The eagle is a symbol of conservation and environmentalism. Saving the bald eagle from extinction in the continental U.S. by banning DDT was one of the signature achievements of the environmental movement.
The eagle is also a symbol of American patriotism. But conservationists and environmentalists are often accused of being unpatriotic when they oppose development projects promising short-term economic benefits. Much of our political debate centers on the disingenuous dichotomy of jobs versus the environment.