Denver Post published my letter about airlines

[firecat]

I posted here about the letter I sent in response to Al Lewis's column in the Denver Post where he whinges about sitting next to fat people in airplanes. The Denver Post published my letter here:

http://www.denverpost.com/letters/ci_4302766

Comments

[jb98.livejournal.com]

Yay! It just gets better every time I read it.

[apis-mellifera.livejournal.com]

You rock like a totally rocking thing! :)

[spiderdust.livejournal.com]

Well done!

[pyrzqxgl.livejournal.com]

Bravo!

[cheshyre]

Woo-hoo! Go you!

[queensheba.livejournal.com]

Not only that, but the author of the original column expresses awe that the larger man fits his "20 or 30 inch diameter" into a 17-inch wide seat. Who DOESN'T have a 20-30 inch diameter? I think he's getting his terms mixed up.

[jinian.livejournal.com]

Most people don't have a 20- or 30-inch diameter, which is the relevant measurement for seat width. A 20-inch diameter (2r) multiplied by pi (2*pi*r) gives a 62.8-inch circumference, i.e., hip measurement as seen in 36-24-36. It's not outrageously big, but it's well on the larger side of average.

(Stef, you continue to rock.)

[queensheba.livejournal.com]

Ooops, you're right. I got *my* terms mixed up. I was thinking of a 20-30 inch waist (e.g. circumference, not diameter, as you said) - which wouldn't be particularly large at all.

[porcinea.livejournal.com]

Go you!!! W00t!!!

[kightp.livejournal.com]

Outstanding!

[clawfoot.livejournal.com]

*wild applause*

Yay!!!!!!

[loracs.livejournal.com]

Now all the readers (at least of the "letters to the editor" section) can hear a sane side to this fatphobic argument by this columnist and the airline industry.

[snippy]

Keen. I hope it makes that arrogant f*ck rethink his self-centered attitude. Or lots of other self-centered jerks, that would be even better.

[waterowl.livejournal.com]

You go girl!

Thank gods, you said it better than I did

[gimpedoutwidow.livejournal.com]

I got labled a "babbler" on the author's blog, for zeroing in on just what you said so forcefully in your letter--the key thing is that only one third of us are 17.2 inches wide or less...and that the airlines have been using the "people are sardines" theory for decades now.

Loved your letter, thank you for it

Jean

Re: Thank gods, you said it better than I did

[firecat]

Thanks for stopping by! I avoided the author's blog because I've seen too much of the way blog posts about fat issues collect fat hating comments, and I can't handle it. Go you for arguing the point in a hostile environment - you probably made a few people think.

[liveavatar.livejournal.com]

As someone else said, this looks better every time I read it!

[boxofdelights]

Brava.

[submarine-bells.livejournal.com]

Bravo! It's lovely to see such a well-written and obviously sensible rebuttal to this rather prevalent flavour of bullshit.

[blue-sky-48220.livejournal.com]

I think your response is wonderful. I enjoyed reading it when you posted it, and I'm thrilled to see that the Denver Post printed it.

Good for you!

[pure-agnostic.livejournal.com]

Stef, as long as we're on the subject of attitudes towards fat people ...

you may want to take a look at this article:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003250510_nudephoto08.html

I think the article needlessly points out the weight of the police chief's wife. The police chief's own comments about his wife's size, and his attempts to control her are worthy of feedback. (The kind of feedback you've given to the Denver Post.)

[firecat]

Ew. I agree that feedback would be worthwhile. If you write something, let me know.

[lizw.livejournal.com]

*boggle* Why on earth did anyone think he should resign over something his wife did?

[pure-agnostic.livejournal.com]

Well actually, he didn't resign over something his partner did. He resigned because he didn't want to be hassled by a few dozen town residents. They didn't want him as police chief just because they think it's a Big Deal (tm) that his partner posted a nude photo of herself.

Is it fair? No. Is it his reality? Sadly, yes.

I was touched to see two others resign in protest over how the police chief was hassled.

[figmo.livejournal.com]

One of my comedian-friends who isn't particularly large makes the following joke in her act:

"In China they used to bind women's feet so they wouldn't grow. I'm trying the same thing with my butt. I'm flying coach."

[thegreencall.livejournal.com]

I was pointed to this by blue_sky_48220. Great letter!

[firecat]

Thanks for stopping by!

[ruth-lawrence.livejournal.com]

Yippee!

You rawk :-)