Thursday, June 25, 2009
News Meanwhile In The Bible Belt
Posted by Dan Savage on Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 9:17 AM
Gluttony is a sin right?
Gee, maybe folks in the Bible Belt should worry a bit less about what I'm putting in my mouth and bit more about what they're putting in their own.
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3
But now that I look at the map, that OTHER hotbed of anti-gay fundie fuckwaddery, Colorado, is the skinniest state of bitches. So the fattest and the leanest hate the gayz the mostest. I remember reading that one book long ago, the big history of homosexuality thing, and remember it said that the most culturally evident flourishing of gaiety throughout history happens in the societies with a) the least amount of antigay stuff, and b) the most amount of antigay stuff. In the middle is where the gay is least evident.
Maybe totally unrelated, but I though of the one paradox when I read this one here.
Maybe totally unrelated, but I though of the one paradox when I read this one here.
4
While I'm no supporter of the red states and not an overall apologist for obesity, I should point out that there is a direct link between obesity and poverty, so I don't think we should get too smug here.
6
Nearly a quarter of WA adults are obese? I don't know what's more depressing ... that absolute statistic, or the fact that we still look relatively good compared to some parts of the country.
7
yeah, we're not in any position to cast stones. walk around the waterfront some afternoon. hell, walk around downtown during rush hour. it's revolting.
9
Um, no, they're not. Utah is adjacent to another lean state and barely separated from a third, but if you look at the actual numbers rather than the colors, you'll see that the mountain region and the Southwest is all in a pretty tight band. Utah is quite close to neighbors NV, AZ, NM.
What stands out like a sore thumb is us fatties up in the northwest. The Southeast can at least partly be explained by simple poverty (poor people are fatter than rich people); but we're rich, so what's our excuse?
What stands out like a sore thumb is us fatties up in the northwest. The Southeast can at least partly be explained by simple poverty (poor people are fatter than rich people); but we're rich, so what's our excuse?
10
Maybe our excuse is we have really good food here in the Northwest (way better than that crap they sell at the Piggly Wiggly) and we like to eat it. Yay, food!
11
I can only find, 4 verses that have references to gluttony in the Bible, so I'm guessing its not a big concern from the pulpit. It should be a big concern from an overall human health perspective, as it but one area that we Americans can be responsible for and help to avoid preventable diseases, that we demand our health care system cover.
12
Yep, those bible belters need to suck more dick and eat more pussy. They'd be happier all around.
14
come on Dan, it's only a sin if you don't go to church and don't think you're morally superior to people who sleep in on sundays. geez.
16
All those church basement potlucks, sunday school picnics, and bible study fellowships clearly is getting out of hand.
17
Colorado at 18.4 seems a little off... I thought under 18.5 was "underweight" and under 17.5 is "potentially anorexic" underweight?
19
More focus on preventive medicine should do something to change this demographic scene. The medical industry is making too much money off of fat people.
20
There really isn't that big of a difference nation wide. Taking out the extremities (which aren't even that extreme) the percentage spread between leanest and fattest of the warm-colored states really isn't that much -- 8 percent. The color choices make it look much more drastic than it is. The whole nation is fat-ass.
Most shocking to me is that even in the least fat state of Colorado, nearly a FIFTH of the population is obese! Not overweight, OBESE.
Most shocking to me is that even in the least fat state of Colorado, nearly a FIFTH of the population is obese! Not overweight, OBESE.
21
@17, you're talking about BMI. This is showing percentage of obese people in each state, not average BMI.
23
Julie, @17, this isn't body fat, it's percentage of the pop which is obese.
Anyone who thinks WA has better food than TX or the South is out of their cotton-pickin' mind. What we have in abundance is RICH PEOPLE FOOD, like foreign specialties, sushi, high-end pizza, nouvelle restaurants, and so forth. But rich people aren't fat; poor people are. And poor people in the Northwest eat some of the worst garbage in the universe. We are still at core a white-bread, MacDonalds and Arby's state. I wonder if we carried over a lot of our dietary habits from our Minnesota forebears (Washington has always been kind of "Minnesota West", rather than "California North", in a lot of ways).
And speaking of milk, our well-known coffee fetish in reality has very little to do with coffee and a great deal to do with enormous cups of milk.
Anyone who thinks WA has better food than TX or the South is out of their cotton-pickin' mind. What we have in abundance is RICH PEOPLE FOOD, like foreign specialties, sushi, high-end pizza, nouvelle restaurants, and so forth. But rich people aren't fat; poor people are. And poor people in the Northwest eat some of the worst garbage in the universe. We are still at core a white-bread, MacDonalds and Arby's state. I wonder if we carried over a lot of our dietary habits from our Minnesota forebears (Washington has always been kind of "Minnesota West", rather than "California North", in a lot of ways).
And speaking of milk, our well-known coffee fetish in reality has very little to do with coffee and a great deal to do with enormous cups of milk.
24
@17 - Julie, I think those numbers are the percentage of adults considered overweight, not average BMIs
25
It's all part of pick and choose Christianity. The method usually is, "Ignore what I don't want to follow, and concentrate on the scriptures that can be used to attack others."
Example: Bible says gay is bad: I'm not gay. We must force that rule on everyone!!!
Bible says not to braid hair, wear gold, or costly attire: I'm sure it doesn't apply to me. Ignore!
Ever notice how fat Maggie Gallagher is? Dan, I dare you to bring up the sin of gluttony if you go on CNN to debate with her.
Example: Bible says gay is bad: I'm not gay. We must force that rule on everyone!!!
Bible says not to braid hair, wear gold, or costly attire: I'm sure it doesn't apply to me. Ignore!
Ever notice how fat Maggie Gallagher is? Dan, I dare you to bring up the sin of gluttony if you go on CNN to debate with her.
26
What's really embarrassing is how we compare to other countries: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles…
27
@23, it's those coffee drinks indeed that play a big role in our big role. Also, Washingtonians consume tartar sauce like there's no tomorrow.
28
Fuck this anti-fat bullshit...it might be slight but knocking these people for being overweight is just plain making fun of fat people. Big guys are hot...I'm a fat boy and I love it...my boyfriends big and he loves it. Being overweight is not something to knock people for...you don't have to celebrate it...but don't use it against people (that is, unless they want you too).
30
28, Nobody is knocking fat people. It's knocking people who claim to follow the Bible when they don't.
31
I'd like to see an obesity trend over time. Something tells me 18% obesity ain't really something to be proud of.
34
Exactly. If you're going to make a huge international issue about one of the most petty half-rules in the bible, then you'd better be prepared to follow ALL of the bible's petty little half-rules yourself. That includes refraining from gluttony.
35
Well, I guess I should have said "national" issue. That's what I get for posting while sick and brain dead.
36
I fucking love these maps. The fattest states are the least literate states are the conservative states are the religious states. Just fucking destroy them and start over again.
37
Live and let live... But I guess it's another thing we can hold against the fundies.
But like you really had to find another way to tell me that Mormons are hot. They tease me into their religion with attractiveness alone.
But like you really had to find another way to tell me that Mormons are hot. They tease me into their religion with attractiveness alone.
38
@7, I totally agree with you. Seattle is getting super fat anymore and that 24.5 number is NOTHING to be proud of.
39
Aren't you guys noticing that all the marriage-equality friendly states in the Northeast are nice and lean? I find that interesting...
40
@26
Yup, it's astounding how excessively gluttonous we are compared with the rest of the world. And only in the U.S. is there a link between obesity and "poverty." Absurd! Try explaining that one to an African.
Yup, it's astounding how excessively gluttonous we are compared with the rest of the world. And only in the U.S. is there a link between obesity and "poverty." Absurd! Try explaining that one to an African.
41
Whoops, that's what I get for not reading the chart headline. I was reading that as average BMI (it actually made sense in my head because the cut-off for "overweight" is sometimes given as 24, and below 22 is sometimes said to be "ideal" from a health perspective).
[Insert droll comment about not having had my daily coffee yet...]
[Insert droll comment about not having had my daily coffee yet...]
42
@Fnarf: 2 words: Pierce County. Probably drags down the average for Washington State. Have you seen the people in Kent?!
43
@7,
The only people on the waterfront are tourists, like from Mississippi.
@38,
If you think Seattle, not Washington state, but Seattle, is fat, you really need to get out of town more.
Incidentally, there are athletes out there who have an obese BMI; Shaq is one example. The percentage of "fatties" in this state could also be due to our love of outdoor sports.
The only people on the waterfront are tourists, like from Mississippi.
@38,
If you think Seattle, not Washington state, but Seattle, is fat, you really need to get out of town more.
Incidentally, there are athletes out there who have an obese BMI; Shaq is one example. The percentage of "fatties" in this state could also be due to our love of outdoor sports.
44
BMI is a poor indicator of "obesity" - it was never intended to be used as such. Some statistician 100 years ago or so came up with it while studying something else, in order to simplify his data.
Meanwhile, the BMI pays no attention to the following factors: build, muscle mass, male v female.
As a big-boned gal, I'll NEVER be in the "correct" range - it's just not a possibility for me without looking severely anorexic.
Meanwhile, the BMI pays no attention to the following factors: build, muscle mass, male v female.
As a big-boned gal, I'll NEVER be in the "correct" range - it's just not a possibility for me without looking severely anorexic.
45
@23 you are mistaking Seattle for Washington in general. Plenty of poverty and crappy food to go around beyond our emerald city.
47
Some of you are being really fucking leotarded. I don't think you understand what OMG OBESE actually looks like:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77367764@N0…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77367764@N0…
48
@39 but check out the chubbiness of Iowa. When same-sex marriage became legal there and there were lots of great wedding pictures up on the Internet, my girlfriend pointed out to me how many fat lesbians were getting married. (Not knocking the fat lesbians -- the gf and I are both fat too -- it was just interesting to see how many of them there are in Iowa). There were lots of fat gay men, too.
49
I think THIS really puts it in perspective:
http://eaves.ca/2008/07/08/fatness-index…
...because remember, even Massachusetts has more Republicans than Ontario.
http://eaves.ca/2008/07/08/fatness-index…
...because remember, even Massachusetts has more Republicans than Ontario.
50
Can we get this broken down county by county? I really don't wanna be lumped in with Cle Ellum or other rural shitholes where you have to drive to the corner store.
51
Dan - gluttony as a sin isn't bible-based, as far as I know.
@15 - Colorado folks are just extremely interested in biking, hiking, skiing, mountain climbing, lots of outdoor sports. It's impossible to live here without wanting to spend lots of time outside enjoying the pretty mountain view.
@15 - Colorado folks are just extremely interested in biking, hiking, skiing, mountain climbing, lots of outdoor sports. It's impossible to live here without wanting to spend lots of time outside enjoying the pretty mountain view.
52
Umm, to everyone who thinks this map proves that red state=fat and blue state=lean...Colorado is still relatively red. We're making progress, but still. Pretty red. No gay marriage or civil unions here.
53
Yup. Looked it up. The seven deadly sins (including gluttony) don't come from the bible: it's part of Catholic dogma and tradition, which protestant churches (i.e., bible belt and most US churches) eschew.
"I swear this isn't fat-phobic!" defense fail.
"I swear this isn't fat-phobic!" defense fail.
55
54,
There is only 4 agreed upon verses for gluttony (Proverbs 23:2, 23:21, 28:7, and Titus 1:12), hence it isn't considered a big deal. Perhaps, in certain denominations it's a bigger deal. I think that's what @ 53 is saying. And, I'm agreeing, since the Bible Belt is predominately protestant, they don't see gluttony as a big deal. It's my impression that some believe that the more a "sin" is mentioned in scripture (total number of scriptural reference) the bigger the deal. I think if may help some justify themselves, because they can rank sins. You'd be surprised how little of a consensous, or cohesiveness in belief there is amongst those who call themselves Christian.
There is only 4 agreed upon verses for gluttony (Proverbs 23:2, 23:21, 28:7, and Titus 1:12), hence it isn't considered a big deal. Perhaps, in certain denominations it's a bigger deal. I think that's what @ 53 is saying. And, I'm agreeing, since the Bible Belt is predominately protestant, they don't see gluttony as a big deal. It's my impression that some believe that the more a "sin" is mentioned in scripture (total number of scriptural reference) the bigger the deal. I think if may help some justify themselves, because they can rank sins. You'd be surprised how little of a consensous, or cohesiveness in belief there is amongst those who call themselves Christian.
56
yes dan, because everyone in the bible belt is ignorant and out to get you. you are a fool and no one respects you dan.
57
All these numbers are revolting. The national average used to be in the low teens. Now look at everyone: mid to high 20's, and the high teens are consider a good number.
Mix in a salad and get some exercise, you nation of fat fucks.
Mix in a salad and get some exercise, you nation of fat fucks.
58
Re: # 12 by Jersey
What are the calorie counts on dick and pussy....grin?
Re: @ 25 by Rob
Pick & Mix Christianity is nothing new. Look at that verse from Leviticus the fundies always use to condemn gays. Wonder why they ignore the other things in the same book that are forbidden like eating shellfish, wearing clothing of mixed fibers, planting mixed crops in the same field, and on and on.
What are the calorie counts on dick and pussy....grin?
Re: @ 25 by Rob
Pick & Mix Christianity is nothing new. Look at that verse from Leviticus the fundies always use to condemn gays. Wonder why they ignore the other things in the same book that are forbidden like eating shellfish, wearing clothing of mixed fibers, planting mixed crops in the same field, and on and on.
59
So then, Dan, it's ok for the folks in Utah and Colorado to tell you what you can put in your mouth?
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