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allyC -> RE: the most virulent hatred human beings are capable of (5/8/2005 11:41:25 PM)
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quote:
"Furthermore, people's dislike of the overweight of others is NOT bigotry but quite rational (even if it is hurtful to those that are victims of this dislike). No one can control the color of their skin (racism) nor their ethnic origin (anti-Semitism) nor their sexual orientation (homophobia) nor their true gender (transphobia) BUT, for the most part, they can control their own weight."
Disliking someone for the way they look is not rational. Its rude, plain and simple. I don't care if it is skin color, disability or weight. Its wrong as far as I am concerned.
quote:
"There are some overweight people that have thyroid problems and others that are "big-boned" but the majority of people that are overweight are that way by their own choice."
Actually a majority of people who are overweight (aside from physical reasons, i.e. genetics and thyroid) are not that way because they choose to be heavy. How many people do you think start their day with "Hey, I'm going to eat as much as I can today because I WANT to be fat!"
The reality is that many people who are grossly overweight are that way because of compulsions caused by serious emotional trauma. Women who are victims of rape often gain serious weight after their ordeals. Children who are molested and abused often grow up with eating disorders. People who suffer from clinical depression and anxiety often become obese over time because these diseases cause obesity in people. It is a clinical fact.
They didn't choose to be fat, anorexic, or bulemic any more than they chose to suffer whatever they went through.
I understand that within each person exists the power to make a change, however, the fact that the power is there doesn't make it easy. In fact, I would say that it can be one of the most difficult things to overcome - especially when the vicious cycle of self loathing is perpetuated by societal hatred.
quote:
"But the bottom line is that those people that are self-disciplined and do things in moderation and take pride in their appearance and presentation (all of which takes considerable effort) tend to resent the laziness, lack of discipline, and avarice implied by the overweight condition."
Therein lies the problem. People automatically assume that heavy people are lazy, lack discipline, and don't take pride in their appearance.
I will never understand that view because I know just as many skinny lazy people as I know big lazy people. I know skinny people who look like they could knock a buzzard of a crap wagon but I don't automatically assume that all skinny people are lazy or don't take pride in their appearance.
I know skinny people who never exercise and who eat, eat, eat and who sleep for 12 hours a day but I don't assume that all skinny people are like that either.
I know many, many heavy people who take serious pride in their appearance (myself included).
People should be judged on their individual merits, accomplishments, and who they are inside - not by the skin they wear. I find it absolutely shallow and ridiculous that anyone would consider another person of lesser value because of what they look like.
quote:
"For most of history "fat" has implied in the Judaeo-Christian world, to greater or lesser extent, three of the seven deadly sins ... avarice or greed, gluttony and sloth."
Well for most of history, the Judaeo-Christian world has viewed homosexuality as an abomination of nature but that doesn't make it acceptable. Prejudice is wrong, period. I see what you're saying here - that for centuries it has been viewed a certain way and I agree, it has been viewed that way. Its still wrong in my opinion and definitely overdue for a change.
quote:
"It is not a deadly sin to be effeminate, to be homosexual, to hold different religious beliefs, to have a darker skin tone, nor to be handicapped. These are all just examples of human variety and diversity. But to take three times as much food as everyone else when sat at table with them is socially unacceptable (it's considered to be both greedy and gluttonous) and to lie in bed an extra hour longer than someone who gets up and works out so that he remains trim is also socially unacceptable (it's considered to be slothful)."
I don't know about you, but I've never dined with a heavy person who took 3 times as much food as anyone else at the dinner table. In fact, I find that (especially in public) most heavy people are very self conscious of what they eat around others because people often stare at them while they eat because they are heavy in the first place.
quote:
That doesn't mean that any particular "fat" person is necessarily guilty of any of those things, but that is the basis of the bias and value judgments made by others WRT their negativity towards "fat" people, and although those judgments may be ill-founded in any particular instance, they are NOT irrational, but have sound cause!
You may think that it has sound cause. I respectfully disagree. There is no sound cause to hate people based on their appearance. I understand the argument that every stereotype has its basis in fact but hating people because of a stereotype is again, wrong in my opinion.
quote:
"OTOH, it is completely irrational to hate someone because they are confined to a wheelchair, black or Hispanic, gay or lesbian, Jewish or Islamic, or are bi-gendered, transgendered, or intersexed. That makes for a big, big difference in the source of the discrimination even if it is all equally hurtful when one is on the receiving end."
The last line says it all. "Equally hurtful when one is on the receiving end."
It is wrong to be hateful like that toward anyone and to say that its "rational" for people to hate anyone based on their appearance is something I just can't agree with.
People are who they are and the sooner society stops looking for fault in our Earth suits and begins to delve deeper into the artistry that IS the human psyche, heart, and spirit, then maybe society, photography, film, the entire art movement and media in general can begin looking at people with clarity and elevating them through loving eyes rather than looking down at them through the myopic glass of societal convention.
Here's something for folks to check out if they'd like...
http://www.moonspheres.com/i.html
Well wishes,
Cav's girl
ally{C}
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