Thursday, January 26, 2006

THE STATE OF THE F-WORD – THREE LETTERS THAT STILL SHOCK

THE STATE OF THE F-WORD – THREE LETTERS THAT STILL SHOCK

By Lynne Murray

The word "Fat" is close enough to an insult that it catches the attention in a title. But what it conveys beyond that is a little more complicated. When the word Fat pops up, should we laugh, be afraid, angry or guilty? Through the magic of media firestorm, fatness is now looked on as a killer disease, a moral failing and a safe target for ridicule by all and sundry. Is it infectious? Can you catch it by reading this essay?

Fat is like a killer clown that may honk a horn at you. It may paint tears on its face as if asking for pity and then bonk you with a rubber chicken when you come near. Worse yet, Fat may suddenly leap out of your closet and strangle you in your bed at night.

No wonder we keep a nervous eye on the F-word, because there's no telling what it will do next.

-snip-

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