Comments on: On Individuals and Thanksgiving

By: Emma

Emma — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:34:48 +0000

4 years ago I was visiting my brother who lives north of Rockwall, Texas (in northeast Texas). A huge turtoise (his shell was about 2 feet long) was standing in the road. I stopped my rental car, and wondered what to do. We were above a culvert, on a narrow farm-to-market road with 4 inch shoulders and then a drop off.

Several cars sped by, screaming obscenities at me and barely missing me. I finally just parked across the road and put the flashers on to stop traffic. It did, but it also engendered a lot of very creative cussing. Thank goodness no one pulled out a gun. (There's a reason I moved away from Texas even though I'm a 5th generation native)

I finally decided I had to get the turtoise off the road. I could not pick him or her up--way too heavy even though I lift weights.

Not knowing what else to do, I started pushing on my new friend Turtoise and got him or her off the road. I pushed in the direction the turtoise was pointed.

I only had to go a bit further before I saw a driveway so I could pull off the road. I went back to watch and make sure that I had "helped" him or her go the direction he or she wanted. I will never know if I pushed the turtoise in the right direction, but the turtoise kept walking until he or she reached the water flowing through the culvert under the road. The tortoise then took a long drink and lumbered off into the grass.

I arrived at my brother's and explained why I was late. He and his wife looked, well, there's no other way to explain it except they kept very straight faces and didn't say anything.

By: Mike Grieco

Mike Grieco — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 12:48:45 +0000

On Victims and "Christmas"...and even more killings!
Let's stuff our face with turkey and/or the flesh of other creatures in this time of "celebration".

Sigh...

By: John N

John N — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 10:34:13 +0000

Another clear example of carnism. I've made it a point to visit my family the day after the "celebration."

By: Harry

Harry — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 07:12:40 +0000

Disconnect. Disconnect. And disconnect again. We humans are very good at it ... (Fortunately there was some connect for the turtle.)

By: Beaelliott

Beaelliott — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 20:15:16 +0000

I'm a devoted reader for years... This has got to be one of my favorite posts! Well done Mary... You hit this one out of the park!

Thanks for all you do to create a just and compassionate world... Happy ThanksLiving Day <3

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 09:06:21 +0000

Thank you Mary... beautifully put. Your line: "And not just dead, mind you, but cause for celebration." is exactly why I boycott most celebrations today. When the focus of the day is around a carcass who "lived" to serve the diners at the table out of some illogically cruel tradition I just have to say no.