Thread: Cooking a Turkey

Not nice BBD





I reckon any excuse to BBQ/roast/fry/blowup a bird is a good thing.

40lbs!

As no one seems to know what this Thanksgiving is all about, the following was lifted from Wikipedia. As usual, there are at least 2 sides to a story.

Much like [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Day"]Columbus Day - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame], Thanksgiving is seen by some as a celebration of the conquest and genocide of [ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States[/ame] by European colonists. Professor Dan Brook of University of California, Berkeley condemns the "cultural and political amnesia" of Americans that celebrate Thanksgiving, saying that "We do not have to feel guilty, but we do need to feel something."[56] Professor [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Jensen"]Robert Jensen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] of the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Texas_at_Austin"]University of Texas at Austin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] is somewhat harsher, saying that "One indication of moral progress in the United States would be the replacement of Thanksgiving Day and its self-indulgent family feasting with a National Day of Atonement accompanied by a self-reflective collective fasting."[57]
Since 1970, the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_American_Indians_of_New_England"]United American Indians of New England - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame], a protest group led by Frank "Wamsutta" James that has accused the United States and European settlers of fabricating the Thanksgiving story and whitewashing a [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocide"]Genocide - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] and injustice against Indians, has led a National Day of Mourning protest on Thanksgiving at [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Rock"]Plymouth Rock - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] in Plymouth, Massachusetts in the name of social equality and in honor of [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_prisoner"]Political prisoner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame].[[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed"]Wikipedia:Citation needed - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]]
Another notable example of anti-Thanksgiving sentiment was when hundreds of supporters traveled to [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcatraz"]Alcatraz Island - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] on Thanksgiving Day to celebrate the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_Alcatraz"]Occupation of Alcatraz - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] by [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indians_of_All_Tribes"]Indians of All Tribes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]. The [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Indian_Movement"]American Indian Movement - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] also holds a negative view of Thanksgiving and has used it as a platform of protest, most notably when they took over a [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayflower"]Mayflower - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] float in a Thanksgiving Day parade.[58] Some Native Americans hold "[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unthanksgiving_Day"]Unthanksgiving Day - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]" celebrations in which they mourn the deaths of their ancestors, fast, dance, and pray.[59] This tradition has been taking place since 1975.[60]
However, the perception of Thanksgiving among Native Americans is not universally negative. [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Giago"]Tim Giago - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame], founder of the Native American Journalists Organization, seeks to reconcile Thanksgiving with Native American traditions. He compares Thanksgiving to "wopila", a thanks-giving celebration practiced by [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Plains_Tribes"]Plains Indians - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]. He writes in [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Huffington_Post"]The Huffington Post - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] that "the idea of a day of Thanksgiving has been a part of the Native American landscape for centuries. The fact that it is also a national holiday for all Americans blends in perfectly with Native American traditions." He also shares personal anecdotes of Native American families coming together to celebrate Thanksgiving.[61] Members of the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oneida_Indian_Nation"]Oneida Indian Nation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] marched in the 2010 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macy%27s_Thanksgiving_Day_Parade"]Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] with a float called "The True Spirit of Thanksgiving" and have done so in each year since.[62]
Some [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheist"]Atheism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] and strict separationists have also criticized popular traditions associated with the celebration of Thanksgiving, particularly the annual recitation of Thanksgiving proclamations by the President of the United States as they often revolve around the theme of giving thanks to God, due to their interpretation of the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_church_and_state"]Separation of church and state - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame].[63] Out of concern for the separation of church and state, presidents [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson"]Thomas Jefferson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Jackson"]Andrew Jackson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] had refused to issue such proclamations.[