#TeamJYB3 vs. #TeamRP Fitness Challenge: Day 8

#TEAMJYB3:

Phat Americans.

The Anti-Immigration Movement in the US may have an unsuspecting ally.

The article I just read (click here) now shows obesity is a greater food problem than hunger. That’s a big story. But not nearly as big as the “story behind the story” –that I suspect may be true.

Americans gaining weight is nothing new. Buy why are we gaining weight so consistently and deliberately? I think it is because you can’t argue with the fact that obese Americans simply take up more space than if they were thin. And then there is the other seemingly unrelated issue: That being an American and “vocally anti-immigration” is uncomfortable at best and somewhat hypocritical at worst.

The first time I realized I had mixed feelings about immigration and found myself agreeing with Lou Dobbs, I weighed 165 pounds. That was 27 pounds ago.
I still haven’t articulated any of my concerns. But i have taken concrete anti-immigration in other ways. Making sure I physically take up more space as an American—space that could easily be filled by a very skinny illegal immigrant. At first it was only subconscious…but the harder I find it to lose weight, the more it got me to thinking about my real motive for over eating since watching that fateful Lou Dobbs interview several years ago.

It just all makes so much sense now.

Even as a young child when the ice cream truck came by I would more likely order a Red, White and Blue “Bomber” popsicle while the other kids would order “Push ups.”

America’s problem with gaining weight began at about the same time there was an increasing concern that we were pushing the immigration limits in the US.
Americans who are selflessly carrying extra-weight must have been doing so—at least in part—as a subconsciously patriotic act to make sure our country stay’s “right-sized”– for our children and our children’s children.

Sure, there is an element of passive-aggressiveness and nativism —and maybe some unflattering stereotyping of “outsiders” (and in a few isolated instances even outright prejudice) we portly patriots are guilty of. But let’s not lose sight of the fact that the only real prejudice we have is being a little too “Pro-American” for our own health.

So, next time you see one of us out and are tempted to roll your eyes at our lack of discipline —ask yourself, “What did I do today to curb rampant immigration in my country today?” It may just give you pause and remind you of the greater goal behind those who don’t believe it’s wrong to be more concerned for their country than their waistline.

And remind you, too, that the enthusiastic gleam you see in our eye– that you assume is our misplaced excitement about our next dessert order— may have more to do our determination to keep one more illegal alien from crossing the border because even though our ideals will always be compelling to others, the practical matter of available space is being decided not “one politician at a time” but “one Hot Pocket at a time. And by those who have courageously taken our “can’t say no” attitude and decided to use if for a higher nationalistic calling.

20 years ago American had about 200 Million Americans. We new our absolute maximum would be about 400 Million Americans. Or 300 overweight Americans. So the next time one of you smug little waif of an American sighs at the heavy guy sitting next to you on an airplane, to holding your disdain. And saluting instead. (And if you really want to “Thank us,” you’ll offer us your peanuts, too).