MOULTRIE, GA.  — Via the internet, I routinely get advice aimed at converting me to becoming a vegetarian. So far it hasn’t worked. Not that it has fallen on deaf ears, because I find it interesting to read the logic.

Their reasons range from health concerns, religious pontifications and even environmental stewardship.

One person has suggested that the season of lent is a good time to give up meat, citing Biblical rationale. I don’t really think the Bible advises us not to eat meat. In the Old Testament it did specify some animals not to be eaten to which some religious factions still adhere. I guess I’m glad there were no Baptists back then. We sort of invented dinner-on-the-grounds with fried chicken and country ham at the center. Also, we’re not very good at fasting. To me, fasting is going from breakfast to lunch without a snack.

Then comes an environmental impact position. It’s been said that cow flatulence endangers our ozone layer. I’ve always assumed that all animals have a flatulence meter. I’m just curious how the cow became the poster child of this philosophy.

Let’s just say that we all quit eating beef. That would impact the world economy to some degree given the number of ranchers, restaurants and grocery stores. I might also pose that cows exhale carbon dioxide which is vital to plant growth. I haven’t seen that angle explored in the flatulence argument nor has the possibility of capturing that methane been explored. I would pose that there are more effective ways of protecting the ozone layer than giving up cheeseburgers.

From a health standpoint, we are well acquainted with some of the negatives of eating meat, particularly a lot of red meat. . My position is that moderation is the answer to the dilemma, if in fact it is a dilemma.

Now if my doctor told me that it was crucial for me to become a vegetarian, I would probably give it a strong effort. Of course when I think of vegetables, I’m not talking about gnawing on roots and scavenging for nuts and berries. I’m talking about butterbeans, peas, corn on the cob, collard greens, steamed cabbage and such. In fact there have been times when I’ve eaten nothing but a vegetable plate and was perfectly happy.

And of course there are many ways to present these vegetables. Not only do I think we Baptists invented dinner-on-the-grounds, I think we have an unofficial patent on casseroles as well.

Maybe we haven’t given this much thought, but cows are vegetarians. So I consider beef being a vegetable once removed. Kind of like a second or third cousin.

Now my doctor hasn’t told me not to eat meat. One of my doctors did tell me not to eat all of it. In fact, when I left Mayo Hospital just over a year ago, I was advised to eat a lot protein, particularly fish and chicken to regain muscle that some ninja-class chemotherapy had dissolved.

Now I have no problem with vegetarians. I just don’t want them to make me their special project because my emails stay overloaded as it is. And if they feel they have found a better lifestyle, then I’m happy for them and may they persevere in that endeavor. I will even cheer them on. And may I moderate my diet to keep a safe balance of fiber, protein and carbohydrates.

By the way, I once had speckled butterbeans and cornbread for breakfast. It was a darn good breakfast.

I guess I can sum this up by quoting someone else who said, “I didn’t climb to the top of the food chain to become a vegetarian.”

(Email: dwain.walden@gaflnews.com)