Chattering Mind

Has Al Called Jenny Yet?

Thursday March 22, 2007

It bothers me that Al Gore is holding onto the weight he's gained.

Not because I'm anti-fat. Not because I want him to run again.

But because I've always believed that his weight gain was due to the personal trauma of winning the popular vote and losing the election, and that in the early years of the Bush administration, I imagine Gore must have been eating, grieving, and beating himself up over not having been a more perfect candidate.

With the weight, he holds the whole country's grief (well, he at least holds the sadness felt by the chunk of the country that voted for him). If he lets the grief go, we can all breathe easier. We'd think: Well, we've all taken a hit, but we still have our health.

Since Gore knows what fitness is and has enjoyed being lean in the past, and since, for God's sake, he has won an Oscar, come into the limelight again in a big way, he can now lose the weight and feel victorious.

Al's flab seems attached to our sad, communal casting back, our head-shaking, grief-stricken imaginings over what might have been. None of us want to live that way any longer. We need to get back into fighting shape, so we can build something new. So Al, hop on that exercise bike (you can watch CNN as you pump). Not since Kirstie Alley has a nation been so fixated upon a public figure's girth. Letterman even did a Top 10 on it in early 2001. So let's get it, as a topic, off the tables. What do you say, Al? Please!
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Comments
nancy
March 24, 2007 12:17 AM
HASH(0xe57514c)

Perhaps I'm just unfamiliar with this particular blogger, but I read this entire article as tongue-in-cheek...In other words, instead of paying attention to the size of the man's waist, we should be paying closer attention to what he's saying about WASTE.

Myrna
March 24, 2007 4:00 AM
http://squidoo.com/healthvitalityhappiness

Hmmm, didn't notice Al's weight gain as much as his rosy cheeks. Anyway, its the waist size that is more relevant concerning health problems. Go check out Mehmet Oz and Michael Roizen, both MDs. They set the record straight. You know that visceral fat around the tummy isn't too healthy and maybe Amy was just concerned in a good way. Maybe its a projection.(we see in others what we see in ourselves) That said, I am way more concerned about Elizabeth Edward's latest news than Al Gore's tummy although I'm usually concerned about both in myself. As Elizabeth Edwards said, once a woman has had breast cancer, any re-occurrence in another triggers fear.

Jan
March 25, 2007 12:23 AM
http://progressivesforgore.blogspot.com

Leave the man alone for God's sake. I am so sick of seeing garbage like this passing for journalism. Al Gore is a fine man who looks fine and who is now a private citizen who shouldn't have to be under a damn microscope concerning everything about him. What we should be writing about is the way we are contributing to the ill health of our planet, but I suppose in this American Idol watching country that is simply just too much to ask for.

jsipe
March 25, 2007 3:52 AM
HASH(0xe579dcc)

The man is making a living telling everyone not to do like himself. God and the planet are in control of the planet, not us. All his silly global warming rectoric is simply an agenda to raise taxes and float his ego. As for his weight, he should spend less time setting in jets, burning carbon fuels and warming the planet, and more time running.

Kate
March 29, 2007 10:52 PM
HASH(0xe56f228)

I am always amazed to see people like this still exist in 2007. Both Amy for thinking only of something as superficial as Gore's waistline and jsipe for thinking God is going to take care of the damage WE are doing to the earth. Wake up and smell the roses before the air is so bad that none grow! And rhetoric? Have you seen the ice shelves dropping off at record rates? That can't be made up. I dare you to watch the video An inconvient truth. It's good. We need the people like jsipe to wake up and take notice of the things each of us can do to leave this world in better shape than what is currently being done. Small things matter, recycle, bus, bike, walk, donate used and old furniture, clothes,etc to charities or swaps instead of filling the dumps with perfectly usable things. And I think Gore still looks pretty darn good!

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About Chattering Mind

The last update to the Chattering Mind blog was in July 2007.

Chattering Mind is a blog on motherhood, aging, health and healing, yoga, whole foods, spiritual music, meditation, as well as the struggle to manage time and clutter.

Read more about writer Amy Cunningham.

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