Franklin the Turtle: A New Face for Government Messages

Franklin the Turtle, a beloved character from children's books, has become an unexpected figure in government communications. Recently, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) used an image of Franklin to promote a crime hotline. The image showed Franklin on the phone, with police arresting someone in the background. The caption read, "Franklin Reports Illegals in Public Housing. " HUD encouraged people to call the hotline to report illegal activity in HUD-funded housing. This isn't the first time Franklin has been used in this way. Earlier, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posted an image of Franklin aiming at narcoterrorists. This didn't sit well with the publisher, Kids Can Press. They responded strongly, saying Franklin stands for kindness and inclusivity. They condemned the use of Franklin's image in a violent context. Other officials have also used Franklin in their posts. For example, Ohio GOP Rep. Warren Davidson used an image of Franklin with a caption about government spending. This trend raises questions about the appropriateness of using a children's character for political and governmental messages. Franklin the Turtle was created to teach children about empathy and understanding. Seeing him in these contexts can be confusing. It's important to think about how these images might affect young minds. Are these messages really suitable for a character meant to inspire kindness?