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OpEdNews Op Eds    H4'ed 4/26/16

Thank You Nicholas Kristof

Message Suzana Megles
I am probably only one of many of Nicholas Kristof's fans. I find that he writes with conviction, compassion, and caring. Yes, definitely the three "c's" are usually how I assess a writer's worth especially when the subject matter calls for it. And usually Kristof's articles do.
On April 16, 2016, I read one of his latest posts entitled "Animal Cruelty or the Price of Dinner?" He wrote: "....almost nine billion chickens will be dangled upside down on conveyor belts and slaughtered; when the process doesn't work properly, the birds are scalded alive."
This topic made him recall his own family's experience: "Poultry farming now is entirely different from what it was when I was a farm kid in Oregon with our family's flock of chickens. Today's business model is infinitely more efficient, but it also raises environmental concerns such as antibiotic overuse and is FUNDAMENTALLY OPPRESSIVE for animals and farmers
alike."
Classic Kristof in my opinion. I also remember seeing him years ago on an Oprah Winfrey show where the topic dealt with animal factory farms. Kristof's views and statements did not disappoint. Sadly, I cannot recall them now but I remember knowing them to be compassionate, and he certainly was not a proponent of factory farming.
The real irony of my being taken up with his thoughts and views is that for a long time I was somewhat angry with people of Hungarian descent of which he is. Of course, I was wrong to discriminate even though at the time I felt my reasons were justifiable.
In brief--in the 80s I was doing research work for a Slovak Monograph--one of 18 ethnic communities in Cleveland. The brainchild of Dr. Karl Bonutti of Cleveland State University, he found people from each ethnic group to accomplish this task, which certainly had much merit. We would all be happy to learn more about our ethnicity.
However, history can be painful as I soon found out. I was very saddened to read about how my people suffered under the Austro-Hungarian Empire reign. The "lucky" Czechs were governed by Austria and many of them I believe were able to receive an education and even job opportunities. Sadly, my people under Hungarian rule were not as fortunate. I believe
most of them had to work long hours on the farms owned by Hungarian barons. They also probably received little in monetary compensation if at all, and there was probably virtually very little educational opportunities for their children.
But, thank God, I have finally come to realize how wrong it was for me to blame present-day persons of Hungarian ancestry for what happened in the past.
As for Mr. Kristof, I look forward to all of his writings and any of his TV appearances. On one of them he and his crew visited one of the African villages where the horrible genital mutilations were being carried on. I am sure that this was an effort on his part to make the viewing audience aware of an archaic procedure which needed to be stopped. Sadly, I believe it still continues. But hopefully, with efforts such as his, one day the people who
believe in this cruelty will recognize it as such and it will stop. How wonderful if the new generations of young girls reaching this age will not have this horribly cruel procedure done to them.
As a writer, Mr. Kristof has written countless articles and anyone who has read them will probably vouch for his twin gifts of caring and compassion. I was sorry to read his recent acknowledgement of losing a writing Pulitzer Prize to Farah Stockman. He graciously wrote that she had written terrific columns in the Boston Globe about race. One day I hope that he too will receive this honor. Thank you again, Mr. Kristof, for your inspired and caring articles. Tributes and honors are great, but in the scheme of things-- just how important are they really?

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I have been concerned about animal suffering ever since
I received my first puppy Peaches in 1975. She made me take a good look at the animal kingdom and I was shocked to see how badly we treat so many animals. At 77, I've been a vegan for the (more...)
 
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