You and RB have made some very strong points. I have been a vegetarian since I was 9 and a vegan for about 10 years; for the record, I love to cook and have found ways to make a variety of meals that make even non-vegetarians happy. For me, I feel that I just couldn't live with myself if I intentionally contributed to the suffering or death of any animal. That being said, it isn't easy for everyone to live a vegan lifestyle; this is a philosophy that is a very personal choice. I will definitely tell people my views on the subject when they ask, but I learned long ago that you cannot brow beat people into agreeing with you, on any issue. If you attack them and insult them, they will just dig in their heels and refuse to listen. This is where Morrissey makes a crucial mistake. He should try to inspire, educate, and persuade with his words; taking such a militant approach doesn't always help the cause. I also agree with you that if you are going to make such strong public statements, you have to make sure that your own lifestyle is beyond reproach. That would mean no dairy, no leather trim in your car, no wool coats, etc. For the record, I think Johnny Marr recently said his favorite brand of shoes are Clarks, which are definitely leather; if this is true, he really shouldn't be calling himself a vegan.
lynnda