Getting One’s Teeth Into the Vegan Issue

In response to the letters re “Meaty Dispute” (Feb. 22): As usual, the antagonists use the full extent of their half-brained deflection technique when defending their lifestyle choices by attacking the vegetarian issue. “Vegan,” by definition, is someone whose lifestyle choice is based on ethical consideration. As such, vegans abstain from all animal-based consumption, food and clothing, and avoid household and personal care products either tested on or containing animals. On the other hand, a vegetarian is someone who bases a lifestyle choice on personal health considerations and as such justifies consumption of animal products.

MITCH BROWN

Laguna Hills

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The volcanic eruptions of fiery hatred sputtered by the vegans out for blood make it obvious that a meatless diet foments such red-hot hatred for those whose tastes and beliefs differ from theirs that their venomous anger puts the smug, arrogant vegans at risk of a heart attack or stroke by raising their blood pressure. Not a way I would choose to die.

TONI DUNCAN

Hidden Hills

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After perusing the vegetarian diatribe spewed forth in recent letters, I immediately went home and purged my fridge of half-eaten Polish dogs, grease-laden Tony Roma leftovers and the slab of fatback I was saving for that special someone. But as I was flogging myself with spent sausage casings, I came to the realization that maybe a steady diet of beef marrow sauteed in suet drippings couldn’t be all bad. Quite possibly, the veggie diet plate will let you live longer, but it will not, necessarily, make you a happy person.

JOHN R. GRUSH

Mission Viejo

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In response to the letter that vegetarians are smug about the health benefits of vegetarianism while suffering as many health problems as meat eaters: How can you say what the benefits are or are not if you haven’t enjoyed an excellent vegetarian diet for at least a year or two? Do some reading on the subject, give it an open-minded try and then let us know.

BONNIE DILLER

Venice