Dear Editor:

Here are 10 best reasons for barbecuing veggie burgers and hot dogs this Independence Day, rather than ground-up animal body parts: Focusing on traffic and fireworks safety, rather than food safety; giving your eyes a break from reading government food warning labels; not sweating nasty E. coli and Salmonella bugs, if temperature is too low; not sweating cancer-causing compounds, if barbecue temperature is too high; not wondering about what’s really in that burger or hot dog you’re chewing; giving your body a holiday from saturated fat, cholesterol, and hormones; not sweating the animal cruelty and environmental devastation guilt trips; not having to explain to your kids why we feed Rex and eat Babe; distinguishing your Independence Day menu from your friends and neighbors; celebrating a day of independence from the meat industry.

Sincerely,

Evan Pachowitz

Walnutport