Why did PETA cross Chicken Dinner Road? To get its name
changed, of course. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (but not human
babies!) sent a letter to Caldwell, Idaho, Mayor Garret Nancolas asking him to change
the street name of what’s currently known as Chicken Dinner Road, located
in rural Canyon County. The letter, from PETA Executive Vice President Tracy
Reiman, stated: “Just like dogs, cats, and human beings, chickens feel pain and
fear and value their own lives.” Ms. Reiman implored the mayor to change the
name of the road to “one that celebrates chickens as individuals, not as beings
to kill, chop up, and label as ‘dinner.’” She opined that changing the name of
the road would show compassion to chickens and respect for other species,
adding that words matter and “have the power to change lives.”
It’s a weird
world we live in now, one in which leftists treat people primarily as members
of identity groups whose rights-- or lack thereof-- come from government, yet
believe in the individuality and Creator-granted rights of fowl.
As of this
writing, there was no word if the mayor intended to respond to PETA. Joe
Decker, a spokesman for Canyon County, said the county has heard from a number
of residents who don’t want the name to be changed. Decker noted that, “It
would require a public hearing and we would have to notify all property owners
having frontage on the affected road at least 30 days before the public
hearing. An application and fee are also required for an unincorporated county
road name change.”
The road got
its name from a chicken dinner Laura Lamb prepared for then-Governor C. Ben
Ross, a family friend, back in the 1930s. The road was apparently badly rutted
at the time, and Lamb asked the governor his opinion of the rough road he had
travelled to reach her home. Ross informed Lamb that if she could get the
county to grade the road, he’d get it “oiled,” which would seal in the dust and
act as a waterproof barrier. Lamb was successful in persuading the county to
grade the road, and Ross was true to his word.
Legend has it
that the street name first appeared when Lamb had cardboard signs reading
“chicken dinner” placed along the route to direct the governor to his supper.
Once the road was oiled, pranksters purportedly wrote “Lamb’s Chicken Dinner
Avenue” on the fresh surface…in bright yellow letters. The name stuck.
Reports note
that if the name of the road was ever changed, it would have unintended
consequences for various area entities. For example, Huston Vineyards is
located just off Chicken Dinner Road, and utilizes the name via its “Chicken
Dinner” wine series. The vineyard’s website notes: “The naming of our Chicken
Dinner wines celebrates and plays off a classic Idaho tale-- the story behind
one of the most curious road names around.”
So what if
Chicken Dinner Road becomes Hummus Highway, Cauliflower Street, Bulgur Lane or
Quinoa Avenue? Who cares if it ends up being renamed Couscous Drive, Tofu Trail
or Blueberry Breakfast Boulevard?
Well, the
road to hell is paved with good intentions.
And that road’s name is PETA Way.
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