UPC Letter to The Washington Post, Dec. 1, 2024 (unpublished)

To the editor: I was disheartened to read the Nov. 27 Style article, "Why I’m still serving Thanksgiving turkey — and tabling the debate." This is the perfect time of year to reflect our food choices and their moral and practical implications. As we increasingly feel overwhelmed by issues like climate change, systemic inequality, and geopolitical conflicts, food choices offer a tangible way for individuals to make a difference. Avoiding this conversation when it contradicts our values, is a betrayal to the animals as well as ourselves.

Peter Singer’s suggestion and Tim Carmen’s action to purchase a heritage-breed turkey continues to reduce turkeys to commodities, implying that their suffering is acceptable as long as those who can afford it, pay a premium for their conscience. Turkeys are known to dance and frolic, so instead of taking their life, let’s come together with animal-free dishes and celebrate the joyfulness of turkeys.

Sincerely,

Liqin Cao,
President, United Poultry Concerns