You and your family are cordially invited to join us for a joyous Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, November 23, 2017 at 6:00 p.m at our home. In celebration of this holiday, we’ll express our gratitude by needlessly devouring the tortured remains of a turkey. We’ll place the dead carcass (with her feces removed, of course) in the center of the table and engage in cognitive dissonance as we feast on the slaughtered bird’s body parts.
Unwilling to evolve by aligning our actions with our values or show compassion for animals, we’ll continue to honor cruel and senseless traditions to which we have no meaningful attachment. If questioned by people who advocate for a more humane world, we’ll justify our meal by reminding them that the pilgrims ate turkeys even though it’s a myth.
As a guest in our home, you’ll have a choice between eating the flesh off a dead turkey’s legs that she would otherwise have used to exercise and play, wings she would have used to protect her babies and provide warmth, or her breast she would have used to huddle and love her young.
Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without eating a turkey — a telling commentary on those of you joining us. We somewhat look forward to seeing you to celebrate the ruthless killing of this sweet bird that nuzzles up against people like a dog! Please RSVP by checking one of the following boxes:
[ ] Yes, I plan on needlessly eating a slaughtered turkey even though I have other delicious options. The suffering of others doesn’t matter to me.
[ ] No, I will not attend unless you plan on celebrating a compassionate Thanksgiving.
Kirschner's Korner 
thanksgiving is my favorite holiday…my poor mother who loved animals never knew the horror they went through. I think she might have given up on eating meat. But i will never know. But her Bday was always near thanksgiving so it became a holiday that i enjoy.
For quite a few years (since 1977(=) i was a vegetarian and cooked Turkey for others. Now, for about three years I am Vegan…so no cooking turkey…..but it keeps someone i love very much from coming to my dinner. He just is a kind person; but wants to feel power through meat consumption…It is so difficult. I think he knows that it is wrong; but is stubborn.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. It’s unfortunate that some people are more focused on eating the remains of an animal than on enjoying time with family and friends on a holiday. Perhaps your friend will have a change of heart.
Great commentary on the cruel and sadistic “traditions” we humans participate in. Many become angered when I try to have a discussion about this. We will be having a cruelty-free dinner at my house, regardless of the occasion.
Thank you for your kind note Karen. And thank you for choosing compassion over cruelty.
I went to a yoga class Thanksgiving Day morning and was asked about my plans for the day. The woman who inquired just finished talking about how organized she was and already had the bird cooking in the oven. I said that I only eat cruelty-free. There would be no dead animals served at my house. Silence ensued and then some quiet conversation began as I left. I’m always careful with my tone of voice so as not to be seen as accusatory, but I must admit that I have less and less tolerance for people’s selective blindness to animals’ suffering. I really appreciate you speaking out, Andrew.
You’re a good advocate Patricia. Many of us can relate to these scenarios. I don’t know that there’s a right or wrong way to respond. Every situation is different.
Unfortunately, saying what we really feel in these situations may feel good but may also often alienate our intended audience. It’s easy to unleash; restraint takes discipline. We must accept that many people simply don’t think like we do; don’t care like we do; won’t change like we did.
Hopefully you planted a seed. I’d like to think that the more people hear others advocating for compassion, the closer they move toward following suit. Sadly, as you mentioned, it’s not always the case.
Thank you for using your voice.
Well Thanksgiving came & went. It turned out that my guests cancelled at the last minute (miscommunication/the kids had to work on Thanksgiving Day (that’s another difficulty.)
I wound up going to a very small family dinner that did serve the beautiful dead animal. I had to keep my mouth open only to eat the vegan options that I had brought. Yummy sweet potatoes, & vegan stuffing. I did not preach; because everyone knew how i felt.
The next day I served a vegan feast to other family members and now i am even fatter because it was so yummy!