Thanksgiving
Dear Frankie,
Is it the Meal or the Tradition That Counts?
This fall a family of turkeys walked throughout the neighborhood every afternoon.
I loved seeing them strut and their beautiful shiny feathers. After a while, I was able to tell them apart and gave them each a name.
Not all the neighbors felt as kindly towards them as I did. Some of them would yell and throw rocks at the turkeys if they stepped on their property.
I told my friends at the park about my horrible neighbors and Vicki said it wouldn’t be an issue much longer as Thanksgiving was just around the corner. I didn’t understand what she meant so Lily explained that a turkey dinner was the traditional meal for Thanksgiving.
Ever since then, I feel so sad when I see the turkeys. Do you think they know what is going to happen to them? I don’t think if I were a human I would eat a turkey.
Linette
Dear Linette,
You need not worry about not seeing your fine feathered friends in the future. Wild turkeys are not the chosen fowl for the Thanksgiving meal.
The turkeys eaten on Thanksgiving are raised on farms specifically for the holiday. If it is any comfort to you some humans don’t eat meat, fish, or fowl. They eat grains and vegetables and are called vegetarians. Some of them choose to be a vegetarian because they are opposed to harming animals for food.
They also celebrate Thanksgiving for the same reason the meat-eaters do, which is to take a day to be thankful for being an American and for the many blessings they received throughout the year.
Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving, however, your family chooses to celebrate the holiday.
Best, Frankie
© 2021 Geneva Woodruff
Comments and letters can be sent to Frankie at dearfrankiecolumn@gmail.com. The Fairhaven Neighborhood News publishes the Dear Frankie column. To receive a free online subscription, readers can email neighbnews@comcast.net, request their name be added to the email list or visit www.neighbnews. com to read the paper online or to download the latest issue.
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