When Did "Vegetarian" Become a Bad Thing???

I'm proud of my choice and I wish I had done it sooner. Yet, whenever I say that I'm a vegetarian, some wise-ass asks if I eat chicken or fish, no one informed me that some animals are OK to eat... That's bullshit. How can you call yourself a vegetarian if you eat animals. Either you do or you don't. It's not rocket science. It's like grade two math.

Any Meat + Eat = Meat eater All Meat + Eat - All Meat = Vegetarian

Recently, Peta was brought up in a conversation with my family. The word extremist was used and I was extremely uncomfortable. I was ashamed to be associated with them and why? They have changed so many peoples' views, but sadly, it turns out that they have been changed negatively, or in these words "Peta gives vegetarians a bad name." Now that I see it written down, it's actually funny. Look at it this way, Peta fights for animal rights. Vegetarians don't eat animals, therefore pretty much fighting for animal rights. Suddenly, vegetarian means "crazy hippie who protests and persuades people to join their club sometimes using violence". Peta isn't giving vegetarians a bad name. In truth, I wouldn't have been a vegetarian if it wasn't for Peta. Maybe I've been feed lies about factory farming or that it's really not that bad for the animals. But, it opened my eyes to what I was eating. It gave me something to set my sights on and also gave me an identity. Haven't you ever wondered why your parents feed you beef, not cow, and that the juicier, the bloodier, the better. I love animals, they have every right to be here as we do. Why should their lives end in order to feed our fat asses, when there is an alternative? Right, the bible says that animals were put on this earth to feed man. Just let me say this... The bible is a FUCKING BOOK. A book designed for mass control. What easier way to ensure that moral values are passed on than through threat? Heaven or Hell YOU DECIDE! All that BS. But, like most things, we are scared to try something different and we stick with what were are used to. Seriously, what could it hurt? I shouldn't have to keep telling myself that I'm doing a great thing. I should know that what I'm doing is great. But, as long as there are those people who are jumping to conclusions about vegetarians, then vegetarians will have a bad name. And anyways... when did fighting for what you believe in and being different become a bad thing?