Dear Editor:
This Thanksgiving celebration should provide welcome relief from the violence-ridden national debate over war on Iraq and terrorism. Unfortunately, many Americans will perpetuate the violence by giving thanks for their life, health and happiness on the grave of a tortured, dead bird on their dinner table.
The 340 millions turkeys raised in the US each year have nothing to give thanks for. For 16 weeks, they breathe toxic fumes in crowded sheds, as their beaks and toes are cut off to reduce damage from stress-induced aggression. At the slaughterhouse, they are beheaded by an electric saw and dumped into a vat of scalding water, sometimes still conscious.
Ironically, turkeys get their revenge. Their flesh is laced with cholesterol, saturated fats, hormones, antibiotics, and deadly pathogens like Salmonella and Campylobacter. Careful adherence to government warning labels is required to avoid food poisoning.
The grain fed to turkeys denies lifesaving foodstuffs to millions of starving people in Africa and Asia. Each year, US turkey factories dump 10 billion pounds of manure into our waterways.
I invite you to join me and millions of other Americans in celebrating this Thanksgiving with nonviolent, wholesome, delicious products of our earth bounty: grains, vegetables and fruits. Our holiday fare may include a mock “turkey” made of tofu or seitan, lentil or nut roast, stuffed squash, corn chowder or chestnut soup, candied yams, cranberry sauce, pumpkin or pecan pie, and carrot cake. An Internet search on Vegetarian Thanksgiving will provide more information that you need to know.
Hugh Reilly