PETA attacks Thanksgiving tradition of eating turkey(offering free tombstones)

[The Straight Story]

Millions of Americans are expected to dig into turkey on Thanksgiving Day, but People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) feels it has a better idea about what to stick in the roasted bird on Nov. 22.

On Friday, the group announced it would be offering free tombstones emblazoned with the words: "Here Lies the Corpse of a Tortured Bird" for kids to place in the Thanksgiving turkey.

PETA, which has a reputation for using sensationalist advertisements and commercials to convey its pro-animal stance, says kids who visit peta2.com/Tombstones and request a tombstone will get them in the mail for free.

All they have to do is tell PETA why they don't eat turkey.

"Kids love animals, and once they realize that turkeys feel pain and fear just as dogs and cats do, they want to switch out those drumsticks for Tofurky," PETA spokeswoman Marta Holmberg says on the organization's site. "This Thanksgiving, families can give turkeys something to be thankful for by choosing delicious vegan meals."

http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/archives/sunnews/world/2012/11/20121110-100607.html

[glacierbay]

1. Yeah

that's going to go over well, in the meantime, I've already hunted and bagged a 23 lb. tom and it's ready for Thanksgiving.
Bunch of fucking morons IMO.

[RebelOne]

5. Most hunters are fucking morons in my opinion.

Sorry, but I do not like hunters or hunting. Anyone who enjoys shooting or arrowing an animal is a moron and sadistic.

[glacierbay]

9. Good for you

and your opinion of my hunting skills means what? Oh that's right, nothing. I also hunt deer, duck, quail.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

22. You're against hunting even when the meat is eaten and not wasted?

I can see being against hunting for sport (although I'm not against it) but if the hunter utilizes the meat, I don't see the problem.

[cali]

27. what a pile of dog shit.

and ignorant too. I don't hunt but I certainly know quite a few hunters and your simplistic crap is way off base. Do you eat meat? Where leather shoes or belts? Have a pet? Feed it commercial dog food?

[Aerows]

28. I've known some people

That if they hadn't have hunted or had people in their family that hunted, their wouldn't be meat on the table.

Not everybody wants to be a vegetarian, and frankly, not everyone CAN be a vegetarian. We have canine teeth for a reason, and they aren't for eating carrots and quinoa. If you eat a purely vegan diet, you have to be extremely good at making sure you get enough protein. Vegetarian isn't exactly easy, either.

And let's discuss sadistic - what is more sadistic, letting deer starve to death because there aren't enough natural predators to take them out, or a person humanely ending their lives and benefiting by virtue of having meat to put on the table?

[JanMichael]

30. "not everyone can be a vegetarian" Exactly. We are

but, would NEVER advocate this diet for people unless it's right for them. I particularly am opposed to toddlers and small children being forced to eat nothing but veggies....I am not a doc, but I don't think that's healthy.

[justiceischeap]

34. The whole "protein" thing is a myth

based on not being educated in the matter. Yes, it used to be hard for vegetarians or vegans to get proper protein, like 20-30 years ago, but it isn't the case anymore. I'd guess that vegan's & some vegetarians tend to be more educated about what goes in their bodies, mostly because of researching what is and isn't vegan, finding those pesky hidden ingredients like fish scales in margarine, orange juice or beer for example.

Below are some meatless options I eat often (and where I get some of my protein).

12g protein


18g protein


16g protein


You can get protein from nuts & seeds, cheeses if you're vegetarian, beans & legumes, fruits & vegetables, etc.

Also, if there's any real concern about a vegan diet, it's about getting enough B-12.

I hate to preach about diet or how anyone should eat but seeing posts that are most misinformed, I find myself needing to speak up.

[Odin2005]

40. I'm sure that stuff is out of the price range of poor folks on food stamps.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

41. Yeah, I can tell you REALLY hate to preach...

...but you did anyway, even though the poster you were responding to said nothing that was wrong or indicated that he or she was misinformed.

This quote from Aerows, " If you eat a purely vegan diet, you have to be extremely good at making sure you get enough protein. " says exactly what you said, i.e., vegans need to be very aware of what they're eating.

Of course, Aerows said it without being santimonious and preachy.

[hobbit709]

59. If you're not going to eat meat, why eat stuff made to look like meat?

[HappyMe]

60. I have never understood

the 'fake meat' thing. I'll bet that stuff costs an arm and a leg.

[Odin2005]

38. Most PETA types think Bambi is a documentary.

[Odin2005]

32. Oh, you again.

Calling all of us hunters evil monsters.

And yes, I went deer hunting last weekend.

[glacierbay]

37. What did you bag?

I got a 6 point buck, wife got an 8 pointer.

[Odin2005]

46. 6-pointer.

Sent it to the butcher and divided it between my mom and I. I'm making venison pot roast tonight.

[glacierbay]

48. Yummmm

We've already made a boatload of venison chili and froze it, having venison steak tonight.

[Odin2005]

73. LOVE venison chili!

I'm also having the butcher make "slim-jim" style venison summer sausage sticks, they are good for a snack or for my dinner break at work.

[11 Bravo]

33. Most people who make blanket generalizations are fucking morons in my opinion.

I have hunted since I was old enough to legally do so, and I eat what I kill. (And sorry, but I don't like reflexive spewers who don't know what they're talking about.)

[ProgressiveProfessor]

55. Does meat grow in the wild wrapped in plastic on styrofoam trays?

There is not a thing wrong with hunting for food for those of us who eat meat.

[geomon666]

19. Oooh, you're the perfect person to ask then.

I have never personally hunted nor even tasted a freshly caught, killed, and cooked bird. I'm sure I already know the answer to this question anyway but is there a big taste difference between store bought turkey and the freshly killed one (assuming they're both prepared and cooked the same)?

[glacierbay]

20. Yes there is a big difference

the store bought turkeys are raised in horrible conditions, pumped full of steroids and vitamins to make them fatter, while the wild ones are steroid and vitamin free and and just taste so much better.

Oh, and the way they kill them is barbaric, they immerse them in boiling water.

Here's a pic of a typical turkey factory.



Here's another pic of the horrible conditions they live in.



I think you can buy all natural turkeys at a store, but I'm not really sure.

[geomon666]

21. thank you

I will definitely be looking for naturally raised now.

[glacierbay]

23. You're welcome

Make sure it says on the label that they're naturally raised without steroids. You'll notice the difference in taste.

[Marrah_G]

24. One of the best things you can do is find a turkey farmer and preorder your birds in the spring

It's a win win for both you and the farmer.

Check out the site: Eat Wild

[Comrade_McKenzie]

2. I'll eat an extra big piece of breast in their honor. nt

[sakabatou]

3. *rolls my eyes*

[Nye Bevan]

4. PETA has become a fringe, ridiculous laughing-stock.

I would actually have some respect for them if they focused on sensible, realistic issues such as humane treatment of farm animals and minimizing the use of animals for research purposes. But campaigning for Americans to become vegetarians is about as likely to succeed as campaigning for introducing a monarchy here.

[Odin2005]

42. PETA is an archetypal example of upper-middle class "Lifestyle" cultists.

There is one DUer PETA member who ranted against the autistic animal behaviorist Temple Grandin because Temple has spent her career designing more humane slaughterhouses.

[Initech]

65. Yes PETA has become quite ridiculous. I give you exhibit A:

There was a traffic collision here in Orange County CA at the intersection of I-405 and I-5 freeways. There a truck carrying live fish to go to a market collided with a truck carrying oxygen tanks. Needless to say the contents of both trucks spilled and a ton of fish died as a result. Now PETA representatives are hammering the city of Irvine to get a monument built on the side of the freeway for the dead fish killed. I shit you not.

[Nye Bevan]

69. Sometimes real life resembles "The Onion" (nt)

[Initech]

72. Yup - you just can't make shit up sometimes.

[JanMichael]

6. PETA is right. Those turkeys are tortured. It's disgusting BUT

making people feel "guilty" for eating meat, and turning vegetarians like us off from even visiting their site, has hurt their cause. The animals SHOULD be raised and killed humanely.... but, PETA is not helping that happen.

[The Straight Story]

10. A sensible post with which I can agree

Work to make conditions better for the animals, I am there.

Trying to get me to convert to your beliefs in ways like this...just not gonna happen.

How would they feel if I sent them tombstones re:abortion?

There are ways to state your case and promote your ideals that are far better than what peta is doing (or has done) - and sure it gets them press, but westboro gets press too....

[glacierbay]

12. I refuse to buy store bought

I hunt my own, it's more humane, I make sure that my first shot kills it quickly.

[JanMichael]

14. and frankly, wild turkey (and I do mean the bird)

tastes better! There is alot of meat I miss....game is totally on that list. Yum!

[glacierbay]

17. I've always found

that food I've harvested myself tastes so much better, every year I make a huge batch of venison chili and freeze it, yummmm.

[justiceischeap]

43. PETA has made that happen, you just don't hear about it

because it's not as shocking as sending tombstones to teenagers for Thanksgiving. Or as 'sexy' as their naked campaigns. The reason they do the outrageous stuff they do is because the press won't cover them otherwise. PETA used to be very sedate until they recognized that to continue getting attention they had to be more outrageous. It's not their fault that this is the case.

PS... if you care a lick about climate change, then you should consider how badly factory farms pollute the environment.

[glacierbay]

44. Yep

and in doing that, they alienate people. Kinda defeats their purpose.

[justiceischeap]

47. Yes but name one organization that has done more for all animals?

It was because of PETA literature in the late 80's that I went vegetarian--some people are interested in that sort of education.

Meanwhile, while people are complaining about their outrageous campaigns, they are quietly making sure that fast food restaurants use only animals that are treated humanely in their deaths. They work quietly making sure that KFC in Canada is using chickens that aren't pumped full of steroids and antibiotics. They provide humane ways of euthanasia to shelters that put animals into a box, run a hose from the tailpipe of a truck to the box and gas them with carbon monoxide. They were the only organization that attempted and did rescue pitbulls after Katrina. They build doghouses and give free straw to chained dogs. They do lots of good stuff you never hear about.

But I agree that their outrageousness tends to turn a lot of people off. I'm not a fan myself but I can also recognize the good they do and am happy that someone is out there trying to do it. And frankly, when the FBI illegally investigates a non-profit organization (such as they did with PETA), I tend to stand with them a bit more.

[glacierbay]

49. Oh I'm sure they've done some good

but when they launch a dumbass campaign like this, that's where they alienate people who might have otherwise been open to their suggestions.

Myself, I think they're just a bunch of crackpots, but that's just me.

[Major Nikon]

58. Nice qualifier

Since PETA is essentially a veganism advocacy organization, sure there aren't many others that do that, at least here in the states. However, if you want to instead go with something a bit more inclusive, such as what has been done for the most animals, then PETA doesn't shine so brightly. Furthermore it's not as if PETA is really all that effective at doing the things you claim, because I can name several countries where farm animals are treated far better than they are in the states, even if it's for the same fast food restaurant chains we have here. The problem with using media shenanigans and extreme positions is you tend to turn off about as many people as you turn on.

[JanMichael]

45. we haven't "considered it." We LIVE it

And I do know what PETA has done, and I also know how many people they freak out.

[HappyMe]

7. Good grief!

My turkey is already ordered. I'm poking around for some new recipes.

[MineralMan]

8. Tofurky is over-processed factory food.

If you want to eat a non-meat diet, take the time to learn to cook, for pete's sake. Tofurky is not real food, truly. Why pretend to eat Turkey? Why not eat something that is uniquely vegetarian. Uff da!

I've done Thanksgiving as a vegetarian feast a few times. I would never have though of serving some factory-made turkey look-alike to my guests. Instead, I make a mean lentil loaf. It doesn't try to taste like turkey. I tastes like the best lentil loaf you've ever eaten. Much better.

[JanMichael]

11. Tofurkey is a once a year treat

for us. We enjoy it Sorry. The other 365 days a year, we agree!

[MineralMan]

18. I've eaten it. It's not a treat. nt

[Aerows]

31. I've tried it too

It's anything but a treat. I lived with a vegan for a while. My God the miserable meals that came out of the kitchen when she cooked. The worst were the "spare ribs" made with peanut butter and some concoction from a box.

The idea that I was going to eat any of that was very quickly ended. I'm all for organic this and that, but I'm a carnivore, and if I'm going to eat meat, it's going to be meat, not some God only knows what "textured vegetable protein." It's just not natural.

[MineralMan]

50. A vegetarian or vegan diet does not have to be yucky.

Some people do make yucky food for that diet, but there are so many ways you can go that end up with delicious food that doesn't pretend to be anything else. I've never understood trying to make "spare ribs." Why would anyone want to do that?

My former wife was a vegetarian for a couple of years. Since I always did the cooking, I learned to cook vegetarian. I hate terrible food, so I learned to cook delicious, balanced meals that I could enjoy, too. For a while, we seemed to be entertaining a lot during that period, so I even cooked for groups of vegetarians and shared recipes with others.

It's not that difficult, as long as you forget about trying to duplicate non-vegetarian dishes. Start with good ingredients, combine them in ways that taste good, learn about creating satisfying textures and flavors, and Bob's your uncle.

There are some really good cookbooks, too, but they're not the ones that are the most popular. You have to dig a bit. There are a million great Indian vegetarian recipes, along with Buddhist recipes, and homegrown American recipes, too. I cooked from a variety of international cuisines, and came up with a few of my own inventions, too. The key is flavor and texture. Aroma's matter, too. Umami is very, very important, maybe even the most important in creating satisfaction for those who are eating what you cook.

It was fun. I still make some of the best of those meals, as a change from our regular diet. I even do it for non-vegetarian guests from time to time. It's always fun to get raves for a meal that contains no animal products from people who normally eat meat at every meal.

[JanMichael]

36. heh. I just realized something

We've "known" each other on DU for the better part of a decade-- that, of course, has zero to do with this topic...but, it just occurred to me that this is our third election to read and ponder on a website-

[Aerows]

39. This is what I think!

If you are going to be a vegetarian or a vegan, don't try to pretend that you are eating "meat" and "cheese", etc. There are PLENTY of wonderful recipes for making a veggie burger without resorting to overly salty Morningstar farms junk. And for heaven's sake, don't try and pretend tofurky is anywhere near a real turkey. It's not. I like veggie burgers sometimes, but don't pretend that they taste like a real burger, because they simply don't.

[BlueMan Votes]

13. peta is a complete joke.

their style in delivering their message is too off-putting to most people, and so nobody pays them any attention.

[Enrique]

15. i'll take a pepperoni n/t

[Quantess]

16. I love PETA. Always so entertaining.

Turkeys are great birds, in their own way. I had 2 of them as outdoor pets. They have quite a charm, especially tame ones.

[Bad_Ronald]

25. I once dated a woman who believed plants felt pain too. Maybe we should all just starve to death.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

26. If you're my age (50)

You probably remember the "Lost in Space" episode where the vegetables were alive and did feel pain...who's right?

[Initech]

29. According to PETA, chickens can do basic math.

[MineralMan]

53. The math of chickens is all about the twos.

Two breasts, two thighs, two legs, and two wings. Two to the fourth power. Add them up and the sum is delicious.

[Odin2005]

35. Does PETA still use sexist advertising using scantily-clad women?

[liberalhistorian]

51. Oh, good freaking grief.

I will eat turkey on Thanksgiving and I will ENJOY IT. Humans in the vast majority of cultures have been eating meat for tens of thousands of years. I'm as sick of PETA as I am of the NRA. In fact, PETA used to be a decent organization that focused attention and action on legitimate animal abuse, but it has long since jumped the shark and has become the left's version of the NRA, ultra-extremist, ridiculous. And now add out-of-touch and irrelevant. They finally lost me for good when they came out against pizza and against fishing. Ludicrous.

And I have a triple-armored flame suit on, so go ahead with the pile-ons, I don't care.

[Ian David]

52. As god is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly. n/t

[glacierbay]

54. One of the best WKRP in Cincinnati episodes ever.

[Bucky]

56. What about supermodels in cages. Can we cook them?

[whistler162]

62. To scrawny!

[bluestate10]

67. Wouldn't get enough meat off them to make worth your while.

PETA should focus of logical efforts, like getting more space for food animals. The fringe shit that the organization has spilled into does no one any good. And fighting the fashion industry that cause young girls and women to starve themselves to fit in.

[LWolf]

57. If we're talking about

commercially raised birds, they are right.

Wild turkeys or home raised turkeys are fine with me, but I don't eat commercial turkeys.

Which means I haven't eaten turkey for Thanksgiving since I moved too far from my former neighbor, who raised a few every year. I could probably find a local source for home-raised turkey; I just haven't tried.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/11/turkeytech/

[flvegan]

61. PETA thread. Sweet.

It's been awhile.

[cherish44]

63. I can't stand vegetarian food that's processed to look and taste like meat.

I'm a "mostly" vegetarian. Probably go meatless 90 % of the time. Great health benefits have come from it. And I train with weights 6 days a week (nothing heavyweight, I'm a woman who's looking to just sculpt and tone, not get huge, the highest I go is 10 pounds dumb bells but that'll get you pretty darn toned and strong). But that 10% of the time I want meat, I eat the real thing...much better for you than the processed crap that's tofurkey or other meat substitutes. And I do love animals. Hunting isn't something I could EVER do but I don't have a problem with it as along as it's done with respect for the animals and the earth. Native Americans hunted buffalo and they greatly revered and respected these animals for providing them with food and warmth. And I know many hunters who feel the same way. (Just don't post pictures of your kills on facebook please, that upsets a lot of people).

[argiel1234]

64. Tofurky is fucking nasty

that is all

[longship]

66. Sorry, no tofu for me, on any day.

Anyway, in this neck of the woods -- and I mean literally woods -- the turkeys grow wild and are over populated. If they aren't culled by hunting, they are culled by nature. So Thanksgiving here often means wild turkey.

I eat less meat these days than I used to, but I will likely never be a vegetarian, let alone a vegan. That's just my preference.

Another way to support animals is to give to the ASPCA and the Humane Society. Also, there are many individuals doing great things by rescuing pets. I try to do my part when I can.

[Proles]

68. PETA's a joke. I might take them more seriously if they picked their battles.

Fighting against meaningless pain for animals is one thing, but this crusade against any kind of meat-eating is ridiculous.

Also, weren't they upset when Obama swatted that fly?

[nadinbrzezinski]

70. Again?

Ok PETA you got me...no turkey

We are looking forwards to duck.

[Marrah_G]

71. I think pitting children against their parents on a family day is wrong

I will be having a big turkey dinner with my family, except I just won't be eating the turkey. Everything else that goes along with it is yummy and filling

I should note I am not eating meat for health reasons and not because i am against meat consumption, although I do try to get people to think about where all their food comes from and how to make little changes.

I respect them, they respect me. Through casual conversation I was able to get them to order a turkey from a farm rather then one of the mass production place.

Every little step counts and nudging gently works better then in your face guilt tripping.