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I have a bone to pick with “The First American” and Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin.  I just do not like him.  If I were around in the late 1700s I can tell you that he and I would have serious beef.  Sure, he did some pretty cool things, like come up with the first fire department ever, discover electricity, and I guess libraries are still kind of useful.  He also did some other things that I am cool with, so why don’t I like the guy?  Well, some of the reasons might not be historically accurate, but they are all I need to just not like him.

1. Benjamin Franklin wanted the national bird to be the Turkey.  In the movie 1776 the Ben Franklin character even said the turkey was a noble bird.  Really?  It does not seem so majestic and noble on the table at Thanksgiving.  Thank goodness Mr. Feeny, I mean John Adams, had some common sense and named the eagle for the national bird.
2. I blame the fact that I have to set my clock back each fall on ol’ Benny boy too.  Maybe it’s not right, but since the guy came up with Daylight Savings Time, I think it’s only fair to give him all the blame.  There is nothing worse than it being dark outside at five o’clock in the late afternoon.  I get depressed, and I don’t think I’m the only one.  So, if you have SAD or another form of depression, just go ahead and blame Franklin.
3. Lastly, Benjamin Franklin was a bore.  He wrote down goals constantly and aimed to achieve them, and I think he was a liar.  His rule of “temperance” and eating just to fill is not evident in his photos.  Looks like Franklin was constantly stuffing his face, but I’m just going off the size of his belly.

Is there any historical figure that you don’t think you would have gotten along with?  Maybe you like Ben Franklin, if that’s the case, you must tell me why because I could never see myself hanging out with a turkey loving, darkness causing, boring, liar…ever.