Regarding the June 25th edition of the Daily, thank you for a sound and sane opinion column addressing bc pills and Viagra. I most appreciate that you did not resort to cute.

Anytime someone resists that unseemly temptation it should be commended. In other words, no pun taken.

For a proper comparison, one could refer to the persistently glib and crass column of Heather McClure. “Fruits and vegetables have feelings, too” is an example.

Her pose suitably foretells the sort of tedious simple-mindedness constituting her columns. Contributors of her kind are the reason the interested and considerate feel compelled to tune out.

If a journalist or anyone is going to err, let it be on the side of earnestness and not an irony-free asatirical conceit.

If you are going to be comedic, slay the reader properly, or the product is akin to partially digested beef, putrescent; not kosher at all.

In addition, vegetables are unassuming and diverse. Self-satisfied writing can be as rancid and unsavory as a fart in a skillet. What would the USDA have to say about that?

Also, a reminder gleaned from George Carlin: Fruits and vegetables are not healthy, they are healthful. Healthy is a condition and healthful is a property. People can be healthy. Insightful journalism can be healthful. Usage Note: This distinction is debatable.

What is certain is that Carlin would lambaste the PETA people just as readily as Heather did.

He would, however, recognize that citing research regarding the consumption of meat provided by the National Live Stock and Meat Board is suspect and in all probability specious.

Unless Meat Board operatives are using bouillon Mickey Finns to taint the vegetarian diet, I think it’s safe to assume one could avoid ingesting the “hidden” 1.2 ounces of meat with only moderate effort. Pro-meat indeed.

Jesus, give us something with some substance. Something that sticks to the ribs.

Heather, can you fathom why people adopt such staunch pro-animal positions when they are forced to contend with the kind of mental laziness that you bring to your column?

Animals have no ulterior motives. They have no existential purpose.

People, on the other hand, are obliged to assume and further a purpose in the most authentic manner possible.

Being flippant and cute does not qualify. Do not obviate your place in the food chain by taking for granted that there will always be someone to assure your own ethical treatment.

If we would place a moratorium on cute, or at least levy a ponderous tax, we could unburden a substantial portion of our society who still give a screw, to fight media-defined needs and bad taste, consumer vanity, the unethical treatment of free thought, and back to my initial point about Staci’s column, the marginalized place of birth control and family planning.

---

Branden Pedersen

Senior

History