Posted on 06/23/2002 8:57:39 AM PDT by xsysmgr
Sondra Solovay weighs just over 21 stones [294 lb]. She could be in better shape. But last week there was no time to worry about a distinct lack of pace as she attempted a headlong dash across an airport in southern California.
Miss Solovay was late for her Southwest Airlines flight home to Oakland, near San Francisco. The Ivy-League educated lawyer, who had just addressed a civil rights conference, needed to get to her office for an important meeting with a client later that day.
When she reached the airline's ticket desk she was out of breath, on time and rather proud of the achievement. Then, to her astonishment, Miss Solovay discovered that size mattered after all.
Two days earlier, Southwest Airlines had happily flown her to California. Now she was told that because she was so "large", she could not travel unless she bought a second seat. Otherwise she would "encroach on the space" of the passenger next to her.
The language was politically correct but the message was clear: Miss Solovay might be able to reach surprising speeds when negotiating an airport concourse, but she was still too fat to be treated as an ordinary passenger.
Outraged and desperate, Miss Solovay produced money for two seats. But two places together could not be found on the flight, nor on subsequent ones that day. She would have to wait for her seats.
Miss Solovay might be bulky of body, but she possesses a sharp and trained lawyer's mind. As she sat waiting at the airport (taking up only a single seat), she decided that it was time for the fat to fight back.
She is now among a group of American lawyers considering a class-action lawsuit against airlines - not just Southwest - for what they believe to be unconstitutional discrimination against the overweight. Southwest Airlines may live to regret the day they tried to keep her off their aircraft.
"It's an issue of fundamental civil rights when people are prevented from travelling because of their personal attributes," Miss Solovay said. "There needs to be an effective legal challenge to this kind of policy. The time has come to fight back on this, and on other fronts."
Across the United States, large Americans are responding to the call. One of Miss Solovay's clients could be another Californian, Steve McAllister. Mr McAllister, a former college football player, is 6ft 2in tall and weighs 25 stones [350 lb].
Once he was a fearsome sight for opponents on the playing fields of California. As his athletic bulk has turned to flab, he is now seen as a danger only to fellow-users of public transport.
When the software executive tried to buy an extra ticket from Southwest for a short flight from Sacramento airport ten days ago, he was told that he was a "safety hazard" to other passengers.
This week the airline will impose a nationwide policy requiring all fat people on all flights to pay for two seats. The policy was applied to Mr McAllister in advance. Although Southwest eventually relented, he is in no doubt that next time he will be charged double. In a spirited show of defiance, Mr McAllister inquired whether he would gain air miles for his second ticket. The answer was no. Like Miss Solovay, he believes it is time for the fat to fight back.
"Size is a phobia here in the States," he said. "Some employers have told me I would not be good executive material because of my size. We are considered to be dumber, sloppier, messier. People think, if you can't even get your weight down to an acceptable level, how can you expect to be able to run a business? Well, I've managed to do pretty well. These people are morons."
Perhaps because of his former status as a college football hero, Mr McAllister's experience made headlines across America. With tongues firmly in cheeks, commentators talked earnestly about "spatial profiling". Others opted for cruder references to "jumbo jet-setters". The perennial question is back on everyone's lips: are fat people to blame for their condition?
Even President Bush has joined the fray. Mr Bush no longer drinks alcohol and goes jogging almost every day. He shows no hint of flab. Launching a national fitness campaign and urging the 61 per cent of Americans who suffer from obesity to take more exercise, Mr Bush said last week: "If you're interested in improving America, you can do so by taking care of your own body."
The sense that the problems of the obese are self-inflicted is pervasive. Legislators in many states are now taking action which may nip the fat fightback in the bud. Foods blamed for American obesity are being targeted remorselessly. Californian senators are proposing taxes on sweet fizzy drinks; schools are being instructed to stop serving pizza; lawyers are assessing the prospects for class-action lawsuits against fast-food chains such as McDonald's and Burger King.
David Satcher, America's Surgeon-General, whose anti-smoking warnings appear on cigarette packets, announced a "call to action" to reduce obesity last December. Restaurants are being encouraged to slim down their portions - an approach which critics say retraces the first steps of the long war against tobacco.
The problems of those who, like Miss Solovay and Mr McAllister, are already overweight, are either ignored or laughed at. Alleged diets of fast food washed down with Coca-Cola and lazy days spent on the sofa in front of the television inspire little sympathy. The way of life is seen as unprepossessing, self-indulgent and self-inflicted. No one is therefore overly surprised to hear that fat people are discriminated against at work, more likely to lose a custody battle over a child, and less likely to be selected as jurors.
The obese are also likely to earn less: according to one study published by a medical journal last year, fat women earn on average $6,710 (£4,503) less than their slimmer peers, even after allowing for educational and other factors.
In such a hostile environment, the fat fightback will not be easy. It is beginning with the F-word itself. A string of lobby groups are being set up on behalf of men and women who are proud to be "fat". Short and succinct, the word is preferable to "overweight", "oversize" or even plain "obese", according to Allen Steadman, the director of the International Size Acceptance Association: "Fat is what it is, so why call it anything else?"
Representatives of the airline industry have been summoned to an annual convention of fat people in August. There they will be asked to explain why special seating rows cannot be fitted for larger passengers. Hair salons and medical offices are being urged to provide gowns big enough for fat people. "One size definitely does not fit all," said one campaigner.
The list of fat action areas is being constantly extended. Car manufacturers are being pressed to supply seat-belt extenders as a matter of course to their larger customers - at present they are only required by law to install belts suitable for people up to 215lb (15.3 stones) in weight.
Then there are the loos. "Sometimes toilets are not fortified enough," said Mr Steadman. "Sometimes they hang off the wall, and they have been known to break."
Once the F-word has been fully re-claimed, and the state legislatures reformed, the biggest battle will begin. Fat people are preparing to contest the view that they are responsible for their own condition.
Miss Solovay is a vegetarian who insists that she eats carefully and eschews fizzy drinks. "I've been oversize since I was 11," she said. "I haven't eaten meat since then. I don't eat fries or fast food - in fact my eating is better than an average American. And it's important to exercise. You can be fat and be fit."
Mr McAllister works more than 60 hours a week, avoids red meat and says he is on a low calory diet. "My blood pressure and cholesterol levels are fine, I pay attention to what I eat and I certainly haven't got this way from sitting on my backside drinking beer. I am fitter than many people who are thin," he said.
Maryanne Bodolay, 46, the administrator of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, weighs 25 stones. She said: "I'm a big girl because I am genetically programmed to be so - and, I believe, because I started dieting when I was young. It's the yo-yo syndrome: you lose weight, then you put more on. My sister weighs 125lb [8st 13lb], and she can eat me under the table."
There is no evidence, say some researchers, that fat people really do eat more than others - and ample evidence that dieting rarely works in the long term. "Research shows that people who diet do lose weight, but 95 per cent regain it over a five-year period," said Joanne Ikeda, the co-director of the Centre for Weight and Health at the Berkeley campus of the University of California.
Fat people know that they face a long campaign to persuade their fellow Americans to regard them differently. Fat will never be the new black. However, Miss Solovay insisted: "Some day this will be seen for what it is: the next stage in the struggle for civil rights."
LOL
There is nothing, NOTHING, more annoying, (and mean) than sanctimonious former overweight people (and smokers) who want to cram their newfound righteousness down other people's throats. They tend to forget how easily they might lose it, and revert to their old ways, in the event of a true crisis in their lives.
Rodeocowboy, we've had to pay for MANY stupid mistakes the airlines have made, that have cost people lives, not just money.
It is long past time for the airlines to stop and consider WHAT they are doing wrong, not just from a safety standpoint, but also a customer service standpoint.
Perhaps the reaction to this new policy (not to mention what's happened in the last year) will help bring that about.
Who the hell are you to call anyone a "bastard"? Kiss my ass promptly, please.
See what this is doing causing people to recent another for they are different or don't fit the norm.
Soon the liberal is going to pit everyone for something!
Just think in your rage bogey you lumped and curse at group of people you don't even know.
Lets see we have -
road rage, phone rage, fat rage, etc.
If this continues "Love One Another" will become obsolete! We will become a nation of rage and self destruct!
followed by:
You never forgave your grandmother. What a lousy grandchild
You're just a red letter person aren't you?
I bear no ill will to overweight people. I hold those who encroach on me and crowd me in contempt.
The gentleman was friendly and fascinating, and he and I enjoyed a great conversation on the short flight.It was initially akward, but he was polite and so was I, and we overcame the discomfort of strangers in too close proximity.It helped that he apologised for the inconvenience and told me he normally flew first class, but it was booked completely.He also made it very clear he was very happlily married and was also uncomfortable in the unavoidable closeness.But he did it with class.
Had his attitude been different, I am sure I would have been very annoyed at the situation.
Having been stuck on many airplanes and crushed next to some of these massive creatures, I'm all for making them buy two or more tickets. After many close calls, airplanes already make me nervous. Every extra pound on board makes the plane that much more likely to move downward too fast. Quick, hand me that bag, I feel ill!
1.- Atkins plan works and if that is too limited try
2.- Suzanne Somersize is balanced for it can be protein/vegs or Carbs/vegs and certain fruits- no sugar. Its a great way to go!
oh just skip it let just have a fat surcharge!:)
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