Bullying Obese Children


Kathy Griffin is fighting back.  She has dubbed Bristol Palin aka “Pillsbury Dough Girl ” or try the “White Precious” and she’s standing by her comments.  Although she is being seen as a bully per Elizabeth Hasselbeck from The View, Kathy Griffin refuses to apologize for her fat jokes. Is  Kathy Griffin a bully for calling Bristol fat?  That depends on who you ask.  Some are defining bullying as an attack on a defenseless person who has done nothing wrong, and Bristol Palin is fair game.  After all, she is the only contestant who gained weight on Dancing With The Stars.  To add fuel to the fire, she shouldn’t have even been in the final competition.  If the show is truly based on one’s dancing ability, Bristol Palin is a joke according to Kathy Griffin.  
Other people went into a rage over the fact that Bristol beat out Brandy on DWTS.  So enraged one man shot out his TV and had a standoff with a SWAT  Team.  Now that is what we call Pissed Off.   
Now I don’t believe Bristol was a better dancer than Brandy; however, I am against bullying.  My daughter was bullied and I’ve written several blog posts on the subject.   It can devastating to the person who is on the receiving end and could possibly end in tragedy.  Do I see Bristol Palin as a child?  Not really, but she is a child to me.  Is she fair game for comedians?  Aren’t we all. Is she being bullied?  I personally don’t think so.  Although she is a child to me, she is in fact a grown woman who had to know that she would be the topic of discussion at breakfast, lunch and dinner if she participated on the show.  Hell her mother is the brunt of jokes for many comedians, so as far as I’m concerned she stepped into the line of fire.  Should her mother have warned her it could happen?  Was this a selfish opportunity that Sarah Palin used for her own political aspirations?  Is this a reflection of Sarah Palin’s parenting skills or lack thereof?     

        
Take a good look at this picture of Bristol Palin.  Would the medical field consider her fat?  Probably so. Should she be the brunt of a fat joke, no. People have criticized Michelle Obama for promoting healthier life styles for America’s children.  I’ve even seen a post where someone blamed President Obama for removing ice cream from the schools.  Is that really a bad thing?  What’s wrong with replacing ice cream with a piece of fruit?  That’s what a doctor would want us to do.  Kathy Griffin’s remarks about Bristol is a perfect example of why obesity needs to be promoted, discussed and dealt with in this country.  Fat jokes, humiliating comments toward our children, and the struggle in adulthood to loose excessive weight is real.  The truth be told, we do have some of the most obese people in the world right here in the good ole USA.  We come from the land of good and plenty, and we believe in indulgence. 

I think too much emphasis is placed on body images in this country.  It’s ingrained into our heads that thin is in.  When those of us who have weight problems can’t obtain that goal, we are the butt of cruel comments and remarks.  I struggle with my weight, and I have for many years. It can be painful at times.  I’ve lost track of the number of times that I’ve looked into the mirror nude and told myself that I was disgusting.  On the other hand, my self esteem is high enough when I can look in the mirror on other days and say diva, oh yes I am.  Not everyone has the strength to do that, and I am grateful for a healthy dose of self-esteem.  I’m not aiming to be thin, but I am aiming to be healthy.

As for Bristol Palin, she should really think twice about whether or not she wants to be in the lime light.  It’s kinda of like Sarah Palin on the hunt for a kill, if you put yourself out there, you’re fair game. I would love to hear your thoughts on Kathy Griffin’s fat jokes and the obesity problems that we face in this country with our children.  Please leave us a comment, we love them.