What do Plato, Shania Twain and Gandhi have in common besides their fame?

Whitney Waters / Reporter

October is not only a month celebrating the mass consumption of candy but also the lack of consumption of meat. October is nationally recognized as Vegetarian History Month, and primarily due to political activist Mahatma K. Gandhi's birthday, which was on Oct. 2.

Because Gandhi was such a passionate vegetarian and proponent of non-violence, his birthday is now recognized as World Vegetarian Day. Gandhi was only one of the many historical figures who popularized the idea of eating meat as cruelty.

Early vegetarians called themselves Pythagoreans after the mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras, who encouraged vegetarianism for both health reasons and moral reasons. He believed in the peaceful co-existence of animals and humans, claiming that slaughtering animals brutalized the human soul. His fellow philosophers, including Plato, Socrates and Aristotle were all strong proponents of the vegetarian lifestyle.

Notable vegetarians in later centuries include Leonardo De Vinci, the poet Shelley, Alexander Pope and John Harvey Kellogg, inventor of the famous breakfast cereal.

In earlier time periods, vegetarianism was primarily practiced within the context of religion.

Many eastern religions including Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism and Hinduism all discouraged the consumption of meat out of respect for living things. As these religions spread, Vegetarianism spread as well into the eastern world.

Vegetarianism, however, was not a popular or even well respected life-style until recently. In ancient Rome, vegetarians often had to keep their beliefs secret in a society where Gladiators slaughtered animals as a spectator sport.

It was not until the late sixties when vegetarianism became relatively popular in the United States. Hippies and other members of counterculture began protesting the consumption of meat and the use of animals for clothing and other products.

Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney became a vegetarian after the death of his late wife Linda who said, "If slaughter houses had glass walls, we'd all be vegetarian."

Within the last ten years, vegetarianism has become even more popular. It is now easier than ever to be a vegetarian. Vegetarian–friendly menus have increased and numerous Vegetarian organizations have healthy veggie recipes online. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), amongst other organizations, even sends out vegetarian starter kits.

Actors and celebrities, including Natalie Portman, Toby McGuire, Shania Twain and Pamala Anderson, have now become vegetarian activists. Rather than being a counterculture, vegetarianism could be the new fad.

While organizations such as PETA promote vegetarianism for animal activist reasons, many people are now doing it for health reasons.

The consumption of meat is shown to be related to heart disease and cancer. In addition, more studies are being done as to the negative effects of the hormones in meat.

Whatever reasons people have for going veggie, it's a trend that is continuing to grow in an increasingly vegetarian friendly society.

Most information coming from http://www.Peta.org

Contact Whitney Waters at pendulum@elon.edu or 278-7247.

Photo courtesy of http://www.andrew.com