Apparently it is a tradition for the President of the United States to hold a ceremony in which he pardons the annual Thanksgiving turkey. This year was no different. On November 22, George Dubya granted a Presidential pardon to a turkey named - wait for it - Marshmallow. and its companion, a stand-in called Yam. As to why a stand-in was required one can only surmise. Perhaps it was for the stunt scenes (see below).
Normally, the birds fortunate enough to be spared from the dinner table end up living out the remainder of their days at a farm called "Frying Pan Park". I kid you not. This year, however, the turkeys have been spared the ignominy, and instead will serve as honourary Grand Marshalls at Disneyland's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Afterwards, they will remain at Disneyland until their allotment of daylight runs out.
Bravely resisting the opportunity to make pun - sorry, FUN - of the situation and point out the obvious references to turkeys political or avian, I'll just draw your attention to ancient Rome. It too was once the super power of the world, and its leaders also indulged in some pretty bizarre antics. We all know what happened to them.
Is history, perchance, repeating?
Annual Thanksgiving Turkey, Marshmallow
(or possibly Yam), shows his
gratitude at receiving a Presidential pardon.
