Question: Can one really be a vegetarian or vegan?
Vegetarianism seems to be a very popular trend, especially for the younger generations. Some adopt vegetarianism as a means of improving health and clean living. Others avoid eating animal products for religious reasons. Still others see it as a way of protesting the inhumane treatment of other animal species.
I guess it all depends on what one considers a vegetarian or vegan and why one chooses this lifestyle.
The reason I question the absolutism of vegetarian or veganism is this: Plants get their nutrients from the soil and the soil is made up of both organic and inorganic matter, some of which is derived from animals. So, even someone who chooses to consume only plant organisms is indirectly ingesting animal products.
This may be off-putting to some vegetarians or vegans and that is certainly not my intention. Rather, it is a question of philosophy and an attempt to show the interconnectedness and dependence of all creatures and the materials of our Earth. Animals cannot live without vegetation and vegetation cannot thrive without animals and other organic matter and the Earth and all its resources cannot exist without the interaction of these.
Think about it and choose the lifestyle that best meets your needs and beliefs and that promotes the health of the environment.