Question:
Oh My God!! Please Help!!

   — ronascott (posted on July 6, 2004)


July 5, 2004
Right on Rona! or should I say Write on Rona!
   — MARSHA D.

July 5, 2004
YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!(clapping loudly) That was awsome.. I am from South Alabama.
   — Vitabella

July 6, 2004
I can not believe it. If you need any help emial me. This is....I'm so mad I can't even think. I will to write a letter and everyone else who reads this and feel the same way should also.
   — sarah C.

July 6, 2004
Rona, I'm sorry that individuals still think it is okay to get a laugh at the expense of fat individuals. Your local paper has indeed perpetuated the fat stereotype by putting that erroneus article in the paper. I think it would be very interesting to see how me reporters and staff from the paper are overweight, if they follow average statistics I would say atleast 50% are overweight. It's also obvious that Mr. Harry Lyons struggles with his weight and is probably scared to death that he will gain again, so he attcks what he is afraid of fat and becoming fat. I've known many of individuals who have lost weight and then preached to everyone on how to lose, only to gain weight in the future. I hope your paper has integrity and writes an apology to all of it's citizens for it's poor taste in articles.
   — Debra J.

July 6, 2004
Rona, can you provide a link to the article? I can't find it using the paper's search feature.
   — Jeanie

July 6, 2004
The article is not on the paper's site because the paper is still for sale. However, if you will go to http://www.shelbycountyreporter.com you can click on the "opinion" section and you will see that they have posted one reader's response. That should validate the story's accuracy. I think it may be in the archives by later this week. Thanks!
   — ronascott

July 6, 2004
I am shocked, appalled, and discusted with Mr. Lyon's attitude about overweight people. Did this guy say he was mayor of that town? NFL Baby, (not for long)!!
   — PHYLLIS G.

July 6, 2004
AMOS MOD NOTE<P>I e mailed them asking how such pure trash ended up on their paper and will post their response.
   — bob-haller

July 6, 2004
Rona, I may get some flack for this but I don't blame the reporter or the newspaper for printing what is obviously a newsworthy article, the statements of an individual running for or planning to run for Mayor. I think its important for the paper to publish such outrageous comments so that the voters can see what a bigoted whackjob this Harry Lyon is. I also think that if Mr. Lyon had similar comments on African Americans (remember David Duke), those comments would have been published also. I would direct everyone's ire to go directly to Mr. Lyon or thru the paper to Mr. Lyon. Altho alerting the memberships and the news stations, I hope it doesn't provide Mr. Lyon with the attention he so obviously seeks. He is not worth it.
   — Cindy R.

July 6, 2004
I do not in any way agree witht he author, however, I think the paper could be sued for not publishing it under his freedom of speech rights..My advice is , chalk it up to pure stupidity. big hug.
   — Kathy S.

July 6, 2004
Rona~ does this piece of crud newspaper have a link? I'd like to write an editorial addressed to both this newspaper and to the people of Pelham County. Plus, to those that are in support of this paper publishing this as "newsworthy" - unless it was on the op-ed page, they did not have to publish it with such incendiary, horrible language. They should report such things-it is newsworthy. Just as lynching was to Afro-Americans was newsworthy 50 years ago - but I wouldn't want the people involved quoted, such as "I hate dirty NIGGERS and they deserve to DIE". It is attitudes that it is ok to say whatever you want without any recourse that drive me nuts. You have rights to say what you want, but you also will have consequences. So, as this newspaper will run behind the freedom of speech act (and I am a FIRM believer in freedom of speech), they know that they choose daily what to publish and what not to publish - (newsworthy things are not published every day!) and they definitely know that the reporter was being sensationalistic and not being an objective reporter. Reporters don't use stupid phrases like roll to the poll! That is this current age of marketing baloney and trying to get people's short attention spans. Everything is written in ridiculous "sound-byte" journalism that is a sham and a shame and a dis-credit to the very root of journalism. Rona- you keep up the fight! In Germany in the 40's, when the Jews and the Mentally Handicapped and the Gypsies began to be persecuted, everyone turned the other way, said it was ok, said it couldn't get worse, etc. If people would have united and said "Hey, that is just plain wrong and we won't put up with it!" MILLIONS would not have died. When white Americans discriminated and hated and killed black people because they COULD, if people would have united then, uncounted people would not have disappeared, been killed, been mutilated. So, FREEDOM of SPEECH? You bet! I got some freedom of speech too. So for all of you STUPID people out there? YOU HAD BETTER WATCH OUT. I'M LOOKING FOR YOU AND I'M GOING TO FINE YOU A $100 A DAY AND I'LL USE THAT MONEY TO FUND EDUCATION. (and I believe the amount of stupid people may far outweigh the obese!) Deep breath-Rona, keep spreading the word. Jodie
   — Jodie P.

July 6, 2004
A nice lady named Diana posted this to the message board about Harry Lyon. He's the guy who wants to run "fat" people out of his city if he's elected mayor. Anyway, just in case you missed it, here's her post: I decided to do a little quick research on the Pelham, Alabama mayoral hopeful Harry Lyon (the one who wants to fine fat people) in response to an earlier thread, but it was pulled due to including links, so I thought I'd repost some of the info here in what I think is a more acceptable form: Since he's a "lawyer" (I'm embarrassed to say), one can look on martindale.com and get his full name and mailing address. And then if you look on alabar.org (the Alabama State Bar Assn.) you can also find his phone and fax numbers. And if someone were to do a Copernic search and one could find a few more interesting things about this guy, especially the second one: For example, his likely email address (which he posted himself) can be found on deadwood.net/guestbook.htm And perhaps this explains his carb-hating psychological issues? (from a 1998 washingtonpost.com article) Alabama: Former Candidate Wounded in Syrupy Dispute Harry Lyon, a former Republican candidate for state auditor, is in serious condition after he was shot Sept. 6 and found lying face down in a pool of chocolate syrup. Robert Lee Black, Lyon's neighbor, was charged with attempted murder; Black said he shot Lyon in the neck after finding him pouring Hershey's Chocolate Syrup on Black's car. The two neighbors have apparently had previous disputes. Lyon, a Pelham attorney, unsuccessfully has sought a number of state offices since 1980 as both a Democrat and Republican. His most recent campaign was the June primary, in which he sought to unseat incumbent State Auditor Pat Duncan (R). Too funny .... Diana
   — ronascott

July 6, 2004
Rona~ I just went to the Shelby County newspaper link and wrote my first letter to the editor. Please, all of you, go to the link http://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/letters/thanks.php. Write a letter to the editor. Stop thinking that this is someone else's problem, or you are just too busy, or no one wants to hear from you. They probably don't want to hear from us - OF COURSE NOT! This is exactly when and why you should shout the loudest. If we can't get involved with obesity discrimination, who can? The voice of the people need to be raised. Residents of Whoville? Start shouting now!
   — Jodie P.

July 7, 2004
Ok friends, I wrote the article on obesity sensitivity that I am going to try and demand they publish in the newspaper after they published the scathing article on running fat people out of town. I'm sharing it with you first. Thank you so much for supporting me....................... The Skinny on Obesity Sensitivity............. One might consider it &#8220;sweet&#8221; irony that a malicious, degrading article aimed at &#8220;fat&#8221; people actually brought about a push to make the world a better place for them. Since World War II open discrimination of any segment of the population considered different from the mainstream began to decline and now has all but disappeared. There will always be closeted comments about age, weight, race, sexual preference, etc. but our society has made it clear that it will not tolerate derogatory remarks in an open forum. Well, society actually made that clear about every type of discrimination except obesity discrimination. Television sitcoms continue to make obese people the brunt of jokes and humiliation. Children&#8217;s cartoons still reflect overweight children as the outcasts. Nearly every magazine on the newsstand offers diet tips from models and celebrities who are already grossly underweight. Obese people are openly stared at in public and even offered unsolicited weight loss advice from strangers. It appears to be a vicious cycle that is only going to get worse because there&#8217;s no one left who is considered politically correct to pick on. These are the facts: 65% of Americans are overweight. Mississippi is the most overweight state in America followed by Alabama in the number two spot. As many as 17 million Americans are morbidly obese (at least 100 pounds overweight). Obesity, technically defined, is &#8220;A life-long, progressive, life threatening, genetically-related, costly, multi-factorial disease of excess fat storage with multiple co-morbidities (obesity related health conditions).&#8221; Obesity is not a reflection of lack of discipline or poor self-control. While often considered a self-inflicted condition in reality it is best described as a self-influenced disease. Genetics loads the gun while environment and poor nutritional choices pulls the trigger. Our society applauds the alcoholic or drug addict who seeks treatment. However, when an overweight individual seeks treatment, whether through behavior modification, exercise programs, medication or surgical weight loss there is very little societal support. It is typically viewed with a &#8220;You never should have let yourself get that way in the first place&#8221; attitude. Once considered lazy, dirty, stupid, slovenly and low class, obesity is now recognized as an addictive disease that affects people of all professions, education levels and socioeconomic levels. Attorneys, housewives, physicians, truck drivers, accountants, sales clerks, business owners and more feel the sting of obesity insensitivity on a daily basis. It might be something unintentional such as a waiting room with only normal size chairs with arms that won&#8217;t accommodate a person of size. It could be a restaurant with only booths for seating. Or, it could be more hurtful things such as walking up to an unknown woman, possibly patting her tummy and asking when her baby is due only to have her say &#8220;I&#8217;m not pregnant&#8221;. Even worse, many overweight people have been approached by strangers and told &#8220;You have such a pretty face&#8221; leaving them to wonder &#8220;does that means the rest of me is really ugly.?&#8221; In 2004 one would not imagine that the overweight would still have to endure people mooing at them in public, having someone yell &#8220;call 1-800-Jenny Craig&#8221; from a passing car or suffering humiliation when a flight attendant literally shouts from the front of a plane &#8220;Who was it that needed a seat belt extender?&#8221;. But these things and worse, much worse, happen every single day to the overweight and obese. Perhaps society is inflicting the greatest injustice upon itself by distancing itself from a segment of the population who are kind, well spoken, generous, loyal, funny and, as we say in the south, just plain good folks. Obesity is not contagious. Obesity is not a sin. Obesity is not a reflection of one&#8217;s moral fiber. Obesity is a disease and the people who suffer from it are also forced to suffer from society&#8217;s ignorance. The demand for obesity sensitivity doesn&#8217;t have to be a fight. Simple good manners will suffice. Avoid mentioning a person&#8217;s weight unless they mention it first. If a woman is pretty then she should be told she is simply pretty &#8211; not just her face. When dining with a person of size give consideration to seating. If you are of normal weight and choosing seating for yourself in a public area such as a waiting room, choose a chair with arms over a loveseat or bench thereby leaving the larger seating available for larger individuals. Business owners consider purchasing only love seats, armless chairs or bench seating for all common areas. Reconsider asking a woman if she is pregnant &#8211; if she is she will joyously share that information with you. NEVER use the word &#8220;fat&#8221; and teach your children not to use this hurtful word. America has long been considered a great melting pot welcoming all who long to be here. Lady Liberty beckoned: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. 65% of Americans are yearning to breathe free; to be accepted, not just for who they are on the outside or just for who they are on the inside but to be wholly accepted without ridicule. Progress to stop obesity discrimination starts with one step. Progress to stop obesity discrimination starts today.
   — ronascott

July 7, 2004
I wrote a letter to the editor. What a nasty little human being this Lyons guy is. I think the article is appalling, but at least people have the opportunity to see what a low-life he is. Thank you for posting this, Rona.
   — Linda S.

July 7, 2004
Rona, I just emailed a letter to editor of the paper. I don't think he knows the meaning of discrimination? I live in KY, but wrote the letter anyway.
   — jko

July 8, 2004
I can't believe in this day and age someone can get away with printing something as evil as this, and then get away with it because of free speech. I am so mad. I am writing a letter as soon as I get off of here. (I live in Ky0 I hope that they get inundated with letters DEMANDING AN APOLOGY. This was RAG MAG (magazine) publishing at it's very best. It is a shame and criminal that obese people have to put up with people STILL cutting on them day to day, and then pick up the newspaper and read trash like this. I somewhat hope/think this mayor just signed his deathwish. It seems someone tried to OFF him once, and he is really going to Tick someone off with this one. What a true idiot. I guess I will quit raging and get on to my letter. Let us know in the future whta youn find out further on this. Rona, I think bot of your letters are excellent, and hope tey get published. Hopefully someone from a news show or main TV sttaion will call and do a Special on this awful situation. This could be a major learning experience and some good COULD come out of this if enough people write and get involved with this article. LIke we've all said before, WEIGHT DISCRIMINATION is the last ok discrimination in America.
   — bufordslipstick

July 8, 2004
You know....we have had WLS and we can lose weight and with help we'll get better. What's wrong with Mr. Lyon, he'll never get over--bigotry and permanent stupidity. It's a shame people like this get a voice in our society, but the right to speak out is what makes America great. We all just hope that the sane voices get the greater audience. Sometimes we're all too prone to get our feelings hurt. We should just innundate this paper with letters, speaking out just like Mr. Lyons did and see what voices win out. I'm betting that our voices will. Too many times in our society small, self-centered special interest groups get the attention while people get their feelings hurt and don't speak out. That's why we have every strange special interest group in the world screaming during an election. Make the voice of reason heard in this issue. Don't let this issue be seen as just another fringe lunatic effort. Let Mr. Lyon be seen for what he is--the lunatic fringe talking when he should just shut up!
   — Cathy S.

July 8, 2004
Has ANYONE gotten a reply to their e mail? I know I havent and am considering calling them on the phone. I wouldnt mind speaking to mr lyon himself. Are they ignoring our mail?
   — bob-haller

July 9, 2004
Rona I applaud your efforts may they be worthwhile. I will be writing a letter as well to the newspaper. Now on the comments of free speech that "this is what America is made of " well, you know it is what America is made of for each individual to express themselves, HOWEVER, a newspaper is independent and is under no obligation to print any such garbage. I hold the newspaper, the reporter and My. Lyons all responsible. They should not have given any justification to Mr. Lyons by printing his letter. I find it ridiculous that someone would cop out and hide under the freedom of speech and for anyone to suggest that this is ok, is ludicrous. I do not know if I am more upset by what Mr. Lyons said or by what some people are suggesting that this is just freedom of speech. Our fore fathers, my dad, grandpa, and several other people and all the people serving our country right now did not and do not serve to let this crap happen. I am outraged that people would even suggest that a newspaper printing such outrageous material is considered ok. Anyway that is my two sense using my freedom of speech in an ok manner, by writing myself. I will probably get some flame mail but that is ok.
   — Virginia D.

July 9, 2004
Let say this law gets passed and Mr. Lyon himself becomes overweight(ie: car accident that leave him immobilize, homebound and he put on a gross amount of wieght) Would this law also applies to him. Remember, Alabama is known for their racism, they led the nation in race discrimination against blacks in the 50's and 60's the irony of it all was Gov Wallace who made every effort to prevent black from going to white schools,when he was shot and in a wheelchair quess who had to swipe his @##*** Black people. you never know who you going to need on your way down. What if one of his kids had a weight problem would his dislike of obese people be so forceable. I would applaude him if he was trying to help by promoting healty lifestyle and making sure that every insurance company in his state approve wls, but to criticize and discriminate against us, who by the way don't want to be overweight and trying everything not to be, is downright discrimination. Lord I can see the lawyers eyes light up because of all the lawsuit that's coming. Every obese and skinny person in Alabama should go to his front lawn and pig out... Take that Mr. evil.
   — Rebe W.

July 9, 2004
I can't beleive you are all giving this small little man so much attention. If you read his brief little bio another poster previously posted, you can see that this is the kind of crap he craves, and he is sitting back and loving every minute of it. As far as the newspaper goes, I don't see why you are all so up in arms over this. They are covering a local election, and telling the constituents what this "mans" platform is....maybe I missed it, but I don't see where they condone or agree with his beleifs...just reporting it. It is their right to print whatever they want...that is why this country is so great. If anything, we should be thankful to this newspaper for printing Mr. Lyons garbage, otherwise we may never have known what an ignoramus he is. And I guarantee you that both the newspaper and the idiot are loving every email, letter and phone call....no such thing as bad publicity.<p> I think it would be better to just ignore this jerk....ignorant people like that will never change...and they love the fact that you are all so up in arms over this. It's just like my Dad used to tell me, "they tease you because you react to them, stop reacting, and they will stop teasing" <p> Write a letter? I think not, I have exercising to do......
   — Danielle M.




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