Comments on: Vegan Couple Jailed For Starving Their Baby On Diet Of Soy Milk And Apple Juice

By: Sanjay

Sanjay — Mon, 21 May 2007 21:55:00 +0000

Just want to clarify that there is a real difference between historical vegetarianism and the vegan diet. Historically religions and regions which have had vegetarian diets have allowed the drinking of milk and the eating of eggs, the use of butter (Jains, Buddhists all allow the use of animal protein in those forms). Animal protein therefore has always been used to ensure proper nutrition. You do not need to kill animals to get that protein,however. Veganism however is really a product of ideology, there has never been a vegan as opposed to a vegetarian society because we need some form of animal protein in our diets.

By: Jimmy Moore

Jimmy Moore — Mon, 14 May 2007 12:53:00 +0000

THANKS for your comment, PJ. This is too serious an issue to just let slide by.

Yes, it IS real and these parents were indeed negligent in so many ways. But this is part and parcel of the kind of thinking many vegans have.

Studies have shown they are more irrational, angry, and have mental issues that impact their behavior adversely than their meat-eating counterparts.

It is a crying shame that anyone thinks this is a "healthy" way to eat.

By: About PJ

About PJ — Mon, 14 May 2007 10:06:00 +0000

Ignorance comes in all colors — plenty of non vegetarians have been guilty of feeding their infants who for whatever reason do not or cannot breast feed, inadequate nutrition. I don’t think vegans are stupid or communists in general, and I actually thought you were kidding at first when I read this article, it seems so extreme. Most the vegans I know are under-educated about the role of animal-based products in nutrition, in part for political propaganda reasons. But they don’t “know” they are, or they wouldn’t be. For all I know there are areas where we may find in the future that we didn’t know everything either. I pity those parents who I’m sure loved their baby and did not realize what the problem was until it was too late. Ignorance is tragic. In this case it is considered criminal. But I do not believe they truly understood the consequences of their behavior. I know everyone, including me (I’m a mom after all), is horrified to hear of the results on this innocent infant. But it doesn’t make me want to wound the parents. It just makes me sad.

By: Laser Rocket Arm

Laser Rocket Arm — Sat, 12 May 2007 18:13:00 +0000

Veganism is a first-world conceit. You could say that about low-carb as well. Only those of us who have 24-7 access to food and never have to worry about where our next meal is coming from can indulge these conceits. If the only thing available to eat was, say, chicken, how many vegans would stick to their moral high ground of not consuming animal products? My instincts say “not many.” On the other hand, if the only thing available to eat was potatoes, I don’t doubt a lot of low-carbers would throw caution to the wind.

Bottom line–we should be grateful that we can choose what we want to eat and not have to eat what’s there because that’s all that’s available.

By: Ladyred56

Ladyred56 — Fri, 11 May 2007 22:35:00 +0000

OMG does this mean I need to become a vegan so my IQ will go up??
Good golly miss molly I have read tons of Medical books etc. and NOT one of the silly things has ever mentioned that this is the reason my sister Kate who is a vegan is soo much smarter than me. Dang I had better write her an email right away and let her know what a discovery I just made.

I know this is dissolving into a riot here but honestly come on are you telling me that these people who are supposedly so smart because of their diet were unable to miss the fact that their child was getting thinner and weaker and weaker everyday?
This could not have been a very pretty sight. This also indicates to me that they either were so stubborn about the diet they chose to let the child die instead of feeding the poor thing or they just couldn't see what was before their very eyes. I wonder how many times that poor little baby cried for the hunger pains it had to feel?

I have raised 4 kids all of them were babies at one time or other if they were ill I dang sure got them medical attention when they needed it.
What this all boils down to is that it really doesn't matter what Mom and Dad's diet beliefs are. Starving a child to death has to be one of the most heinous forms or child abuse ever. I am sure they had plenty to eat.

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 11 May 2007 22:33:00 +0000

I’m not hating on anyone. I felt like I needed to speak up for veganism because it is not about killing anyone or anything, let alone a child. If you want to eat meat, by all means eat meat. I know you won’t stop and that’s fine. But to say that a child died because he was being fed a vegan diet is absurd. That child died of malnutrition. He was being fed a diet that lack any type of substance. That is not a vegan diet. Anyways, I hope the parents get what they deserve because no child should have to die from poor parenting (and nutrition).