under the basis of liberalism versus conservatism. This is somewhat relevant as the French Left versus Right was between socialism versus conservatism, fascism (many would technically be fascist but this was prior to the label existing), and monarchism. Thus where the names are similar in nature they almost never actually have referred to the same thing when you take them at some level of face value. Left versus Left Wing have never referred to the same thing while Right and Right Wing kind of have used the same moniker, conservative has always been in both, it did not include fascism until more recently (it was never used during WWII to refer to the Nazi's/Italian Fascists, for instance) and has never really referred to monarchists.

Thus while they are used somewhat interchangeably it becomes apparent that you have to either assume a change in language, making liberalism just as "left" as socialism due to the combination of the two monikers, or accept that there is something inherently different about them. And, frankly, I ascribe to the idea that the people saying that there is no "left" in America are correct.

Edit: Oh, and the comment about the "wings of an eagle" are more a way to say that it's about American politics rather than it's explicitly about an eagle. It's an imagery thing same as the "Don't tread on me" snake.