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October 9, 2005
You're So Vain...
I'd have to admit it, I was somewhat excited when Zeynep, the angry Turkish commenter who has inhabited the comment pages of Mary's blog for quite some time now, finally found mine. There's nothing like a nay-sayer to inspire a rant, and as we all know, I simply adore the RANT. If it weren't for the RANT, I might never have realized that MR was the man for me. Carly Simon's old song immediately jumped to mind when I read Zennep's comments, which I will reproduce below for all to appreciate:
Hey April,
So you really are vain and full of yourself for no good reason... Your posts show this... What are you really? A bank person, a nurse? Whatever you are, your blog shows a would-be over achiever person with little in store to help her with.
Brag away lady, you are boring in your lame attempts to get attention.
Your parent(s) didn't love you much as I child I figure from your blog.
zeynep
One of my readers counseled that this comment should be deleted or ignored, but I'll confess that I can't resist the rant-bait. And besides, some of you may be interested in the subject matter. (Well, anything's possible!)
First, as to the question, "Who are you really?"
Well, I am first and foremost a human being, and therefore, in my belief system, worthy of health. It is one of my fundamental beliefs that all have the right to health and healthcare, regardless of income, class background, education, occupation, race, sex, nationality, sexual orientation, hairstyle... you get the idea. One should not have to prove that he or she is worthy to reap the benefits of CR, nor should one have to produce an insurance card to receive medical care.
In my career, I am a union organizer. For the last ten years I have spent almost all of my waking hours helping American workers get a voice on the job and some power in their workplaces. Most of my work has focused on registered nurses, so in addition to helping workers, I have had the opportunity to help patients receive the quality of care they deserve. Some of the achievements of which I am most proud include helping workers win domestic partnership benefits, so that those who either chose not to marry or are prohibited by law from doing so could still provide health insurance for their partners and their partners' children. One of the happiest moments of my career occurred when a health care worker at a hospital in Northern New Jersey realized that under her new union contract, she would be able to provide health insurance for her (female) partners' children for the first time. Nurses I have organized have secured nurse to patient ratios in their facilities, which means that the patients they care for might have a chance of getting safe care, something which is comparatively rare in American hospitals where the profit motive, not medical necessity, rules way too many decision-makers minds.
But so what? What if I were a "bank person" or a nurse? (btw, what is a "bank person?" A teller? An investment banker? A person with a piggy bank? I am puzzled.) Would that make me any less worthy of the benefits of health that CR can provide? Should healthy living that may in fact extend life be limited only to the upper classes, or to those who have sufficiently hip occupations to be judged worthy? I don't think so. One of my hopes in writing this blog is that through my easy breezy recipes, I will make CR more accessible to those who don't have a ton of money and time. To nurses, and single moms, and people who don't have a Whole Foods around the corner.
If I were a "bank person" or a nurse, would that make me any less worthy to write a blog? Should blogging, or writing itself, be reserved only for some? One of my favorite things about the internet is that it has provided so many with an outlet for their creativity. No one is forced to read my blog (to my knowledge... I suppose that somewhere in Siberia someone may be in a prison camp forced at gunpoint to follow the thrilling adventures of April and the Eggwhite. How horrifying. I am fairly sure that violates the Geneva Convention.) and some folks (including Dani who wrote such a nice comment -- thank you!) have been reading me for over a year now. We're having fun... is that okay?
As to the accusation that I am vain: absolutely! Guilty as charged! I love my body: the way it looks, the way it feels, the way it allows me to live and love in the way I choose. It always mystifies me how women will rant on at length about society's oppression of our gender by making us miserable about our bodies, but when lo and behold, along comes a woman who breaks out of the mold and says, "Hey, I love my body!" all of a sudden she's vain. Sisters, can't we do better than this? Must we all wallow in the mud of self-hatred? To my eye, there is nothing more beautiful than a woman who is comfortable in her own skin. Let's not attack our own. They have other people for that.
As to the accusation that my parents didn't love me enough... that reminds me of the time when a guy I dumped complained that I wasn't emotionally available enough. I have many faults and problems, to be sure, but that's not one of them.
That being said, I'll admit that I did find the angry Turkish commenter's remarks somewhat disturbing. It's disconcerting to be attacked, even by a stranger. I wonder what would possess someone to spread such negativity throughout the blogosphere. It made me pause to appreciate the love and happiness that surrounds me on a daily basis, and the many opportunities that I have been granted to spread more love and happiness to those I come into contact with. I suspect that my greatest sin in Zeynep's eyes might be that I am a happy person: I am happy with my body, my job, my family, and my relationships. It takes a lot of work, but it's more than worth it. I hope that the blog can spread a little happiness around... or at least provide you with a quick and easy dish to make for dinner.
Hey Zeynep -- at least I don't have, or want, kids! We agree on something...
Posted by april at October 9, 2005 5:05 PM
Comments
April,
I love reading your blog. I've been visiting for a couple of months, looking for inspiration to break my normal habits and try to ease into CR. It may take awhile for me to get started, especially since I work in food microbiology (I weigh food for a living!). Anyway, rant away at angry Turkish guy, you're so articulate that you blow him away. That is a really weird note he wrote you...most people are secure enough with themselves to enjoy the success of others. Have a good week!
Sincerely,
Stacey (from Colorado)
Posted by: Stacey at October 9, 2005 7:49 PM
Hey Zeynep,
When it come to you verses April, I think you lose. April is, among many things, a Yalie. Perhaps you don't know what that means...
Taran
Posted by: taran at October 9, 2005 8:50 PM
Wow, what a beautiful rant. I love all the layers of self-consciousness you bring to your blog writing! Yummy-delicious CRONbrainfood writing!
Posted by: Jessica at October 9, 2005 10:25 PM
Bravo, April! When I read Zynep's rant, I was tempted to respond with a rant of my own regarding the incredible rudeness, phenomenal ignorance and unbelieveable arrogance that seems to pervade almost all of Zynep's writings, whether as comments on your and Mary's blogs or entries on her own. Then I remembered an oft-used phrase in our family: Consider the source and give it the contempt it deserves. JD
Posted by: Judith at October 10, 2005 9:11 AM
April,
I don't understand why someone, Zeynep in this instance, who doesn't know you at all, would make such mindless negative comments.
Just a couple of retorts: Your parents have loved you every moment of your life. I am so proud of you, of all you have accomplished, of all that you do for others in your work and in your life, for the brilliance of your mind, for the dedication of your conscience, and for the love and care that flows through you to so many people. I'm glad that you look great and are super healthy. I love reading the blog. It's not every parent who knows everything his kid eats everyday. And to some of the previous negative commentors, I can assure you that April is not aneorexic.
Love,
Dad (a.k.a. J. Christian Wilson)
Posted by: Chris Wilson at October 10, 2005 6:03 PM
Yea for April's team. Not only am I proud of you, but you are so much fun-- and funny. You have been my biggest cheerleader as I have been yours. Your inspiration to me while I was working hard to get down to a healthy weight made the journey so much easier. Love you, VSM ************************
P.S. I wonder if your critic is out there making the blogosphere unpleasant for others?? Hope everyone has the kind of support you do.
Posted by: Marti at October 11, 2005 6:33 AM
And I love the fact that nerds are thinking I am distributing negativeness to blogosphere! What the hell is blogosphere anyway? It's just the internet. It's not a living, breathing atmosphere. I can write whatever I fell like writing about and comment on any post I feel like, it's the host's decision to incorparate it and reflect on it. Of course when they feel like it will serve them, they will post it, quote it, comment on it so to get more people on their side. It just gives them more cheap support.
Lame trick! I am not here to pollute your "blogosphere". But you americans are here to pollute the whole world's air and environment, create wars, invade countries day in and day out. Turn the mirror on yourselves once in a while!
insanealien
Posted by: zeynep at October 12, 2005 6:29 PM
Is there a team competing? Yeah for April, you lose Zeynep... That's all you can come up with you ignorant folks, your first reference is sports and teams, you just have to be on one side to feel comfortable.
Go watch baseball and masturbate there with your interest in getting satisfaciton by taking sides will you? This is not a stupid sports game.
insanealien
Posted by: zeynep at October 12, 2005 7:25 PM