FOOD FOR THOUGHT

摘要

Vegetarians are frequently asked, usually over dinner, whether they eschew meat and fish for reasons concerned with their health or on moral grounds. If the reason concerns the former, the vegetarian need not hesitate in answering, but in the case that his decision is based on "moral" grounds, things become a little tricky if, as is usually the case, the person who poses the question is not a vegetarian. Does the vegetarian want to say "on moral grounds" and kick off the dinner by implying that his questioner, who clearly doesn't know him too well, who has been drinking and who is possibly holding a steak knife, is immoral, or is lacking moral-and dietary-fiber in her choice of food? I would suggest not, even though the question invites such a denunciation.