Karan Dawn, author of Thanking the Monkey, shows how she purchases a turkey every year at this time. If we all did this, the holiday could become a time of joy instead of a frenzy of death.
Note at about 1minute and 40 something seconds into the video there is a period of 20 seconds or so showing turkeys hung upside down in shackles and then some footage of someone punching the helpless animals....for "fun". Turn away at this part if you must, then watch the remainder of the video.
All animals have the right to their own lives......to live according to their own natures.....without abuse, exploitation, or enslavement by anyone. Human animals do not need to eat the flesh of other sentient beings to live. Please begin your vegan journey as soon as possible. Lives are at stake.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
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Before I went to bed last night I saw this post. I couldn't bring myself to watch the video. Thank you very much for the warning because if I'd have seen even a couple seconds of that, it would have messed me up. As it was, I woke up at 2:24am and started thinking about the description of the horrific torture of these beautiful creatures and it just breaks my heart. I thought I would watch the video today, but I won't just yet. I think I really hate "Thanksgiving". Although these unimaginable and unforgivable tortures happen year-round, this holiday is in huge part guilty of glossing over it and making it all just a big happy thing. And that is something I really do hate.
Thanks Krissa for commenting. I too am sorta finished with this holiday...I am going to think of it as a the time of celebration for the colorful leaves (here in central oklahoma) or the celebration of acorn harvest for all the animals that eat acorns....anything but what it has been made into.
October and November are my favorite months here because of the leaves and also the browns and golds and other colors that show up in non-tree plants....
Bea had a great post about the perversions associated with the holiday over at Provoked (http://beaelliott.blogspot.com/2010/11/thanksgiving-myths-humane-turkey.html).
Hi veganelder! My ears should be ringing...
I wanted to say how much I love this video. It helped me deal with a recent (lamentable) experience I had:
I went to a flea market Sunday - to plunder and pick up veggies. There's a building there that sells farmed animals for "meat only". And I mean literally this is what's on the sign - along with: "Not a Petting Zoo!". The man that runs the place is an avid ANTI "veg"-anyone type of a creep... From previous conversations he knew my thoughts as I was observing two turkey prisoners - I wasn't happy at all thinking about their horrible fate :(
Of course the birds were beautiful... They were curious about me as I made eye contact and they responded with gestures and purring/cooing vocalizations... We all three "saw" each other. But not this man! He prattled on about their "butterball" breed. And how they can't breed or live long because of their size... (no kidding?).
He could have stopped there but he continued on telling me about the "sacrifice" animals... The different religious sects that require "x" species for "x" celebrations.... Business is real good for this monster - He sells "Kaparot" chickens, "Kurban Bayram" lambs, "Eid al-Adha" goats... AND the traditional kill 'm/eat'm up turkeys that the "pious" Christians devour this time of year.
I never let him silence my voice or views though... Still, each time we speak he boasts the same old ignorance: Animals would "take over"... People/Protein... And "tastes good". I keep trying, but his mind is sealed like a vault...
Anyhow, I left him with a cheerful Happy ThanksLiving Day smile! I immediately went to my car and bawled my eyes out... I was screaming inside for the anger and heart-ache of the situation.
It's comforting to know that somewhere Karen Dawn... And others so able are giving a chance to some "lucky" birds.
Still, so sad - Life should be a right... Not a "luck". :(
Thanks for the link, VE. I'll check it out. ... My parents lived in Parsons, KS for a few years which is close to the OK border. They're back in NE, KS now, but they used to send pics of their pretty Fall foliage. Fall is my favorite season, too. What a bummer that this so-called holiday is part of it. Christmas 'dinner' is no different, but I won't "go there". ... I'll be checking out Bea's link this afternoon.
Aw, Bea. Your comment above made me cry. You express your feelings so well. I can't do it. I get so tangled up in my emotions that I can't get the words I want to come out to come out. ... Well, I'll borrow your word and wish you and VE and everybody a Happy ThanksLiving. (through tears).
Hi Krissa... I happen to think you express yourself wonderfully - You love animals and seek a just and kind world. That is music to my ears!
Thanks for all you do - And for your care in doing the right thing.
Hope your day is filled with the bounty of peace. :)
Thanks for commenting Krissa and Bea.
I hope you each...and those close to you....thoroughly enjoy the holiday.
As you know VE this video had an instant impact on me. (I am not dropping the subject with my husband by the way.) There was a moment today when I got to witness a person's regret for what happened last year regarding a turkey. The person shared the story and then mid-stream realized who she was sharing the story with and stopped in an awkward pause. Dealing with family members regarding a vegetarian life and especially the vegan life is tricky. Getting them to think about what they do and why they do that is key. It is what made the difference for me. Today I am thankful for the cow I met over 20 years ago that caused me to stop and think about what I was doing. There have been quite a few lessons since then that animals have taught me. I am grateful to them and I am in awe of their willingness to teach us.
I like the Happy ThanksLiving idea!
Jeannie
Something told me to come back and check out the comments, well actually I was led to it because I needed a boost after an offhand comment in an email by my mom. First, thank you Bea for the nice compliment. And Heartland, I really do understand what you mean about it being tricky with family members. Mine are all thousands of miles away so I figured that it wasn't going to be a problem. Well, my mom (and I do love her, I just realize more and more all the time that she doesn't know me at all - and it's starting to look like she doesn't care to) put that little chicken icon from the smiley faces menu at the end of her email yesterday and wrote "in honor of turkeys". My mom is about as far from vegan as you can get. I can't really process this stuff anymore. Sending her the videos of what happens to the turkeys will do nothing. I know from experience. I'm just so sad. But knowing all of you are out there and that I'm not alone as a human who feels the way I do helps me. So thanks! For you all, I AM thankful.
Thank you Heartland for thoughtful comment.
Happy ThanksLiving to all.
No Krissa, you are not alone in your feelings and outlook....your presence and comments (along with those from all others) serve as a support and anchor and refuge for all of us.
Thank you.
Alone??? NO. NO. NO!!! Absolutely not! Just as veganelder says your support is vitally needed by others who walk in your very same shoes. All of us come from situations where our loved ones are still "stuck" in their "animals as food" mentality. I've only met one vegan so far that was raised by vegan parents...
But there's something about the dynamic in trying to inform siblings/parents about the many reasons for eschewing "meat" that remains a sensitive subject. Perhaps there are "power plays" at work that complicate our message? Perhaps it (to them) feels like a direct attack on "home and hearth traditions"?
Whatever it is... I've taken solace in some wise advice I received once: "Don't try to change your family... Change the world instead".
But please do realize Krissa that your plight is not unique --- We are all in this together... And there is some strength and hope to be drawn in the fact that awareness and concern for our animal-kin increase everyday! You're here... So am I and many others! That's a great start! :)
I really like this video too, and it makes me feel even more strongly that we need to start producing more "how it can and should be" material.
And interesting remarks by Bea about trying to change family. A perspective shared by author Nick Cooney in Change of Heart! :)
Thanks for commenting Bea and SITOGV. You're correct Bea...we are all in this together.
With apologies to Nick Cooney, the notion that it is difficult to change or impact those closest to you has been around for a while. Jesus is supposed to have said something similar: {A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and in his own house.} (http://bible.cc/matthew/13-57.htm).
True. A lot of observations/ideas get recycled over time!
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