This
news report from Peter Jennings says a lot about what we have heard so much of already: That government subsidizes corn, which in turn contributes to most of the processed foods on the market; Obesity levels have never been so high in Americans; Type II Diabetes has never before been seen in children at such a young age...
But here are things I learned for the first time:
- Food Styling is an actual job title (and a huge industry), focused on making food look irresistible by using non-food products to whet the appetite.
- Other countries around the world have banned advertising directed at children under a certain age, or advertising for children at all!
Yet another reason America is so far behind the power curve. Why does it always seem to take us as a nation so many years to understand the validation behind arguments that people all over the world have been supporting for years? I just can't help but feel bad for children who are so young and already going downhill toward being overweight. Adults can make bad choices for themselves, but children cannot. One of the interviewees in this movie had the audacity to say that beginning at age 6, children are more mature and are capable of making decisions, since they are out of the house and experiencing the world. (Paraphrasing, of course, but that's pretty darn close!)
And of course health care issues are a hot topic with the presidential candidates right now. Sure, a lot of it is based on the lack of funds to support medicare and medicaid to meet the growing need, and the government will also be slammed when the baby boomers hit their declining and ailing years en mass. But instead of only having to worry about the poor, the sick, and the elderly, we will soon have to support the growing numbers of children, young people, and middle-aged adults who make poor food choices and will face rising risks for disease, injury, and chronic illness.
Peter Jennings compared the obesity & food issue to the way Americans had to rethink the view on cigarettes and smoking. You would think we could learn from our mistakes...
e were 5 people at the front of the store: 4 African Americans, and 1 Sudanese girl. As we walked through, someone announced over the PA system that Barack Obama was officially announced to be the next President of the United States. The people looked up as we walked in, and I gave a little kick of excitement at the announcement. Their faces were lit up with smiles, and this young guy who had just voted in what could only be his first Presidential election, gave Chris a huge high five as we walked past. The Sudanese girl was running around on her cell phone and talking excitedly in another language to the person on the other end of the line. This was not about the candidate. This was about American people feeling empowered and influencial in a governement that otherwise seems distant and unlikely to affect our small lives. I am so excited to stand up with record numbers of Americans, especially young adults, and prove that we can be informed and active citizens, no matter who we voted for today. I am thankful for Barack Obama's campaign, that he gave us a platform to unite us as a group, and I hope that we continue to be informed as the transition begins and real work starts to take place. This is not an end. This is only the tip of an iceberg-for black Americans, young adults, and for people who never thought their voice would make a difference. Welcome to the government that was designed by the people and for the people of America.
