"Beef Bashing is Inappropriate" - Letters to the Editor

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients,  April, 2002  

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Editor:

I felt compelled to write because I found the tone of the author of this letter, Mr. Byrnes, inappropriately angry. Perhaps he feels threatened in a "politically correct" (as he puts it) age where people are beginning to question whether they do in fact, need any meat. I believe as our human-kind evolves we will continue to need less meat. He says "if you want to eat for religious reasons, fine, but..." I know many young vegans and vegetarians here in Seattle who have no other religion than compassion.

The special nutrients he cites that you obtain from eating meat can also be had by vegetarian supplements and most of them can also be obtained from vegetarian foods.

There will always be some people who feel they need meat for various reasons. That debate can go on endlessly. But I think he could show respect and perhaps admiration for the many kind folk who are beginning to wake up about how their food choices involve the torture of animals and the depletion of the environment; regardless of the health risks or benefits.

And for those of us who are decades or even generations into vegetarianism -- we are doing just fine, thank you, without any of the dietary risks that eating meat entails.

Eileen Weintraub

Seattle, Washington

COPYRIGHT 2002 The Townsend Letter Group
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group