Turkey Pardon Fail, Starring Sarah Palin November 21, 2008

Posted by Marta at November 21, 2008 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 18 ) | TrackBack

The moose-hunting, fur-wearing, pro-aerial-wolf-gunning governor is in the news again. On Thursday, Sarah Palin visited a turkey farm in Wasilla for the traditional pre-Thanksgiving turkey "pardoning." Now, most people probably don't think about exactly how the turkeys raised for Thanksgiving dinner every year meet their maker. But not to worry. Sarah has that under control. In this video, while responding to a reporter who asks about her post-election plans, Palin talks about how she wants to "promote a local business" and do something that won't "invite criticism." While turkeys are being slaughtered. Behind her. ON CAMERA.

Was that one of those "gotcha" questions, Sarah? Because it seems to me that showing the bloody reality of slaughter is just about the worst thing you could do to promote this business. Some people just won't want to eat turkey after watching—especially when this happened the day after PETA released new undercover video from the world's leading poultry-breeding facility. In that video, workers stomp on turkeys' heads, punch them, and bang their heads against metal scaffolding.

This is a country of people who love animals—in fact, 97 percent of Americans believe that farmed animals deserve to be protected from abuse. The more that people are confronted with the ways that animals who are raised for food suffer—from the moment they're born until the moment they're killed—the more that people will start thinking about giving vegetarian meals a try. And then the factory farming industry will need a bigger bailout than the "Big Three."

-Dan

P.S. Sarah Palin should take a cue from our own "President Bush," whose turkey-pardoning this year really was a "mission accomplished."

Is President Bush Showing Support for Turkeys? November 12, 2008

Posted by Marta at November 12, 2008 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 3 ) | TrackBack

You know how the president "pardons" two turkeys each Thanksgiving? This year's ceremony marks the 61st anniversary of the presidential turkey pardon, and well, though it's great that two turkeys are spared from becoming someone's main course, what about the rest of the turkeys? I think they deserve the same pardon. A certain someone couldn't agree with me more, and to see for yourself, check out what he has to say in this video:

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Heh, OK—so that's not actually President Bush, but there were some good points made in the video—like the fact that turkeys like to have their feathers stroked (hmm...sounds similar to the dogs and cats you share your home with, right?). If your family is still set on having a real turkey as part of its Thanksgiving tradition, ask them to adopt a turkey instead.

Be sure to pass the video along to your family—and while you're at it, why not include these vegetarian holiday recipes? 'Creamy' Chive Mashed Potatoes? Heck yes.

This Thanksgiving, wouldn't it be amazing if, instead of having a dead bird as the centerpiece, every household had a scrumptious Tofurky Roast (or some other equally delectable meat-free turkey alternative)?

♥ Marta