Defending Vegetarianism
Sanjiv loved school. It was a place to learn, play and most of all to interact with his friends. His sister Deepa, on the other hand, didn’t mind school, but she really preferred vacation time. During the holidays, she got a chance to travel all the way from Los Angeles to India to see her grandparents. Both of them liked the system of education which allowed them to learn and explore subjects without having to endlessly prepare for exams, like she had seen her cousins in India do.§
However, what dampened Sanjiv’s enthusiasm was John’s constant teasing of Sanjiv about his vegetarian diet, “Hey, there goes our vegan!” Sanjiv corrected him, explaining that since he drinks milk, he is a vegetarian, not a vegan.§
One day, in the cafeteria during break time, Deepa opened her lunch box. Inside were three delicious soft rotis with pickles and vegetable curry. Sanjiv had already dived into his box and grabbed a roti. No sooner had he started eating when John came to their table, “Wow, that looks weird! What is it?”§
Deepa flushed in embarrassment, “That’s my lunch!”§
“No wonder you look so puny and pale. You should be eating a plate of chicken and fries, you know!” John snorted.§
Deepa shot back, “If that is what you like, go ahead. I have never eaten chicken, so I can’t possibly develop a taste for it now.”§
Sanjiv piped in, “You know we are Hindus, and Hindus don’t generally eat meat.” §
“Why not?” John asked. “Why on earth wouldn’t you eat chicken or lamb? They are delicious!”§
“Our religion believes that it is wrong to slaughter animals for our own enjoyment. It earns us bad karma. But leaving religion aside, I really don’t want to eat nonvegetarian food.”§
“Well, I don’t follow a religion,” John replied, “but my parents, who are Christians, teach that God meant for us to eat anything we want of what He put on this Earth. So their religion says it’s OK. I believe we should do what is best for all people and for our planet. I don’t think there is anything wrong with killing animals for food, if we are not cruel about it.”§
Sanjiv liked being a vegetarian, and he did not understand why John made such a big fuss over it. No doubt John was a bit of a bully, and criticized Sanjiv at every opportunity. In the baseball game, if Sanjiv did not play well, it was because he was a vegetarian and did not get enough protein. During wrestling class, Sanjiv was teased for his slim frame. Sanjiv pointed out that lots of great athletes are vegetarians—runners, gymnasts, even body builders. They get plenty of protein without eating meat! But John refused to listen to any such talk.§
A change came for Sanjiv when a new boy arrived in school, Robert. He was not a Hindu, but he was a vegetarian. John started bullying him, too. “Enough is enough,” thought Sanjiv, “I’m going to find a way to stop this.”§
That afternoon when John entered the cafeteria, Sanjiv called out, “Hey John, come and taste this samosa.”§
“Not for me, friend!” retorted John, “Give me something that moves. You will never convince me your vegetables are better than my meat.”§
Sanjiv saw his opening. “Perhaps not, but I think I can make a pretty good case. Instead of continuing to squabble about this, let’s have a real debate. I will talk on the advantages of a vegetarian diet, and you can speak about the advantages of a nonvegetarian diet. Let’s do it in class, in front of everyone. If I win the debate, you will never again tease me or any other vegetarian in this school. If you win the debate, I won’t object to your teasing anymore, but I’m not about to start eating meat!” Sanjiv said with a smile.§
A date for the debate was fixed, and the class took a lively interest, as did the teacher. The students were aware of the ongoing argument between the boys, and they wondered who would win.§
The teacher called John to come first and talk on his topic. John walked to the front of the classroom. His blonde hair was combed back neatly and his clothes were neatly pressed. He was a handsome boy, and an example of perfect fitness, one of the healthiest boys in the school.§
John smiled at the class and said, “Anyone who has eaten fried chicken will agree with me that chicken tastes really yummy. So do pork and beef. Keeping our taste buds aside, which I know is very difficult”—John paused and grinned at the students—”nonvegetarian foods are rich in protein. I don’t know if you are aware of this, but nonvegetarian foods have a natural content of Vitamin B12, which is not found in plant foods. Fish are a rich source of calcium, and for growing children calcium is extremely important for healthy bones. A protein-rich diet gives us strength, and it is with this strength that man has continued to exist and evolve over so many thousands of years. Haven’t we all heard the age-old saying, ‘Survival of the fittest?’ To survive in this world, there is no room for weakness. Nonvegetarian food gives us that strength. We all know that lions attack deer. Has anyone heard of a deer attacking a lion?” Laughing, he said, “Nonvegetarian food is for the lions here. The others can eat grass.” John sat down.§
As though in testimony to John’s words, Sanjiv became even more aware of his slim frame as he walked to the podium. However, he knew that slimness is not an indication of weakness. His great grandmother was ninety-eight years old, and she was in fine health. She had never eaten nonvegetarian food. But, their neighbor, a plump meat-eater, had dropped dead at 52 of a massive heart attack.§
Sanjiv began, “It is true that the Stone Age man ate all kinds of meat to survive in his very harsh environment, and this has continued to this day. However, Stone Age man was not worried about global warming. Today, we are not only physically evolved, we are also spiritually and intellectually more evolved. My religion, Hinduism, says that it’s wrong to kill another living creature except in self defense, as this earns us bad karma. Having said that, I understand that not all of us here are Hindus. Therefore, I would like to add two more points favor of a vegetarian diet. One, nonvegetarian food is not healthy; and two, raising animals for meat is a major contributor to global warming.”§
John, who until then was feeling he had the upper hand in the debate, was suddenly not so sure. He understood that nonvegetarian food can lead to obesity and high cholesterol—both bad for us. But global warming? In spite of himself he blurted out, “That can’t be right. How can meat eating contribute to global warming?” As he voiced the question, John, for the first time that morning, became serious. He was an eager environmentalist. In fact, his entire family tried to live in a way to protect and preserve our planet. His father drove a hybrid car, and at home the children made a practice of conserving electricity.§
Sanjiv nodded, “In the year 2007, a Hindu, Rajendra Pachauri, won the Nobel Prize for Peace, along with Al Gore, as head of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization. When Dr. Pachauri discovered that growing meat for food contributes 18% of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, he became a vegetarian.”§
Sanjiv paused and then continued, “Do you know how much that 18% really means?”§
When there was no response, he said, “It’s more than all the pollution caused by cars and trucks in the world!”§
The students were shocked. There was silence for a moment, then loud applause.§
The class concluded that Sanjiv’s argument was better. After the teacher summarized the arguments, John came up to the front of the class to congratulate Sanjiv.§
John felt ashamed of his bold and critical remarks about vegetarians. In a bid to make amends he offered, “Sanjiv, you have given me a lot to think about! I never heard this stuff about global warming! How about I come over to your place one of these days for a nice vegetarian meal? I’m sure your mom is a great cook.”§
Sanjiv grinned, “For a second there I thought you had forgotten the conditions of the debate and were going to make another smart-aleck remark. I’m glad we have put this behind us. Yes, please come over to my house. You will be amazed by my mom’s vegetarian cooking. It’s much more than carrots and celery.”§
The two boys laughed and walked out together. Sanjiv was confident he was the last vegetarian John would insult.§
