On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 16:00:08 +0100, "Richard" > wrote:

>"Digger" > wrote:
>
>> >To me, the word vegetarian refers to a creature that
>> >does not presently eat meat.
>>
>> And you would be wrong, as the demonstration using
>> a lion cub shows. The lion cub nourishes itself on its
>> mother's animal fats and proteins, and then goes on to
>> eat meat. It was never a vegetarian and never will be,
>> so this exception alone shows your rule to be flawed.
>
>I am a vegetarian and have been all my life.

Not unless you were never breast fed.

>I consume dairy products and
>have done all my life. Vegans do not.

I know they don't, and that's why it cannot be regarded as
a vegan food source and answers the question in the subject
line of this post.

> Understand?

Absolutely.

>Of course milk is not a vegan food source!

Thank you.

>Of course it is a vegetarian food source.

Only to those who want to include themselves alongside
true vegetarians that abstain from all animal products.
There aren't any vegetables in milk, but go ahead and
call yourself a vegetarian if it's what you want to do.

>Vegetarians have no problem with animal by-products such as milk.

True vegetarians that feed exclusively on veg do have
a problem with animal by-products and abstain from
them wherever they can. Modern vegetarians such
as the lacto-ovo or pesco type aren't so concerned..

>The animal is not killed for their production.

Irrelevant.

>> >The reason I say does not presently is because anyone can change at
>> >any time if they choose so you can not emply a life choice.
>>
>> A lion is an obligate carnivore. It cannot live on veg.
>
>You are confusing potential with actuality.

No. I'm giving you an example of a suckling obligate
carnivore that belies your rule that says
"No meat = vegetarian."

>During the time it is a baby the
>lion can not eat vegetables or meat. Only milk

Then, according to your rule; "No meat = vegetarian" a
suckling obligate carnivore cub is a vegetarian. Can
you see yet why your rule is unworkable and specious?

> So therefore it is not a meat-eater,

At least not in the true definition of the word, yet.

>or a vegan

Certainly not.

>but a vegetarian by definition.

No. I lion cub is not a vegetarian, and nor will it ever be.

>In the future it will go on to assume a carnivorous diet in the wild.

That's true, but to say it was once a vegetarian by virtue
of it suckling from its mother is absurd. Lion cubs are not
vegetarians.

> If it
>died before this happened, then it would never have eaten meat and it would
>have died a vegetarian.

No. Lion cubs are not vegetarians simply because they
drink milk from their mother. You're very wrong on this.

[..]
>> Milk, whether it's from a lion or a human
>> is animal fats and proteins, and therefore non-vegan by
>> default.
>
>Exactly.

Then we are in agreement and have answered the
question contained in the subject title in this thread.
Breast feeding cannot be considered vegan.

[..]