12/12/07 Is Vegitarianism a Religion ?

In the six years that I have been doing the Food Forethought radio commentary I have covered a barrage of topics, many of which should have ruffled enough feathers to fill a down comforter. Oddly stories about immigration, animal activists, pesticide poisoning or even chastising farmers for using farms as garbage dumps, failed to garner nary a peep. Probably this is due to my 60 second format. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, " In skating over thin ice, our safety is in our speed" and yes I do talk fast. Yet there is one subject that invariably brings a heated response. When I do a piece citing a potential vegetarian health risk, for say pregnant women or children, I can predict that in almost a cult like fashion Vegans will defend their choice and refute any research questioning it. I have found vegans more passionate than the organic or environmentalist crowd and their zeal does make me wonder if there is more to this lifestyle than "meats" the eye.. (forgive the pun) And you vegans out there, no e-mails because I used your favorite four letter word&. MEAT.