The Political Whore

By Catherine Durkin Robinson
PoHo contributor
Catherine Durkin Robinson is a “feminist mother of twins” and a political blogger, working under the title Out in Left Field.

This is not an easy post to write.

I struggle with my weight. Eating right and exercising takes effort and I work at it every single day. As President Obama encourages a national conversation about health care, what often gets overlooked is the part we play in our own demise.

Friends and family like to tease, calling me a skinny bitch. They imply that staying thin is easy for those of us who don’t overeat.

It’s not easy. Life isn’t easy. Doing the right thing by our bodies as a way of showing gratitude for life isn’t easy. We do it anyway.

I also hear, from time to time, excuses from people who are losing the battle of the bulge. For example, they tell me they’re not like me. They like food.

Bullshit.

That’s like saying an alcoholic likes the taste of vodka.

I like the taste of vodka. And tequila. And wine.

So I make damn sure I don’t overdo it because then I wouldn’t be able to drink anymore.

Same with food.

Don’t imply that I don’t like to eat.

Nothing tastes better than fresh vegetables and fruit. I don’t need to drown them in cream or sugar or salt or MSG. Dark grainy bread, thick chunks of French or Swiss cheese, spicy marinara sauce…even curly fries make my taste buds come alive…in moderation. Because if I ate too much of them, eventually I’d be cut off.

And that’s no kind of fun.

See, here’s the thing. Morbidly obese people don’t like the taste of food. They eat for other reasons, so let’s not pretend otherwise.

Taco Tammy had an event last night for people who are interested in her Save the Tortillas campaign. And while I admire Tammy and hope her company makes it, I was dismayed at what I saw. Take a look at the pictures from that event.

Notice a theme?

How can someone look at a pot full of simmering blood and fat and find that appetizing? If you went to a party where everyone showed off STDs, wouldn’t you close your legs? In much the same way, I’d look around the room at the consequences of eating such nauseatingly nasty shit and immediately close my mouth.

When we criticize religion, people often say a person’s faith or belief system is beyond reproach. Let’s not discuss it! Might ruffle a few feathers when we ask a person to *think* instead of *feel.*

Similarly, when we criticize the obesity problem in America and show examples where overeating isn’t just a lifestyle choice, but a public health crisis, people respond with “live and let live.”

Fine. But it’s important to understand that there is nothing appetizing or appealing about a room full of fat people celebrating food. It’s harmful and destructive behavior that destroys lives. Period.

Folks, you should eat an apple instead and go to therapy.

You heard me.

Not easy to say, but as you can see, *easy* has nothing to do with it.

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