No turkey here
Evan Elms, Emporia
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
While President Obama is pardoning two turkeys for Thanksgiving, every one of us can exercise that same presidential power by choosing a nonviolent Thanksgiving observance. It shows our compassion for an innocent animal and our concern for our family’s health. It’s a most fitting way to give thanks for our own life, health, and happiness.
The 270 million turkeys killed in the U.S. each year have nothing to give thanks for. They breathe toxic fumes in crowded sheds. Their beaks and toes are severed. At the slaughterhouse, workers cut their throats, and dump them into boiling water, sometimes while still conscious.
Consumers, too, pay a heavy price. Turkey flesh is laced with cholesterol and saturated fats that elevate the risk of chronic killer diseases. Labels warn of food poisoning potential.
This Thanksgiving, I won’t be calling the Poultry Hot Line, or wondering how that turkey lived and died. Our Thanksgiving dinner may include a “tofurky,” lentil roast, mashed potatoes, corn stuffing, stuffed squash, chestnut soup, candied yams, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and carrot cake. An Internet search on vegan Thanksgiving and a visit to my local supermarket will provide me more recipes and delicious turkey alternatives than I can possibly use.
Evan Elms
Emporia
empgazfan (anonymous) says...
I always buy a fresh yard-raised Narragansett turkey for TG and Xmas from a local farm. I want no part of the chemical-laden, hormone-injected cancer-causing industrial garbage sold as turkeys in the grocery stores. My motto is, "If it isn't food, don't eat it" so I don't consume any of those engineered turkeys.
November 24, 2010 at 8:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
empgazfan (anonymous) says...
Here's an interesting article describing how today's turkeys are products of science labs, not farms or nature: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/...
November 25, 2010 at 6:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Buffalo_Breath (anonymous) says...
I'm inspired to cut the head off something, kill it and eat it.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmm!
Nothing like a bird!
November 25, 2010 at 11:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
If god didn't want men to eat animals, why did he make them out of meat?
Stuff a chicken with beef then stuff the chicken into a duck then stuff the duck into a goose and shove the whole thing into a turkey. Cram that into a suckling pig and pop the whole thing into a small lamb. Wrap it all up with bacon and stuff it into a 350 degree oven for twenty four hours. Serve hot.
November 25, 2010 at 11:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hogan77 (anonymous) says...
Looks like yet another conspiracy theory to keep people from enjoying their holiday. No thank you, I will sit down with my family today, join hands, thank the good Lord for the food in front of me and the wonderful family beside me, and devour every last bit of my turkey.
November 25, 2010 at 12:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sail (anonymous) says...
Like your post Emp gaz, next time it would be nice to refer to Christmas as Christmas ,we dont refer to Jewish holidays as x-nica, or islamic holidays as x-idan,its ok to be pc to all groups.
November 25, 2010 at 4:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
So is it OK it I shoot a wild one for my Thanksgiving meal? Or is that too cruel? Geez.
November 25, 2010 at 5:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sail (anonymous) says...
good ol boy, smoked for a couple hours then wrapped in foil for 3 more, Im ready to eat again.
November 25, 2010 at 8:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mslater (Matt Slater) says...
Evan my friend, if you want to change the world, I think you should protest all those environmentally inconsiderate bikers at Sturgis wearing leather jackets.
Let me know how that works out for you, pal.
Matt
P.S.- PETA needs to have their charter revoked. Right now.
November 25, 2010 at 11:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stryker1_25 (anonymous) says...
I don't know why I visit emporiagazette.com anymore. This is just nonsense.
November 26, 2010 at 12:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
If you don't want to eat meat...eat tofu!.
If you don't want to eat tofu....eat steak!
What the hell difference does it make?
November 26, 2010 at 5:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
Well, stryker, this is what you and your family are dodging bombs in Seoul to protect.......the silly, nonsensical priorities of the average American. Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving despite the recent scares. I know you were missed here and that many prayers are with you as the conditions deteriorate there. Thank you for your service!
November 26, 2010 at 8:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
We fiddle while Rome burns.
I agree oh4.....Well said.......Thanks to all who are protecting us so we can argue over meat or tofu.
November 26, 2010 at 9:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
oh4theluvof,
If your friends, (stryker), are service members, send their address to the following for a Christmas package.
Send names/addresses of your loved ones to Ralph and Diane Tebbetts at rdtebbetts@sbcglobal.net and they will be added to the list to receive a package.
Steve
November 26, 2010 at 10:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
PETA-People Eating Tasty Animals
November 26, 2010 at 11:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scrutinizer (anonymous) says...
I think I can understand where Evan is coming from. As a nation, we have surrendered the raising of much of our food to the corporate agri-industrial complex, which is stupid and dangerous. They do not have our health as a top priority, but rather their own profit.
Profit is, in and of itself, not immoral. But if other principals are ignored in its pursuit, it becomes immoral.
As creations of God, animals deserve to be treated with respect. As food for men, we had better respect what science is beginning to understand. We are most definitely, what we eat. If we eat poisoned foods, we become poisoned.
I have no problem with the consumption of flesh, be it turkey, beef, etc. I take issue with the means of production employed today and with the sometimes deplorable conditions of the modern day slaughter houses. To keep it the most healthy, keep it local and personal, i.e. know your butcher or do it yourself.
In absence of those options, I see no reason why the citizenry cannot demand from the supplier that they raise our food responsibly and bring it to the store in a humane fashion. When demand requires, the supplier will deliver. Witness the rise of more and better quality organic products in the traditional supermarket aisles.
Personally, I applaud your principles, Evan, although I cannot agree that tofu is a suitable substitute for ANYTHING!
November 26, 2010 at 12:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
Thanks, Steve. I will do that!
November 26, 2010 at 1:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Very good post scrutinizer.......
It's not so much what you do but how you do it. I am not so naive as to not understand where the meat I love to eat comes from and how it gets to my table. That is not my sin. My sin is in being naive enough most of the time to believe that meat is slaughtered as humanely as possible with minimal suffering by the animal.
But my common sense tells me I am often wrong yet I go ahead and accept the status quo and that is my biggest sin of all in this area.. Oh but that it were my all time biggest sin.......
November 26, 2010 at 1:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
REWBA (anonymous) says...
scrutinizer, Who is your butcher? Do you do it yourself?
The problem with trying to "free range" your poultry around here is stray dogs and cats. Also, the last time I tried to fatten up a pig in my back yard, the neighbors called the city officials complaining about hygiene concerns. I have been known to tie up a goat for a couple of days (keeping it fresh) until it's time to face the knife. Even that irritates my neighbors because goats scream really loud day and night.
As far as your "organic" pigs go. Eat them yourself! I want mine worm free and treated with antibiotics up to the day their slaughtered.
Now I'm hungry for pork chops.
November 26, 2010 at 1:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )