“The turkey is ‘pardoned,’ not sacrificed, in a mock-magnanimous gesture performed by the President of the United States.”
– Karen Davis, PhD, More Than a Meal: The Turkey in History, Myth, Ritual, and Reality

In this 10-minute interview with Dr. Lori Kirshner on Animals Today, United Poultry Concerns president Karen Davis discusses some of the deeper implications of the Presidential turkey pardoning ceremony, which has become an annual White House ritual of Thanksgiving in the U.S. Interview recorded on Nov. 30. 2014.

Listen to the Animals Today podcast.

Food for Thought from More Than a Meal: The Turkey in History, Myth, Ritual, and Reality:

Q. “Anthropologists tell us that in the past, certain cultures have asked forgiveness from animals being hunted for consumption. How does the turkey ‘pardoning’ idea fit into this scheme?”

A. “It doesn’t fit into that at all. We’re not asking for forgiveness. They are not an endangered species.” – Stuart Proctor, National Turkey Federation

“It’s very positive, it’s something that all of the presidents seem to enjoy doing, so it’s a fun thing to do. It’s really to celebrate the holiday and heighten the visibility of the industry to the American public.” – Julie DeYoung, National Turkey Federation

Shame on Obama.

239,386,000 turkeys were officially slaughtered in U.S. slaughterhouses in 2013. For these humiliated and abused birds, every day is “Thanksgiving.”

Learn more about turkeys at: www.upc-online.org/turkeys.

Have a compassionate holiday season

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