Modest Proposal
A Modest Proposal for America to “Loose and Cruise”: A Plan for Americans to Become the Barbies and Kens of the Future and Finally Obtain the Perfect Body An ad in the personal section of a newspaper today: female, age 35, 5’11 117 lb. who enjoys exercising, running in triathlons and is a vegetarian seeks male of the same. In reality it would look something like this: female, age 35, 5’4 145 lb. who enjoys watching television, not exercising, and eating fattening foods seeks male of the same. America may have an obsession with body image, but its citizens are far from living out this cultural fixation. Time and time again I have walked down the street to see the disgraceful sight of women and men wearing too tight clothing, releasing what I like to call “the wave of fat.” Pudge, bulges, fat rolls, whatever you would like to call them, they are not a pretty sight and are not something I would like to see wherever I go. "Back in the 70’s and 80’s, women felt the discrimination of being overweight. And now 35% of the letters I receive are from men.” -- Richard Simmons Obesity in America is becoming a problem. Forty million adult Americans weigh more than 20% above their desirable weight. Its prevalence is increasing in all major race/sex groups including younger adults age 25 to 44. (Blumenkrantz 2) We must act now if we want to become the Barbies and Kens of the future. Let us fight the battle of the bulge. Imagine the perfect figure: a flat, rock hard stomach, toned thighs, a rear end you could bounce a quarter off of and an ideally proportioned body. This may seem hard to attain, but think how your life will change. Thinness in our society has come to symbolize success, self-control, and high-economic status. Everyone wants to obtain these things. With your new perfect body the opposite sex will flock to you, your self-confidence will soar and everyone will want to be your friend. When you have obtained that flawless body you have always wanted, nothing will get you down. I propose that every person go on a quest to find the flaws in others so that our society may become what is had always wanted to be, the “perfect” body capital of the world.