Sunday, May 13 is Mother's Day, a day to celebrate the cherished bond between mother and child. Unfortunately, American dairy cows, recognized throughout the world as the symbol of motherhood, are denied the opportunity to nurture their babies.

Baby calves are torn from their mothers at birth and chained by the neck in tiny wood crates, where they can only stand or lie on hard wood slats that are covered in their excrement. They are force-fed a synthetic liquid formula that is deficient in iron and fiber to render their flesh pale and anemic to the delight of veal gourmets. They are denied natural food, water, bedding, exercise, fresh air, sunshine and mother's love.

Ironically, the high-priced product of this misery is very unhealthy. The animals suffer from chronic anemia, diarrhea, and respiratory disorders, and their exposed excrement promotes infections. They are kept alive with antibiotics, which handicap the consumers' ability to protect against infectious diseases. Their flesh is loaded with saturated fat and cholesterol, which have been linked conclusively with chronic diseases that kill 1.5 million Americans annually.

The European Union now requires that the calves be treated more humanely, and Great Britain has banned the veal crate altogether. But the U.S. veal industry has resisted all efforts at reform, despite widespread consumer revulsion that has led to a steep drop in sales.

Clearly, one way to honor mothers on May 13 and every other day is to protest the veal industry's defilement of motherhood by boycotting veal.

Brad Driscoll

Brainerd

Move to Symbia?

I still can't figure out why Mrs. Fred Peterson aka Kathleen Ann Soliah aka Sara Jane Olson didn't just move to Symbia when she had the chance.

Stephen A Busch

Pequot Lakes