All the fowl facts about turkey

Manhattan: President Trump has his pardon pen out as the Mueller investigation starts indicting his associates. Tuesday, he practiced on two very innocent Minnesota turkeys. The other 244 million turkeys killed in the U.S. this year have not been so lucky. They were raised in crowded sheds filled with toxic fumes. Their beaks and toes were clipped to prevent stress-induced aggression. Slaughterhouse workers cut their throats at 16 weeks of age, and dump them in boiling water to remove their feathers.

Consumers pay a heavy price, too. Turkey flesh is laced with cholesterol and saturated fats that elevate risk of chronic killer diseases. Intense, prolonged cooking is required to destroy deadly pathogens lurking inside.

Now for the good news: Per capita consumption of turkeys is down by a whopping 34%, from a 1996 high of 303 million, as one-third of our population is actively reducing meat consumption; our supermarkets carry a rich variety of convenient, delicious, healthful, plant-based meat products, including several oven-ready roasts.

This Thanksgiving holiday, as we give thanks for life and good fortune, let’s also skip the gratuitous violence and grant our own pardon to an innocent animal. Nico Young

Fleeing fowls

Kearny, N.J.: Before Drumstick and Wishbone — the two turkeys symbolically pardoned this Thanksgiving week by our President at a White House ceremony — there were Frick and Frack. They preheated an oven, jumped in and cooked themselves alive so that they wouldn’t have to meet President Trump. RIP — Rest in Pieces (wings, legs, thighs and breasts). Kevin Dale

Begging Butterballs

Will the presidential thanksgiving turkeys have to thank Trump for the pardon he granted?

Frank Williams

Hiking prices

Far Rockaway: Re: “NYC families hunger for $770M in lost food stamps since 2013,” (Nov. 20): The sad part about this is, stores like Costco, Walmart and Target that finally started accepting SNAP and smaller stores like Shop & Stop and many bodegas have increased their prices on food because many people rely on SNAP. Since the government is paying for it, why not raise the price for guaranteed higher profits). There needs to be an investigation on that.

Sandra Smith

Vanishing markets

Manhattan: I have been living on the Upper West Side for more than 30 years. When I first moved there, I had about a half dozen supermarkets within a five to six-block radius of W. 72nd St. These included a D’Agostino, a Food Emporium, an A&P and several Gristedes. I also had Fairway, Citarella, Pioneer and the Westside Market. Now Fairway, Citarella, Pioneer and Westside are the only ones left. The Westside Market on Broadway between 76th and 77th Sts. is the one I have been using for several years. They have a great staff and a wonderful variety of products, and best of all they deliver. I can do most of my shopping with one visit. Unfortunately, they will be closing at the end of this month. This will leave my neighborhood with one supermarket — Pioneer. Granted, I now have a Trader Joe’s on Broadway. They are not great on all products but they as well as Fairway and Citarella do not enable you to do “one-stop shopping.” This is truly a sad state of affairs. Deborah J. Smokler

Scheduling Santa

Lincoln Park, N.J.: Just saw on the morning news that Macy’s (Herald Square) will require an appointment for a child to see Santa Claus. This will be an epic public relations disaster. Picture the scenario of someone who didn’t know the reservation was required showing up at Macy’s (child or children in tow) and being informed they can’t see Santa because they didn’t have an appointment. Keith Remland Somers Point, N.J.: To Voicer Andrea Bush: My siblings and I were raised by strict parents who demanded no prejudice regarding skin color, nationality or religion. Our neighbors referred to themselves as “American Negroes.” I served our country as an Army medic in the Korean “police action.” Did you ever hear of that? I have a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in education. I selected a school system to teach in that had 65% to 70% AfroAmericans. I wanted to make a difference and encourage the young students to strive and attain their goals in life. Many of the students referred to me as the “color-blind” teacher. I’m sure the Navy must be very proud of your letter-writing and name-calling. You must not have understood my praising of Afro-Americans who are living successful lives. You don’t know me. I’m too much of an educated gentleman to resort to your insinuations and prejudiced name-calling. I’ll match my intelligence against yours any time, any day of the week. It seems your prejudices are against Caucasians or anyone who differs with you. I suggest you take the advice you threw my way and use it yourself. When you point one finger at me, three point back to you. Nick Polimeni

Keeping kids safe

Bronx: In light of a child who died in a pre-K center, all institutes associated with children should follow the same protocol used in hospitals and nursing homes: A colored band is worn by the patient or client — with a color representing their allergies or meds. But then they also have to enforce hiring policies to ensure that the providers are educated and deemed responsible for the care of children. Lucille Martinez

NYCHA solution

Union, N.J.: Please fight to have NYCHA Chairwoman Shola Olatoye removed from her position (“Cleanout at NYCHA Housing bigs axed, demoted over lead-paint scandal,” Nov. 18)! She is another rat in this woodpile. Then, fight to have them all return half of their salaries to the taxpayers of New York. After all, they hardly earned such outrageous pay; and they surely don’t deserve it. Christine Kavanaugh

Corrupt city

Staten Island: To the Democrats who quickly called for an impeachment of President Trump: Why are you silent when a proven act by an elected official endangers children and betrays the oath of office of the mayor, and such information was delayed until after the mayoral election? Hypocrisy. Jane Frangos

A long list

East Northport, L.I.: How many more people in the Trump administration are going to continue to embarrass us, here at home and around the world? But, alas, it happened again when Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin printed his name to newly issued currency. However, it could have been worse. He could have just made an X. Is cursive a lost art? Is the phrase “write your John Hancock” now extinct? A troubling event to be sure. I wonder if President Trump is aware of this debacle. And if he is, does he care? Mary McCormick

He started it

Little Egg Harbor Township, N.J.: I find it ironic that Voicer James Hahn is so disturbed by all the letters being printed deriding President Trump which Hahn refers to as juvenile insults, catchy nicknames, childish and smurky name calling by rabid liberals. Is he for real? Who is the person who begins every speech by calling people “Crooked Hillary,” “Little Rocket Man,” etc. etc. If you throw stones, you must not live in glass houses. But, not to worry, the effort to impeach Trump, before he ever gets anywhere a second term, is on the move and taking on lots of steam. As for Voicer John Sendlein worrying about Trump benefiting from his new tax plan: It doesn’t affect him or his family, since they never pay taxes anyway.

Rose S. Wilson

Presidential proportionality

Manhattan: Really? (“President and pariah,” editorial, Nov. 18) Bill Clinton’s behavior with women demands a reckoning more than losing his law license, a censure from the Congress and being impeached? Get over it. You have a POTUS now who is a liar, traitor and thief, a self-admitted sexual predator who tells us that Nazis and Klansmen are “very fine people.” A little perspective, please. Denise A. Rubin

Gettysburg without politics

AP Pottsville, Pa.: Harold Holzer’s column about the dedication of the cemetery at Gettysburg was informative and instructive (“The great generosity of Abe at Gettysburg,” Nov. 18). But why was it necessary to take a shot at President Trump? How about this? Can anyone imagine Barack Obama ceding the spotlight to Sarah Palin at such an event today? Mike Kiehner