1. Thanksgiving celebration

    Prabhupada: Generally, any animal you kill, that is sinful. But especially cow killing is sinful. Go-hatya. And that cow killing is going on in the Christian world, and still, they are religious. What kind of religion? Christian religion says generally, “Thou shalt not kill.” And especially they are killing cows. Generally killing and especially killing. First thing is why they shall kill at all? In America, oh, they have got sufficient food. So much rice, so much wheat, so much oats, fruits, grains and butter and ghee. So why they shall kill? What is the reason?

    Umapati: Uncontrollable tongue.

    Prabhupada: Yes. Now what is that bird who is killed in Christmas?

    Devotees: Turkey.

    Prabhupada: Turkey, you see…Christmas, God’s Christmas, Jesus Christ. He said, “Thou shalt not kill.” But his birthday is observed by killing, killing, killing, killing, killing.

    Krsna-kanti: Actually, they kill the turkey on Thanksgiving, which is the day that they acknowledge and give thanks to the Lord.

    Umapati: For this great country.

    Prabhupada: For giving them opportunity to kill? And where is the opportunity? The Lord said, “Thou shalt not kill.” Where do they get the opportunity of killing? That is another blaspheming. Where do they get this opportunity? They manufacture.

    From a Morning Walk at Cheviot Hills Golf Course – May 15, 1973, Los
    Angeles