Alright, I’ve taken all I can take and I can’t take no more. The nation has declared war on fat people and what’s worse, they’re targeting the children. Get ‘em while they’re young and they’ll grow up just like you want them to be.
Now before you all get worked up, I’m not saying we should let our kids grow up to be fat. I’m not saying you shouldn’t raise a healthy child with healthy eating habits. What I’m saying is that our nation has found it’s latest enemy, smoking and drugs aren’t so hot anymore so now it’s attacking fat people.
I am fat. Not husky, not voluptuous, not big-boned (though I am that, but it’s not an excuse) I’m fat. And, more importantly, it’s my god damned right to be so. I’m going to have type II diabetes by the time I’m thirty; I’ll be at a higher risk for cancer. I can’t hike as far as I want to or do a pull up or have sex in a shower (unless I find a big strong man which I hope to do anyway). Men don’t gawk when I walk by and I see no jealousy in the eyes of other women. My grandfather hugs me and says “How’s my big girl?” And you want to know why? Because I’m fat. I was a fat kid with fat parents and a fat sibling and I grew up fat.
It’s not my parents fault, they tried to teach me many wonderful things that I refused to learn. It’s not my genetics fault (though my body is never ever going to be petite). It’s not anybody’s fault. IT IS NOT A BAD THING. It’s an unhealthy lifestyle choice that goes right along with smoking and drinking—both of which are my uncontested rights.
So what does this mean? We’ll make being fat illegal until you’re 18 and can make an “educated” decision about your weight? We’ll force kids to eat certain foods and work out a certain amount of time each day so that they’re healthy as can be? We’re well on our way. Regular soda has been banned from school, replaced with diet soda only. Arkansas sends notices home to parents with report cards informing them their children are overweight. TLC has a show called “Honey, We’re Killing the Kids.” Some group is lobbying for restaurants to remove certain foods, oils and fats from their products and suggesting restriction of things like fast food.
Fat people die “early” depriving society of their labor. Fat people have more illnesses which raises health care costs. Obesity is the leading cause of “preventable illness” behind smoking. Well, I ask you, what the fuck is “preventable illness?” Who gets to say whether my illnesses are preventable or not? Who gets to say that I have “deprived” society of my labor? When did it become morally wrong to die young and lead an unhealthy lifestyle?
When did I lose the ability to chose for myself how I would live my life? I pay for healthcare why should I be made to feel guilty about needing it? My blood pressure is good, my cholesterol is good, whose business is it how big my ass is?
I’m furious. I’m fucking furious and it’s not okay. My life is my choice and fat people are not a fucking circus act to be put on t.v. like some sort of talk-show subject that other people can watch and laugh at and feel good because they aren’t like that. My life is not entertainment. I will always make decisions in my children’s best interest and I will do my best to raise them healthy both mentally and physically. But I am their parent. I will decide whether they have money to buy soda at school, diet or otherwise. And I am a person. I decide what I eat and why. I decide how I feel about my body. I decide my self-worth as a human being and no one gets to make that decision for me. I shouldn’t have to pay more for health care. I shouldn’t be made to feel guilty because I’m “depriving” society of my labor by dying “prematurely.” I shouldn’t have to listen to countless women talk about “being good” or “bad” in regards to how they eat. Food has no moral value. There are good and bad decisions to be made as with everything, but those decisions do not concern your moral compass.
When does it stop? When do we stop letting the media circus tell us how we’re “wrong” and need to “fix” ourselves? When do we stop consuming their products in an attempt to be what we are told are better people? When do we finally stand up for our right to make our own decisions? It is my right to smoke a cigarette, have a drink, eat MacDonalds, wear my seatbelt, wear a helmet, marry who I want and fuck ‘em how I want.
I am a human being and no one gets to tell me how to live. I’ll abide by societies ETHICS but I’ll be damned if I let them force me to abide by they’re MORALS. For all of you that don’t know the difference look it up and then go eat a donut.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
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