[Måns]

Basicly yes, but since when has the eagle been a symbol of hope? It is a frequently used symbol, and in the latin religion (related to the etruscan) eagles could carry messages from higher powers that the Augurs would understand and interpret. tThis is true of other birds as well but not in the same degree, look at Livius story about the death of Remus where eagles carry signs to both the brothers. This could also be inherited from Greece, if you see the Iliad, an eagle comes flying from the right and drops it's prey, that it comes from the right for the Greeks, is seen by Idomenevs as a sign from the Gods that Zeus supports them now against Hektor and his Troyans and allies. (Here however Hektor displays his pride and hybris by shouting that he cared not for birds, he was going to set fire to the Greek ships.) It was also a sign of the Roman dominance over the other realms they governed, used in their legions symbol. Anyway, the eagle has been a symbol since then, noble families in medieval times had it as a symbol and Poland, Russia and even Prussia have had eagles with varying numbers of heads on them as symbols. Another famous chap with the eagle was Napoleon, also there the eagle symbolized power, great power. Nazi Germany ahd a tendency to use eagles as well, and now the United States use it frequently, none fo the three stand for any hope for most people in this world, only power and in many cases fear. It is a symbol of power, not hope.

Måns