So, with Thanksgiving upon us, a time to give thanks and respect to all those loved ones of ours, we get ready to expand our stomachs, feast, and wake up early Friday morning to get a new big screen at Target. All this fun consumerism aside, there are going to be over 40 million turkeys slaughtered this year for America's favorite feast.
Thats a very large number. Thats one turkey for nearly every eight Americans. Hundreds of millions of pounds, and most of it travels across the country. I never really want to tell people I am right for being a vegeatarian and they are wrong for eating meat. But when I read staggering statistics like this, it pains me. Obviously in an idyllic world we would all raise our own turkeys for the holiday and kill him 'humanely'. That is a tricky word, since animals are not human. But certainly, we must be respectful of our ecosystem and of other animals. They do, after all, have feelings and are sentient beings. Factory farming is only good for one thing: the consumer. Unfortunately this holiday, and the next big one, bring out the ultra-consumerism in us all. Spend spend spend. The irony? Most of us are not willing to sacrifice a few extra dollars for a turkey treated without antibiotics or pesticides. While at Whole Foods or Trader Joe's, these turkeys can be had for 1.50-3$ a pound, consumers choose for the $1 a pound turkeys at Jewel, Safeway, Albertsons, etc. This is simply a choice either of ignorance or disregard. We must vote with our dollars and understand this is the only way to enact change. Instead of spending so much on gifts for Christmas, go out and buy that bird that is raised ethically, in a farm where it can roam, be natural, and spread its wings. You'll feel better, and the turkey will at least get a chance at a normal life.
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