I normally try to keep our discussions based on books and other book related items, but today I read something in the paper that annoyed me to no end. I would like to give those of you who don't know me off site a little back ground so what I have to say will make sense.
I am a large woman. I have been big all of my life and am comfortable with who I am after many years of dealing with my own personal torture and my treatment at the hands of others. I finally found a wonderful man who treats me well, loves me very much, and has stood by me for the last 4 years and counting, supporting me in my long hard work of becoming a person who is known for who she is and not what she is (i.e. "the fat girl"). I am finally realizing the person my friends have told me I am. I am proud myself for accomplishing so much.
I have friends who smoke and one friend in particular who works for a place that not only banned smoking on the grounds, but also now will not hire smokers, does random checks to see if you are smoking, and will fire you if you are. I do not smoke myself, never have, never will, but I find this wrong. Banning smoking on the grounds is one thing, but telling you that you cannot smoke in your own home or car....
Which brings me to what has me upset. There were 2 things that have me hopping. 1) Some cities and companies are now thinking about doing something similar to this policy with over-weight employees. Some ideas are loose weight or get fired, taxing them with special taxes to cover health care costs, and not hiring over-weight people to begin with.
2) Some so called paper in London published some sort of study that says large people are causing global warming.
Why is it that this "study" is o.k.? If they had said that people of Hispanic descent were causing global warming, you'd have a riot (rightfully so) on your hands for being discriminatory. So why, just because I am a large person, do all the world's problems become my fault?
And the last thing is that retailers,like Forever 21,is going to start carrying 1-2x and Target is going to go up to size 30 in an effort to give plus size teens nice,affordable clothing that is also trendy. This caused the center for obesity to comment that "they don't need to look at fashion, when they should be looking at what goes into their mouth", or some thing close to that.
EXCUSE ME?!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(What are they (and I) supposed to do, walk around naked? I mean plus size doesn't always mean large all around. It can mean large busted, wide hips,or your rear end may be a little larger. I wish I had choices like that growing up. All I had was way too old for me clothes in 3 basic colors, black, navy blue,and brown!)
We have all sorts of rules and laws that are supposed to protect people from discrimination based on race, gender, religious beliefs, orientation,etc. but why do we allow these smaller discrimination's? How come you can tax cigarettes and alcohol with special taxes to build sports stadiums,and when they are built, you can only drink in them, but not smoke? It get's labled a public health issue, to pasturize it, to make it palatable.
I think this is just the begining. I think we are on a dangerous road, because where does it stop? You start singling out people because they are big, then what's next, taxing people who are at a higher genetic risk for cancer, people who have asthma, people who are too thin because they may me bulimic? Are we going too far? Some may think not far enough.
I am a large woman. I have been big all of my life and am comfortable with who I am after many years of dealing with my own personal torture and my treatment at the hands of others. I finally found a wonderful man who treats me well, loves me very much, and has stood by me for the last 4 years and counting, supporting me in my long hard work of becoming a person who is known for who she is and not what she is (i.e. "the fat girl"). I am finally realizing the person my friends have told me I am. I am proud myself for accomplishing so much.
I have friends who smoke and one friend in particular who works for a place that not only banned smoking on the grounds, but also now will not hire smokers, does random checks to see if you are smoking, and will fire you if you are. I do not smoke myself, never have, never will, but I find this wrong. Banning smoking on the grounds is one thing, but telling you that you cannot smoke in your own home or car....
Which brings me to what has me upset. There were 2 things that have me hopping. 1) Some cities and companies are now thinking about doing something similar to this policy with over-weight employees. Some ideas are loose weight or get fired, taxing them with special taxes to cover health care costs, and not hiring over-weight people to begin with.
2) Some so called paper in London published some sort of study that says large people are causing global warming.
Why is it that this "study" is o.k.? If they had said that people of Hispanic descent were causing global warming, you'd have a riot (rightfully so) on your hands for being discriminatory. So why, just because I am a large person, do all the world's problems become my fault?
And the last thing is that retailers,like Forever 21,is going to start carrying 1-2x and Target is going to go up to size 30 in an effort to give plus size teens nice,affordable clothing that is also trendy. This caused the center for obesity to comment that "they don't need to look at fashion, when they should be looking at what goes into their mouth", or some thing close to that.
EXCUSE ME?!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(What are they (and I) supposed to do, walk around naked? I mean plus size doesn't always mean large all around. It can mean large busted, wide hips,or your rear end may be a little larger. I wish I had choices like that growing up. All I had was way too old for me clothes in 3 basic colors, black, navy blue,and brown!)
We have all sorts of rules and laws that are supposed to protect people from discrimination based on race, gender, religious beliefs, orientation,etc. but why do we allow these smaller discrimination's? How come you can tax cigarettes and alcohol with special taxes to build sports stadiums,and when they are built, you can only drink in them, but not smoke? It get's labled a public health issue, to pasturize it, to make it palatable.
I think this is just the begining. I think we are on a dangerous road, because where does it stop? You start singling out people because they are big, then what's next, taxing people who are at a higher genetic risk for cancer, people who have asthma, people who are too thin because they may me bulimic?
Are we going too far? Some may think not far enough.
Where do you stand?