Open Forum

I wish the person who stole my grandson's $160 portable deer stand could feel the pain and hurt they caused this young, 12-year-old, first year hunter. He bought this stand with every penny he had saved and all his birthday gift money and was so proud to own something he could use for years to come. He beamed with excitement the Tuesday before opener when he and his dad placed the stand in the area they had scouted on land that connected to my property, in which they had permission to hunt on. He awoke easily at 4:30 a.m. opener to come to Grandma and Grandpa's home converted deer camp for breakfast.

I have been a hunter for 40 years, my husband, my children; my children's spouses and grandchildren hunt and all look forward to a week of family fun and sharing of deer stories. This year's stories started out with a very disappointing, sad opener story of who could have stolen my grandson's brand new never used portable deer stand. I have raised my family to be honest, understanding sportsmen but this is beyond comprehension for a new young hunter. I hope as you sit in this stolen deer stand you think of the young boy with tears in his eyes that said, "Grandma why would somebody do that?"

Jo Ann Gangestad

Rural Brainerd

(South Long Lake area)

Go vegetarian

This Thanksgiving cele-bration should provide welcome relief from the violence-ridden national debate over war on Iraq and terrorism. Unfortunately, many Americans will per-petuate the violence by giving thanks for their life, health, and happiness on the grave of a tortured, dead bird on their dinner table.

The 340 million turkeys raised in the U.S. each year have nothing to give thanks for. For 16 weeks, they breathe toxic fumes in crowded sheds, as their beaks and toes are cut off to reduce damage from stress-induced aggression. At the slaughterhouse, they are beheaded by an electric saw and dumped into a vat of scalding water, sometimes still conscious.

Ironically, turkeys get their revenge. Their flesh is laced with cholesterol, saturated fats, hormones, antibiotics, and deadly pathogens like Salmonella and Campylo-bacter. Careful adherence to government warning labels is required to avoid food poisoning.

The grain fed to turkeys denies lifesaving foodstuffs to millions of starving people in Africa and Asia. Each year, U.S. turkey factories dump 10 billion pounds of manure into our waterways.

I invite you to join me and millions of other Americans in celebrating this Thanksgiving with nonviolent, wholesome, delicious products of our earth's bounty: grains, vegetables and fruits. Our holiday fare may include a mock 'turkey' made of tofu or seitan, lentil or nut roast, stuffed squash, corn chowder or chestnut soup, candied yams, cranberry sauce, pumpkin or pecan pie and carrot cake. An Internet search on Vegetarian Thanksgiving will provide more information than you need to know.

Brad Driscoll

Brainerd