Vegetarians and Meat Eaters

Vegetarians and Meat Eaters

by Dawn Eckenrode

In the interest of furthering world peace - and who wouldn’t - I would like to facilitate the introduction of a few groups of people. I think I am qualified to do this because, even though many will say it is not possible, I am a member of both (mutually exclusive) groups! How’s that you say? Well there’s the group of those folks who don’t eat meat, that you often hear referred to not particularly kindly as vegetarians. Yes that’s right - it’s said with italics. Their kind include those that have that great slogan ‘Meat is murder’ - no mincing words there. And then there’s that group of people who think that you have to be some kind of freak or fairy or something if you don’t appreciate a nice big hunk of red meat at least once a day - preferably twice or more. They are the ones that put the italics in vegetarian. And you’re thinking how can I be a member of both groups? That is what I said, wasn’t it? Well, its like this. Lots of the time, like most of the week, I just eat bread and veggies, pasta and stuff. You know, cause its good for you.. That means I don’t eat meat. That makes me a vegetarian. But then, when I’m cooking something really special for dinner like, say, rack of lamb with red wine, I eat meat. That makes me a Meat Eater. I would like to propose that it’s OK, even more than just marginally acceptable, to be both. Used to be, not too long ago, neither of the groups wanted me. The vegetarians pushed me away as having sold out, and the Meat Eaters ostracized me for ordering only veggies and pasta at the fancy steak and seafood restaurant. Well here’s a news flash - I am finding out I’m not the only cross dresser around any more. In fact there’s so many of us out there that I say come out of the closet and be proud. Truth be told, there are so many varying degrees of vegetarians and Meat Eaters, that it’s not as easy to draw that line any more. And why should we draw lines, since world peace is in everyone’s interest? For example, I have this friend that is a member of a group that only eats raw foods. What a concept! Think of it - no bread, no pasta, not even a roasted peanut. Have you ever tried green peanuts? Talk about a bellyache. I don’t know for sure, but I was wondering if raisins were OK, considering they’re kind of cooked by the sun. Or how could you have a cup of that nice herb tea - boiled water is cooked isn’t it? So this friend was telling me that she went to a big banquet that this raw food group had. Bean sprouts, and bananas, that’s what it was. But I’m thinking, well steak tartar is raw, isn’t it? But I don’t think that the raw food group meant raw meat! And then I have this other friend who eats meat for every meal, breakfast, lunch and dinner. And I don’t mean just meat with the meal, I mean meat’s the star attraction, with a few token pieces of bread just to help push the meat around the plate. I don’t really have anything against either of those people, although their eating habits - ugh!! Which brings me to the point - indeed I do have one. Why can’t we all just get along? When I want to be a Meat Eater, I don’t force my sirloin on any sensitive bovine philiacs. And when I want to be a vegetarian, I don’t make ucky faces when my dining companions fling the pork chops around. And I demand to be recognized as a member of both groups equally! So take the higher road and be yourself. And stop making faces at the other people at the table, cause so far, we all still Eat.