“Vegetarians have no right living in Iowa.”

“But, what do you eat?”

“I do not have anything against vegetarians as a whole.”

Having been a member of the vegetarian community for ten years, I have been subject to my share of statements like these, along with hostile interrogations from people who also claim to “respect” my right to choose this “lifestyle.”

When confronted with “facts” such as those presented by Christa Jensen, I do my best to refute the attacks with the overwhelming evidence of the benefits of a vegetarian diet. However, as I’m sure Ms. Jensen should know (as a senior in journalism) isolated facts such as those she presented do little to alter long-held personal beliefs.

And while I feel compelled to point out the flaws in her facts — such as overlooking the minute point that the high water use attributed to livestock production comes not from what the cows drink, but what they eat: 80 percent of the corn and 95 percent of the oats grown in this country — I feel I would be doing a disservice to my fellow vegetarians.

Therefore, I would like to use this forum for a few simple requests which I feel would ensure a more peaceful coexistence between meaties and non-meaties.

Don’t assume it is OK for me to have a “little bit” of meat and I promise not to assume it’s OK for you to have a little bit of dog.

Don’t make faces and screech “eeeeuuuu” when I eat a tofu burger in front of you. I promise not to go into the graphic details of modern animal slaughter while you eat your Big Mac.

Don’t tell me that “it’s just not healthy,” and I won’t tell you what diseases you stand a better chance of getting than I do.

Don’t tell me it’s natural to eat meat unless you’re also willing to kill with nothing but your bare hands, teeth and fingernails and devour the carcass raw. (And if you are willing, please stay away from my cat.)

Don’t tell me how good your rump roast is and insist I try it (contrary to popular opinion, vegetarians, like homosexuals, are not “turned” by the perfect piece of meat), and I promise not to force my lentil soup on you. (Though it is oh-so-yummy.)

And finally, don’t feel threatened by me. I am a normal, healthy person. I am not a freak. I will not try to convert you — we are not a cult. We are a collection of individuals from all walks of life who share a belief in a healthy lifestyle and a clean, sustaining environment.

We all have different reasons for choosing to become vegetarians, so please “don’t have anything against us,” Christa. We just want to live.

Jennifer Wolbers

Senior

Geology