Conference 7.286::pet_birds

641.0. "Turkey Distribution" by POWDML::JULIUS () Tue Dec 31 1991 10:09

    Cross-posted here with the author's permission.
    Regards,
    Bernice
             <<< SAFRON::S$1:[NOTES$LIBRARY]VEGETARIANISM.NOTE;1 >>>
                     -< Digital Vegetarian Interest Group >-
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Note 4.54                         Pro-Choice???                         54 of 56
DRAGON::GITA                                         41 lines  23-DEC-1991 11:07
                   -< Things are looking up for next year! >-
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    I have some potentially good news for those of us who have been trying
    to get an alternative to the turkey over the years.
    
    Last year I was very lucky to have the support of my personnel
    representative.  He pursued the issue of why can't DEC provide an
    alternative for vegetarians.  In the end, we received a letter, rather
    nasty, from our point of view stating that this was a "gift" and we
    should take it or leave it.
    
    Well - I figured then that this was a dead issue, no puns intended.  I
    did not make a stand this year other than to tear up my turkey card,
    but my personnel rep called me and asked if I'd done anything.  He
    still felt that DEC was not "doing the right thing" so he pushed the
    issue up the chain of command.
    
    Guess what????  The very person who had written us the letter last year
    is now singing a new tune.  I guess there's a fairly active Vegetarian
    contingent in Hudson, MA and they've been talking with members of the
    Valuing Diversity group.  A new awareness is developing that maybe we
    aren't just some weirdo group of cultists!  
    
    There's talk now of letting us order something from a catalog.
    
    So - I'm writing to ask everyone to send a note, letter, whatever to 
    Sheila Fantozzi, @MSO, ICS::FANTOZZI and tell her why you'd prefer not
    to receive a turkey.  You could also suggest mail-order catalogs that
    carry items that would be appropriate.  I think that if she starts
    receiving lots of mail that this will reenforce the fact that there are
    a lot of Vegetarians working for DEC.
    
    I guess that there were about 30 requests for kosher turkeys and
    somehow personnel thinks that's about how many requests they'd get from
    us.  My personnel rep told her she's grossly underestimating.  He
    immediately called me and when I said I'd put a note in the notes file
    he thought that was great.
    
    So - maybe next year we'll have a choice.
    
    Gita Devi
    
    

    
    	Turkey - did someone say Turkey - We don't get ANYTHING - much less
    	a turkey. For vegitareans (sp?) - why not give it to a charity??
    	There are a lot of those who do without.

    Re. .1
    > why not give it to a charity?<
    
    I don't think we wan't to get into a vegetarian debate but 
    because you asked:
    
    1. As a person who loves animals and don't wish them any harm, 
       my ethics are compromised when one has to be slaughtered 
       because I am part of the headcount.
    
    2. From my perspective it's not charitable to give a dead bird 
       to someone to eat.
    
    Bernice

    
    	I value your opinion
     - Please value mine.
    
    		Thanks