I replied, "You mean the several cows, or several dozen, who contributed to one of your meals." I didn't enjoy stooping to his level, but comments like these had interrupted more agreeable conversation all evening. He continued to jab at the portabella - and lack of meat - on my plate for the duration of the evening, while I struggled with impulses to fight back at him. After all, I didn't want to make the meal unpleasant for the nicer omnivores around me.

Unfortunately, this situation is not unusual. In my experience, meat-eaters become extremely defensive if insulted about their own culinary habits, yet most have no problem insulting others about theirs. A pacifist and only vegetarian in my immediate family, having to deal with such comments is a daily occurrence. For example, this past Thanksgiving, I nearly ran back to my college after a sibling spent most of the time I was home retching about my Tofurky. Naturally, I did not jab once at the cold, dead creature at the table's center, nor did I force the Tofurky into anyone else's mouth.

Why is this so? I find myself continually pondering this question. Many people are politely curious about vegetarian lifestyles and food, yet the hard-hearted people are often the loudest. Sensitive by nature, their teasing hurt until I, fortunately, reached a profound conclusion: those who poke fun feel threatened. Vegetarianism is not "normal" by American standards. For many, this is initially a highly personal decision, not that of family, friends, religion, or region. Drastic decisions like that scare some people: the insecure, very vocal, members of our population. The fact that one person can willingly survive without meat sans real sacrifice intimidates certain people. Yes, even that big guy from the beginning of this article was threatened, though he stands large at nearly a foot taller and three times my own weight. Frustrated, he could not provoke real outrage from me.

My preferred response? I choose not to fight back if it can be helped. Instead, I smile sweetly, thinking of everything that will go against him later in life, if not now, because of his habits. That big boy, who claimed proudly to have "eliminated all veggies" from his diet, is larger-than-average, and will deal with clogged arteries, heart disease, and intestinal issues, just to name a few, later on.

Know your facts, however. Do your research. I am not a malicious person and will readily discuss my beliefs and lifestyle with anyone genuinely curious. Obnoxious fellows like this guy justify laughs - at them. I resent those who cannot respect other's well-planned and researched decisions, especially when I respect theirs enough to eat with them sans complaint. Your life, your decision. But please don't mock me for mine.

So hold your breath the next time someone hurts you for your cause. Rest assured that you have ventured into the "unknown" as compared to most Americans, and that alone scares many. Even pray for your "persecutors," knowing full well the benefits of your lifestyle contrasted with the problems of their carnivorous preferences. Oh, yes, and keep praying for the souls of those poor creatures who continue to fill their bellies.

--Natalie is a vegetarian theatre major in college.