Not all vegetarians are radical 'blood splatterers'

Editor,

Chris Quintana’s off-topic, satirical commentary on PETA in his Daily Lobo column, “Getting rid of Facebook complainers,” is inaccurate. He detailed upon the organization as a “Vegan Outreach” saying that they handed out pamphlets comprised of deliberately appalling depictions of abused farm animals.

Having been a vegetarian for a couple of years, I can confidently proclaim that we are not all blood-splatterers with a penchant for asserting our cause through shock value. There were several factors that played into my decision to become a vegetarian, and the subject of animal rights was not my primary motivation.
I became a vegetarian for purely selfish reasons: I wanted to look and feel better. A balanced vegetarian diet of whole grains, plant-based proteins and fresh fruits and vegetables has accomplished this.

I’d like to dispel the myth that all vegetarians are waifs. My meat-free diet has built muscle and shed body fat, and my performance in physical activities has improved immeasurably. Vegetarianism has also enhanced my mental and emotional health.

People who are interested in improving their physique or overall health might consider a carefully planned vegetarian or vegan diet. It tends to be lower in unhealthy saturated fats, which are primarily found in animal products.  

Additionally, a vegetarian diet mustn’t be bland and unsatisfying like some seem to believe. In the past two years, I’ve experimented with more exotic spices, ingredients and flavors than I ever did in my 20 years as a meat eater.

I see nothing wrong with the basic concept of killing an animal and eating it. I do, however, have a problem with the questionable procedures of factory farming and their negative repercussions on human health and the environment. I maintain this attitude toward industrial agriculture as a whole. It’s apparent that genetically modified food treated with pesticides and antibiotics is, in the very least, unnatural. The verdict is still out on how safe it is. It’s crucial for consumers to realize most of the food suppliers in the United States are corporations that are set on making a profit. Consequentially, animals are treated as objects of monetary value. The necessity of antibiotic use in livestock is a byproduct of the filthy conditions of factory farms. This is not only an issue of animal rights; it’s a matter of consumer safety.

If you are in any way concerned about your own health, physical appearance, the environment or the safety of your food, please consider vegetarianism, or at least look into eating free-range meat and local, organic produce.

There are more ethical, nutritionally dense options than the fast food in the SUB. Annapurna Cafe and La Montañita Co-op are both within walking distance from campus and serve affordable, delicious food that you can feel good about eating.
I’d also like to urge vegetarians on campus to use logical reasoning instead of shock effect when discussing their lifestyle with others.

Sarah Minor
UNM student