I have read with interest the letters concerning both sides of the issue of vegetarian diets. Some of the letters are humorous, particularly the one comparing carrots to cows (this came from a freshman in the department of science; let's hope he learns a bit more before graduation!). The fact is that there is no monolithic heading under which to place all those who choose a vegetarian diet. Some vegetarians recognize that animal agriculture simply uses too much land (the top seven de-foresters of the Brazilian Amazon rain forest are all cattle ranchers). Others are concerned that the manure from animal agriculture pollutes our waterways (animals raised for food produce 130 times the amount of manure that humans do). Still others argue that we could use the space (and tremendous amounts of grain!) used for animal agriculture and substitute it with sustainable plant-based agriculture (there are plants such as amarynth which provide protein) which would yield much more food per square inch of space.

Some vegetarians are concerned that the public is not aware of how badly the animals raised for food are treated. Still others are vegetarian for religious reasons (many people in the world have never eaten meat in their lives and are very healthy). Many people turn the food pyramid on its head and eat large portions of meat in comparison to their daily intake of grains and vegetables. Meat, even in the pyramid, can be substituted for tofu (which will not increase your cholesterol levels). Vegans intake the vitamin B12 through fortified grains and soy milk. Vegetarianism is not a difficult choice. It is an ethical one which more and more people are following. Rather than being critical of it, an intelligent person should consider the merits of it.