Title: Shoot the fat guys, hang the smokers
Author: Joe Bageant and Other Joe
Publication: joebageant.com
Date: November 2011
Link: http://www.joebageant.com/joe/2009/11/-shoot-the-fat-guys.html
Commentary: I was judging my neighbors (whoops!) the other day as I caught whiffs of their cigarette smoke, when a concern entered my head. I was given pause by the negative associations with smoking that ran through my mind. I tried to give some critical thought to the issue, but quickly turned to the Internet for assistance. I was interested in how people have assessed the framing of smoking and smokers and was pleased to find this piece. I appreciate how Joe brings in classism and draws helpful parallels between perceptions and shaming of "smokers" and "fat people". The condemnation of the classist use of "Merkins"/"Murricans" resonated with me in particular. I certainly don't agree with everything said or how it's said, but the 2 letters here helped me reevaluate my anti-smoking bias.
It seems like a social-justice-y take on the issue, although not written in the way I'm used to reading about social justice. A little more raw and opinionated--than the sanitized academic-speak I know--could come off as lacking some of the compassion he calls for. But definitely incisive.
Describing the US as a "predatory society" reminds me of another article I'll have to post soon...
Trigger Warning: Some possibly offensive (incl. patriarchal) language and body shaming appear in article.
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