happy turkey day?
I've been admittedly reluctant to write a post on this subject in recent years. I have many happy memories of Thanksgivings past which prominently featured a turkey as the main course, and multiple turkey sandwiches afterward. Thanksgiving traditions run deep in our society, and it's a time for remembering all we have to be thankful for, including the family and friends who share our tables, and the food upon it. Please know I don't mean to detract from the day in the least.
But in honoring this special day and its traditions of gratitude, it's important that we're able not only to give thanks for the bird at the center of our meal, but for the life which God gave it, and for the way it was raised and slaughtered. As someone once poignantly put it, are we truly able to say "grace" over the food before us, even a Thanksgiving turkey?
The following Farm Sanctuary video "Thanksgiving's Toll on Turkeys" is a calmly moderated look at how most turkeys are raised for slaughter in the U.S. on factory farms, as well as some "free-range" farms with very poor standards. Please know the video contains some realistic images, but is not nearly as disturbing as some videos out there, and is important for anyone to take in who is considering purchasing a turkey (Farm Sanctuary has a helpful accompanying factsheet as well). It also ends on a very happy note:
The video encourages to find an alternative to turkey altogether, a position which I can respect as a vegetarian myself. My wife and happily continue to participate in family Thanksgiving gatherings, but have brought our own 'Tofurkey' alternative the past few years. But if you're still planning on serving turkey this Thanksgiving, please know that any step in a more humane direction as a valid and important one.
I spoke to Karen Swallow Prior a few days ago who was planning a special hour-long trip to Our Father's Farm in central Virginia to pick up a turkey she could be confident was raised humanely. And Jim Jewell of the creation care group Flourish recently posted some encouragement and a couple of guides to finding a free-range turkey. He advises that it's not the easiest or cheapest option, but doing some research on local possibilities is well worth our effort and expense on behalf of these wonderful, intelligent and relational creatures. It's the least we can do.
I also came across a very happy story about Lucie, a wild turkey who has bonded with an Illinois community which adopted her. The entire article is great, but I especially loved the last few lines; I felt the same way about pigs after reading The Good Good Pig a couple of years ago:
"It makes it hard to eat turkey now," said Farrell, who last Thanksgiving led guests outside to watch Lucie fly and hop to her roost at sunset. "I was eating some the other day, and I said, 'I don't know about this.'" ("Neighborhood Adopts Perfect Thanksgiving Guest," Chicago Tribune, Ted Gregory, 11/19/10)
Please know that you can adopt a thankful and former commercially-raised turkey of your own this season through Farm Sanctuary, a wonderful home and voice for farmed animals which has rescued over 1,000 turkeys through the years. This video clip shows two of their rescues being placed in a forever home:
(originally posted Nov. 22, 2010; photo and videos courtesy Farm Sanctuary)
November 21, 2011
Reader Comments (7)
Great article Ben. Thanks so much for approaching the issue.
We humans are very attached to our traditions and it can be hard to "stomach" as the case may be, hearing or seeing that the consequences of our appetites can be anything but a cause for celebration or thankfulness.
One of my good friends just adopted two turkeys from Farm Sanctuary as well.
We attended a vegan potluck yesterday hosted by our local vegetarian society,which I am also active in.
There was so much wonderful vegan food there. And not everyone who attended was vegan or vegetarian. But we were all happily stuffed! No deprivation. And we were very, very thankful!
I can't afford a $50 humanely raised turkey - so for the first time in my life, and for my first Thanksgiving in my own house, there will be no turkey on my table. And you know what - not having turkey will not be nearly as painful as eating an animal that was raised with no fear of the Lord, no respect for His ownership over all creation, and no ounce of compassion. I think my husband is less than happy about the whole thing, but he is a supportive and gracious man, trying to understand my motivation!
Thank you for this post Ben. I am very sad today after seeing the latest undercover HSUS investigations video, of the Willmar Poultry Company, which produces 50 percent of our country's grocery store turkeys. It is awful. Baby poults being ground alive. Where does it end? The ones who survive are maimed in their early lives before being raised quickly for slaughter. Thanksgiving brings back interesting memories for me. And it is not all about the food. I think there are probably a number of people who have some trepidation about getting together with family, since relationships are complicated.
Gatherings can be stressful, and food choice adds to the stress. I suppose all we can do is continue to practice what we preach, and provide humane, healthy food choices, and lead by example. At the end of the day, I do hope everyone does take a thoughtful moment to consider what he or she is really thankful for--and what he or she has been blessed with. I hope we can all extend the grace we have been given to the people, animals and world around us.
Thanks very much for the affirmation on the post, Valerie, and that potluck sounds wonderful! What a great way to help introduce people to compassionate eating, and how pleasurable and diverse it can be ... And I can't tell you much I admire the decision you made to honor your conscience this Thanksgiving, Lauren, and your husband's willingness to support you. What a wonderful example for the rest of us. And thank you very much for your note and additional perspective as well, Karen. I hear you, that holidays can be a really difficult time for many people for many reasons, including different food choices. Makes me think of the movie 'Home for the Holidays' ... Beautifully put, by the way, about extending the grace we've been shown to others, animals included. A very happy Thanksgiving to you all, and thank you guys sincerely for your input and friendship - Ben
Thank you for this post Ben.One good way to say thank you on thanksgiving is to thank everything including the meal at the center of our table. And to realize how it was brought into life, raised and slaughtered.
Thanks for the post, Ben! I just wanted to mention that I watched a PBS show called "My Life as a Turkey" about a guy who hatched and raised a dozen wild turkeys . . . and what an impact that had on him . . . pretty good story . . . amazing how he became a part of their lives and shared in things he never could have experienced without actually being a part of their group.
Thank you for note and excellent advice, Kurt. Judy, thanks for reminding me of that show - I taped it on our DVR, and look forward to watching it! I'm glad to know you found it so compelling. A most happy Thanksgiving to you both, Ben