crazy old lady letter
I wrote a good old fashioned crazy old lady letter to GQ tonight, in response to an article by this guy extolling the “virtues” of his apparent insolent lack of concern for his health or diet. Your typical “so what if I weigh 250 pounds and I’m gonna die — if I act insolent about my complete lack of self-control it seems like I do it in purpose even though I hate myself and cry on the inside every time I wolf down a big mac” spiel.
It’s a little pointless without the context of the article, so if you want, read it in the May 2002 issue of GQ — it’s in the “American Scene” section.
Here it is, anyway:
To: gqmag@aol.com
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 23:26:34 -0500
As a southern man, I am disturbed that Rick Bragg paints a portrait of
the ideal southern man as a hedonistic, self-indulgent gourmand. I
grew up in the south, and I enjoy and appreciate a good meat-n-three
as I do any other cuisine. However, I also plan on living past 50.
Southern cuisine was born of a time when southern Americans worked –
and worked hard. While I’m sure Mr. Bragg works hard, too, I doubt
that he’s out there splittin’ rails. And neither am I. I work in the
computer industry, and it takes a certain amount of effort and
moderation to maintain physical fitness and health.
Obesity is fast-approaching smoking as the leading cause of
preventable death in the United States. Mr. Bragg is setting a poor
example, and is a sad representative of a “southern man”. If he wants
to eat himself into a coronary, that’s fine, but it’s nothing to be
proud of.
–Chris Wage
cwage@place.org
http://chris.agenteight.com/
hooray for crazy old lady letters…..why are you trying to trump me though? I get my name on the news and you have to try to get your letter in GQ.
Egomaniac.
ok amanda what did u do to get ur name on the news? a mother needs to know this stuff!!!
I don’t know where to start guys. I enjoy a good meal too. However, I eat like a bird and that drives my fiancee nuts. But even worse, I smoke cigars and I’m just 32 years old. That drives her beyond nuts. I am even given to a drink at times.
You have a good point. I know my smoking is wrong and I think my slowing down is only an excuse not to stop. Wait! That makes me even more insane.