MATT LABASH’S “MEAT Cleavers” (The District Line, 3/24) completely missed the point. Rather than try to refute the theories that have been advanced that vegetarianism is a better way of life physically, spiritually, and environmentally, he chose to comparespokespeople. Obviously, the companies and industry councils he referred to are feeling the pressure and as a result are spending large sums of money on celebrityspokespeople. Apparently, it is easier to write an article comparing relative coolness than it is to look at the facts. As for the less-than-instant likability of vegetarian cuisine, remember that a substantial portion of young children have to learn to like meat. By the way, despite mentioning Larry Bird twice as an example of a successful meat-eater, Labash neglected to mention Bird’s successful teammate Robert Parish, a vegetarian.

Van Ness