Rethinking Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time of grace and gratitude for many, joining with family and friends from distances far and wide. Though, the truth behind this holiday is not necessarily comforting.

Throughout history, our society has grasped onto traditions without any question to their morality or their ethical mishaps. Various traditions that were once considered natural and normal for generations were eventually deemed outdated, cruel, or simply no longer necessary.

Nowadays we mercilessly slaughter billions of farmed animals each year, and particularly poignant this month, over 46 billion turkeys just for Thanksgiving. The Norman Rockwell image of family gathering on the third Thursday of November with a massive dead bird on a platter is rooted in our psyche as the epitome of tradition.

What was traditionally seen a “food” by older generations requires a deeper reflection and examination with a fresh perspective.

The ethical and even health ramifications of this traditional holiday, that in actuality and metaphorically honors the memory of our country’s original genocide of the Native Americans, must be identified and thus questioned.

Millions of Americans will be celebrating this Thursday, with an abundance of wholesome, delicious family-favorite recipes ranging from stuffing, cranberries, variously cooked potatoes, green beans, and oozing pies. Yet on this holiday of family, love, and gratitude, we separate billions of turkeys from their mothers, agonized with torture and pain.

Turkeys are packed into long, windowless buildings by the thousands, despite the label of organic, cage-free, or even free-range. Due to atrocious conditions, turkeys are rife with disease and respiratory infections. These beautiful creatures are pumped full of antibiotics, yet nearly 75-100 percent still contain disease when they reach the slaughterhouse. Were a human to grow at the rate they are unnaturally forced to, it would weigh 1,500 pounds by 18 weeks of age.

Now here you contemplate just how you can make a change or improve these circumstances. How precisely YOU alone will positively affect the lives of both turkeys and those around you by choosing compassion this Thanksgiving.

This Thursday, take a moment to reflect upon the extreme suffering inherent this holiday both historic and presently. We must honor the memory of those lost, both human and animal alike.

This year, start a new tradition. Pass on the platter of turkey and add an extra scoop of your favorite side dish. Research more about the truth behind factory farming and the havoc it is causing with our health, environment, and the lives of animals worldwide.

Perhaps even purchase a plant-based turkey, options such as Tofurky Roast, Field Roast’s Celebration Roast, or Gardein’s Savory Stuffed Turk’ys may help you, as well as others, to ease into a murder-free, compassionate diet/lifestyle.

Let the Thanksgiving tradition evolve to a new standard of kindness and let’s resolve to shed no blood in the name of a holiday celebration.

Photograph from wildjaeger.com