Dove vs Hawk
Dove and hawk are two extremes kinds of birds when it comes to their behavioral traits. Dove is tender, delicate, beautiful and an epitome of peace and tranquility. On the other hand, hawk is perceived as a clever and cruel bird that is full of aggression and violence. The opposite qualities of these two birds have given birth to the use of these words as adjectives for people demonstrating either of the qualities of dove and hawk.
It is the world of politics where the words dove and hawk find special use. No one is sure how the words started to be used to label politicians as doves and hawks but it has become a very common practice to call anyone aggressively pursing a bill or asking the senate to push for war to be called a hawk. On the other hand, politicians who are seen as lenient or asking for peace efforts on the warfront are termed dovish.
During the war against Vietnam, half of America had gone against the war because of the cost of war and seemingly no end to the long drawn out war. The side that insisted on pursuing the war and sending more troops to Vietnam was labeled as hawks. On the other hand doves were those who opposed the war and wanted to pull back troops from Vietnam.
More recently, George Bush who initiated the war in Iraq was called hawkish while Clinton was seen as a dove in the political circles.
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In brief: • Dove and hawk have totally opposite behaviors. Whereas dove is docile and innocent, hawk is violent and cruel. • The attributes of these birds led to people in politics being referred to as hawks and doves depending upon their attitudes. • Those who support war are labeled hawkish while those who try to work for peace are called doves.
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