More "Educated" Stupidity..

Okay.. As I've mentioned before, I read newspapers all day at
my job.. Now, this can be interesting and fun, and it can
be horrendous, too.. depending on what I read. And today,
I read something.. (again) that I've seen before.. and it inflamed
me. Since I read papers from all over the country.. I can't exactly
respond to the proper area "letters to the editor".. but given the issue,
I thought the group could empathize with me and allow me to blow off some
steam.
If not, go ahead and skip reading this.


Recently, a few school districts have felt it necessary to inform parents
of their
children's weight issues.
One such story can be found here for background information:
http://www.nationalpost.com/artslife/story.html?f=/stories/20020402/516815.html


Now, as to my response --


Excuse me, you darling angels of public health.. I know you've appointed
yourselves
guardians to everyone's health, when you should be worrying about your own,
but I
take issue with your schools sending out letters to parents informing them
of their children's
(possible) weight problems. I'm 24 years old. I've been overweight since
I was traumatized
at 5 years old due to infant sibling deaths. I began to habitually overeat
to handle the grief,
as it was the only thing my 5 year old mind chose to use to escape. Now,
that being said, I have a few
questions for you, my angels of slim-fast..


1. Considering my age, do you honestly think it's possible that *I* myself
have never noticed that,
Oh? Look! I'm overweight!! Do you honestly think that in the 24 years of
looking at myself in the
mirror, I never happened to see that oh yeah, I was bigger than everyone else?


2. Do you think it's possible that my parents of 24 years never bothered
to notice either? They just sort of tuned me out and never contemplated
my size, or my clothing choices (which were limited, btw..), the my health,
or my emotions when I was suicidal from the torment?


3. Do you think the rest of the world somehow failed to notice that yes, I
was indeed different from society's
norms, and being bigger than average, deserved to have it thrown in my face
time and time again by school officials, my peers growing up, medical
personnel, family, etc.. Like the Pediatrician who blamed all my health
problems on my weight, or the subsequent doctor who honestly looked my
father in the face at our initial visit and asked, "Sir, do you know your
son is overweight?" Or the kids at school who used to pretend that an
earthquake occurred whenever I walked by? I was 80 pounds in third grade,
you know.. Oh my god, get Richard Simmons right away!!!


So, considering all that.. Do you angels of mercy somehow seem to think
that in all the world of my own experiences, my parents, living with
society, facing this everyday, do I need to be reminded by you?
Yes, I'm big. Yes, I may be overweight. Yes, some insensitive people may
say I'm fat. But I KNOW THIS.
And I've dealt with it. And the last thing I need is for you busybodies
being "nice" enough to remind me yet
again! I can only imagine what those poor kids must be going
through. What happens when the other kids find out they got a "fat
letter"? How socially responsible will you feel then? Or will you just
duck your head in the sand?


I'm sorry.. but you may think you're somehow "helping," but all you're
doing is reminding them of something they already know and deal with every
moment of their lives and hurting them all over again.





Okay.. I'm really sorry about that.. but I had to get it out of my system..
I have some very strong feelings left over from my earlier years that spill
out now and then.


TW