Colleen Patrick-Goudreau responds to "No Face, but Plants Like Life Too," by Carol Kaesuk Yoon, that ran in the New York Times on March 14, 2011.

Here's the link in case you missed it. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/15/science/15food.html?scp=3&sq=yoon&st=cse

Dear New York Times Editor,

I'm an avid reader of your prestigious publication but must say I'm gravely disappointed that you would give space to such ridiculous drivel as Carol Kaesuk Yoon's "No Face, but Plants Like Life Too." Though, as Oliver Goldsmith keenly observed in the 18th century, "every absurdity has its champions to defend it," I have to wonder why the New York Times felt it necessary to give voice to yet another excuse-itarian's ridiculous justification for eating animals, as if the animals don't already have enough against them. Excuse-itarians' argument that plants feel pain is a pathetic attempt to consider themselves thoughtful consumers and conclude that vegetarians are inconsistent hypocrites. As a long-time vegan and someone who empowers others to live according to their own values of compassion and kindness, I have no illusions of perfection or purity. I merely want to live my life in such a way that does not contribute to violence towards human and non-human animals. It's an imperfect world, but even as such, the absurdist argument that we should do nothing because we can't do everything simply leads us to complacent excuse-itarianism. Yoon's concern about plant and animal suffering is disingenuous at best and passive-aggressive at worst. There are plenty of articulate, thoughtful writers on the topic of animal ethics and human compassion. I hope the New York Times will give them the same space they afforded Yoon.

For the animals,

Colleen Patrick-Goudreau