A New Kind of Segregation

Again, when exploring WLS options, one comes across tons of material on the internet that one never knew existed before.  One of those things I have discovered was the Fat Acceptance Movement.  Just Google it and  you will find tons of information, but the basis of it as taken from NAAFA Information site is "Founded in 1969, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance is a non-profit human rights organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for fat people. NAAFA works to eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment through public education, advocacy, and member support."

Some bloggers summarize it to "Acceptance at any size" and some insist that they have been both thin and very obese and their comfort zone for optimum health is somewhere in the middle.  I have recently discovered an enjoyable blog called The F-Word. org and the blogger appeared on the Mike and Juliet Morning Show with another blogger from BFD, another blog I check out often.  You can watch the green room discussion with these two bloggers and the lunatic Meme Roth here:

Anyway, when checking out the F-Word's blog last night, I found some truly offensive information about House Bill 282, which states:

Title: AN ACT TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS FROM SERVING FOOD TO ANY PERSON WHO IS OBESE, BASED ON CRITERIA PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT TO PREPARE WRITTEN MATERIALS THAT DESCRIBE AND EXPLAIN THE CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING WHETHER A PERSON IS OBESE AND TO PROVIDE THOSE MATERIALS TO THE FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS; TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT TO MONITOR THE FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Are you kidding me?  So now we're thinking of having scales in restaurants for the purpose of humiliating another human being?  For what purpose?  Because being obese is unhealthy?  Well, so is smoking but we haven't done squat about that yet and I can say that because I am a former smoker and if it weren't so bad for you (not to mention how expensive a habit is has become) I'd of never quit as I enjoyed it.  Sure, many food establishments will no longer allow you to smoke, but there is no humiliation that accompanies that fact for smokers.  Smokers are only identified by the act of smoking, so when they approach the restaurant door and see the "No Smoking" sign, they know the score, but anyone else walking in behind them would have no idea.  "No Fat People" signs are instant humiliation because there isn't any hiding your size from anyone else nearby and that would be the less scornful way to do it.  Imagine the shame and embarrasment that would accompany being told "We don't serve your kind here."

We're never going to humiliate people into weight loss.  If that worked, all the teasing and name calling overweight children and teenagers receive in school would be a cure all for obesity at younger ages.  The humiliation tends to send those obese individuals into isolation with the friend who never torments them: food.  The fact that someone even suggested this bill (and no, I do not think there is a snowball's chance in hell it would ever go through) infuriates me and this is coming from someone who plans on getting a lot smaller in the next year.  We used to keep African Americans out of establishments because they looked different, and this Bill is no different.  People are still interested in segregating any persons that they don't feel are up to standard or as good as they are. 

Shame on you, Representative W. T Mayhall Jr.