Vegetarians Unwelcome

After thirty days in lock-up, I have but one complaint. Why is it that unless religious reasons restricted my diet, my decision to be vegetarian is not respected in jail? Yes, I realize it's jail, but meat-eaters and vegetarians alike could surely agree on the fact that prison is not the place to make a return to a carnivorous diet. Therefore, I am left with a well-balanced iceberg lettuce and wonder bread meal plan. Thanks Delaware County, really healthy. To their credit, multi-vitamins are available on commissary, however this does not suffice to cover the benefits of actually consuming a balanced diet in meal form.

This is a form of discrimination, and one that either has not been addressed or has not been taken seriously. Kudos to George W., and likely other correctional facilities, for respecting the religious rights of individual, Christian and Muslim alike. But it must not stop here. Vegetarians deserve as much consideration as people with specific food allergies or religious practices, but they are not. A meat-free diet does not denote a picky eater. It merely means that individuals have made conscious decisions to respect their fellow creatures, yet because of legal discrepancies, they are not permitted to do so. Laws determine the acceptable and unacceptable behavior of citizens, but it should not be allowed to force someone to change their ideals and moral beliefs.

One month later, several pounds lighter, I realize that there are many prison practices that should be reevaluated and revamped. People may be prisoners, but they still deserve to be treated like people, and certain aspects of an individuals lifestyle still demand respect and consideration. Fair treatment of a prisoner's dietary beliefs should be taken just as seriously as their religious beliefs.