For the Animals
Abusing and killing an innocent bird betrays the life-affirming spirit of giving thanks for our life, health, and happiness. The nearly 300 million turkeys killed each year in the U.S. spend their entire lives crammed in large sheds with little room to move. Artificially inseminated and selectively bred to gain enormous amounts of weight, they suffer heart attacks, broken limbs, lameness, and death from their genetically-induced accelerated growth rate. Most of these same conditions apply to "free range" turkeys.
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For Your Health
Turkey flesh is loaded with cholesterol and saturated fats, which have been linked conclusively with an elevated risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and other chronic diseases that kill 1.3 million Americans annually. Turkey flesh is also contaminated with deadly pathogens and antibiotics.
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For the Globe
In addition to threatening personal health, factory farming is a global problem. Much of the 10 billion pounds of manure generated by 7,300 turkey farms in 33 states ends up in our drinking water. Grain fed to turkeys is denied to millions of starving people in the world's most impoverished nations.
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Just think about how little you need to give up and how much they will gain. One meal for a life. I don't think that is a fair trade.
My heart goes out to all the Turkeys who have lost their lives for this bloody holiday. <3
If you have not purchased or listened to this album... well... just go take a listen. NOW. It is purely magical. Purely. I am in love.
This is how I do a purse! That's right y'all. I find it fabulous (although I am slowly altering it already). What do you think? Oh wait, thats right, I love it and thats all that matters! :)So this is one of those true blog random thought moments. But an event happened today that really made me think and angered me to say the least.
As I was walking on campus today (as most of my stories now start) there was a small rally of people talking about diversity (at least from what I could tell). The majority of them were not caucasian. As I walked though them I heard one of them say:
“What the hell does a white man know about diversity?”
The statement was not directed at me, but just something a few of the people there were talking about. I just kept walking, but as I went back to my car I thought about his statement and my anger grew.
I know very well that as a white male I am fairly high on our society’s chain. Caucasians are very much in a better spot and males are too. This is another thing that has always irked me about society, but that is not the meaning of this post. Through society’s warped ways people are placed into boxes based on different aspects of themselves, and then these boxes are placed in order of importance on society’s shelf. Not a pleasant way of it; but that is how society operates; for now.
So even though some of the boxes I am placed in are high up (like being male and white) there are others that are much lower (very close to the bottom in fact). My sexual orientation and gender expression for example. In many ways I lean more towards the feminine side in my actions, and for that I am put down and sneered at. *This of course also proves the bad rap that women get; but, not to insult women in the least, a man (at least how society defines one) who exhipits more “feminine” qualities is valued a lot less than a women. This is because “feminine” actions are considered inferior to begin with and society has brainwashed everyone to hate a man who shows them.*
But I digress…
I am not even arguing or trying to prove that I am in a worse place than others (such as the people of different ethnicities at the rally today). **Although I will say one thing to that argument: No other minority is denied things by LAW. Just saying.** But when did diversity become only understood by people in a minority situation. Diversity is about difference and unique qualities of people. This can mean ethnicity (as it often is used to mean) but hundreds of other things as well: social economic status, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, interests, clothing expression, dietary choices, ANYTHING THAT MAKES PEOPLE UNIQUE. Everyone is diverse, because every single person is slightly different. THIS is the true meaning of diversity.
In conclusion, I feel like saying a “white man” knows nothing of diversity is showing a lack of knowledge of the true meaning of diversity. Anyone can know about diversity by just looking into themselves and seeing how they are wonderfully unique.
Sorry that was so long; I have strong feelings on this matter. Let me know what you all think.
Luv
**Careful what you say; ‘cause I hear you, and I WILL write about you!**
Recently I have been feeling very down on humanity. On the way they treat each other; on the horrible things they do.
But in the last few days I have been reminded of one thing that makes humans so amazing. And I do not mean everyone by this statement, but only a very select few people. Several of my closest friends are this kind of person.
Shit happens to people. It does. It is one of the worst parts of our society and one of the things I detest about humanity. The things we do to others. While it is horrible, bad things do bring out amazing things in people.
I have recently felt the strongest feelings of pride, respect and sheer love for my friends for the INCREDIBLE strength they show every single day. Whether it is recovering from terrible past experiences or going through present cruelties, they stand strong against it all! And while they struggle they are constantly succeeding; more than they even know.
I am reminded by these people that the bad people in the world truly have no power over us. They cannot bring us down. They cannot force us to change or be unhappy. Because we are stronger; we are better than them.
Anyone and everyone that overcomes the crap people in the world to be stronger, happier, and better people deserve and have my eternal love and respect! I am so proud to know all of you. You inspire me every single day.
*Stay Fabulous!*
