sam's vegan diner

So when those Children International folks pester you on the street,you can say, “Sorry, I’m all out of cash.  I just adopted a turkey.”

Actually, over the summer, I had one such encounter in front of my Midtown office building, and it went something like this:

Guy: Would you like to make a donation to Children International?

Me: What is my donation buying, exactly?

Guy: Food, clothing, and medical care for one child in a third-world country.

Me: That’s nice, but are they going to be eating other animals?

Guy: Oh…are you a vegetarian?

Me: Yes.

Guy: Well, actually, I never thought of that.  I’m actually reading this really greatbook right now called Ishmael, and, I mean, I don’t even GETthe stuff this guy is saying.  It’s just so smart!  And so…I don’t know.  Who even thinks of that?

Me: Yes, it’s a great book.  But actually I think it’s more transparent than that.  It seems to me that the message is pretty clearly about…

Guy: What I mean is, I see where you’re coming from.

Me: Great.  Then you’ll understand why I can’t possibly donate to Children’s International.  Ciao.