Good article up on Slate about vegetarians. It’s inspiring me to say a few words on the practice of not eating meat. Those words are as follows:
Wow, that’s nuts, but, hey, if it makes you happy, go for it!
I have no particular problem with vegetarians (aside from the snide ones who refer to people like as “carnivores”. I eat meat and other things so I, like most of our species, am an omnivore). I think it’s quite odd to not eat meat, since we’ve evolved to do so. On the other hand, there’s plenty of other things we’re evolved to do, but don’t, cause we have higher brain functions.
I understand all the arguments in favor of a vegetarian diet, and I’ve been on one myself in the past. I found Gardenburgers to be reasonably tasty and I’ve had some fake sausage that was quite dandy. I can understand going on these diets for health, enviromental or ethical reasons (like the writer of the Slate article who says they couldn’t stand the thought of killing a cow. Me, I’ve been around cows. I have no problem with the idea of whacking one to get steak).
But while I can understand these reasons, I don’t hold to them myself. I love meat! Give me a nice burger, or some grilled salmon, or a well-cooked chicken breast and I’m a happy little camper. I like vegetables, fruit and other things, too, of course. But meat is my favorite, hands down!
So those of you who don’t want to eat meat, that’s fine. You stick with your meatless diet and pass me the pork chops! And remember: a vegetarian is simply someone who is too insensative to hear a carrot scream.
