Day 23: Who Are the Real Turkeys?

Did you read that PETA wrote a letter to President Obama in regards to the long standing Presidential tradition of pardoning the turkey on Thanksgiving?

Seriously.

Did you know that the letter included phrases such as, "Turkeys do not need to be 'pardoned'—they are not guilty of anything other than being born into a world of prejudice. They are innocents who should be respected for who they are: good mothers, smart birds, and interesting animals."

Honestly.

The head of PETA suggested that the Obamas enjoy a, "This year, we encourage you to forgo this event, which so many Americans find offensive, and choose a delicious, healthy Tofurky roast for your family's holiday table."

Okay...

Ms.Ingrid Newkirk, president of PETA, also went on to say that President Obama, "understands so well that African-Americans, women, and members of the LGBT community have been poorly served throughout history, and now I am asking you to consider other living beings who are ridiculed, belittled, and treated as if their sentience, feelings, and very natures count for nothing."

 Alright, so I understand PETA, and while I do not agree with their principles, as I tend to think they're quite extreme, they are a group; they are entitled to their opinions, but HONESTLY...

it's a turkey.

Thanksgiving is a tradition, and again, while I am not oblivious to the fact that the Pilgrims may have not been the nicest people, and that there has been persecution of people and cruel treatment of animals in our world, isn't this lady kind of just stirring the pot? Shouldn't she be more concerned with the crushing deficit our country faces? Wouldn't a letter in regards to health care or social security be more along the lines of national concern?

Nah...

let's worry about Tom Turkey.

I will state with great confidence that I will probably never be a member of PETA, nor will I believe that what they're doing is worth my time, but this crazy letter has to be addressed. Who is the real turkey here? I don't feel like I was insensitive or strange as I enjoyed my turkey yesterday amongst three generations of family. I don't think I was not being a nice person because I enjoyed all the trimmings, all the while enjoying also conversation and love of my family, and didn't think about the turkey's feelings and well being at that particular moment. (However, I am a meat eater...and thus, according to PETA, all that is EVIL and wrong with the world) I enjoyed spending time with my family, thankful for our health, and didn't worry about what the Obamas were doing.

Not that I don't care about the treatment of turkeys, or Obamas for that matter, but I just tried to focus on what should be focused upon on Thanksgiving.

Being thankful.

What a novel concept.

So, once again, my plea to PETA is to try to worry about something that is a little bigger than turkey pardoning, which is supposed to be silly.

Maybe I should write a letter to this lady and tell her to lighten the heck up.

I probably won't, because this is just seemingly ridiculous, but I think we all have so few big things to worry about in our society that some groups tend to forget common sense. Who cares what you ate, whether it was turkey or beef or pork or even Tofurky, my hope is that Thanksgiving for you was spent with loved ones, being thankful for living in a country where there's no threat of bombings (thankful I don't live in the Middle East, and prayers for them), being grateful for your health, something along that lines.

I'm thankful I ate lovely real turkey, and wasn't surrounded by a bunch of turkeys who were criticizing my every choice, when, in fact, I live in a country that was founded on such a freedom.

Again, novel concept.

So, my thoughts on this craziness is happy (belated) thanksgiving, and lighten the heck up!!

Linking up with Holly's 30 Days on a Prairie Farm today! You can find her blog, as well as links to others in this series here.