Survival of the Fattest

In a time of digital advancements and unprecedented prosperity, many of the world’s nations have fallen victim to the not-so-nice side effects of modernity. With all the gadgets and gizmos of the 21^st century, people of all walks of life are becoming more and more stagnant and lazy. This has lead to an increase in obesity in many countries and has expedited the associated demand for medical attention.

One contribution is the automobile industry. Thousands of automobiles are produced everyday in the United States, Germany, Italy, and Japan, which provide ease and accessibility for many people. This differs from a time when more people walked everywhere and when being active out of doors was much more commonplace. Do not get me wrong, cars have proven their worth, but they also come with a price on health. Instead of standing and exercising, cars allow people to sit whilst they travel. Also, the emissions from cars have caused major respiratory problems in highly populated areas and have been associated with the global warming crisis.

Another aspect is the rise of the fast food industry outside of the U.S., from whence it originated. Fast food chains such as McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) have emerged in placed like Japan and the Middle East. The average number of calories in a hamburger is 550, which for an average 150 pound person is one third of their basal metabolism. One third! That is a huge number of calories to consume at one time. Add to that fries and a soft drink and a person could have well over half of their daily calories in less than an hour. This in combination with the stagnant lifestyles many people lead results in weight gain and health concerns.

It is not too surprising that the United States is the largest country in the world. People size that is. It is estimated that 30 percent of the American population is obese and two thirds are considered overweight. This is due to the extravagant proportions in our meals and sedentary lifestyles. Although we lead the world in this pandemic, many other countries are beginning to show more signs that they are not as slim as they once were.

Countries in the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar have climbed the ranks of obese states, the cause of which has been pointed to rising socio-economic standings and traditions. Qatar is ranked sixth in the world for prevalent obesity. It has the highest ranking of obesity in boys in the Middle East and Maghreb. Saudi Arabia is ranked in the top twenty states.

One such tradition is that food brings people together. Families often eat together and eat often. Friends will offer food to those who come to their house and it is considered impolite to refuse any of it. This presents a Catch-22 for many people; they want to polite and thus eat, but then are very full and cannot eat anymore. This dilemma opens the door for obesity, which has begun to take a stronger hold in the state. However, this tradition is a direct counter against the effects of globalization because the Qatari wish to maintain their cultural identity and continue living as they have done for many centuries.

And yet, the effects of globalization slowly seep into the country. With all its wealth from the oil industry, states like Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been able to rise in socio-economic strength in a relatively short amount of time. Hence, many of the urban areas have begun to open fast food chains like McDonalds and KFCs. Combined with the existing mentality of constant eating, the number of calories a person would take in by eating at the fast food locations would be enormous. Ironically, so will their bodies.

Another factor in the obesity concerns is the climate of the Middle East. In the summer months it can reach a humid 110 degrees. This has pushed many Saudis and Qataris to resort to automobiles for travel. With the wealth many people have and the accessibility to the car industry, more people own cars and use them for recreation and personal transportation.

The last tradition that has caused concern is families marrying cousins together. This practice has long been known to increase the probability of genetic disorders and mental disabilities. But, clinging to cultural identity, many families do not want to see things change and wish to keep their family lines close. Therefore, when all of the factors are added up (heavy habitual eating, marital traditions, unhealthy food choices, and lazy modes of transportation) the resulting obesity is not quite very inconspicuous. And it has not gone unnoticed by many medical professionals, who are working to change some of people’s traditional habits.

Medical professionals are now working on programs that will shift the focus from treating obesity to preventative measures. Many Middle Eastern students have come to the U.S to receive training in working with new preventative programs and to learn how to handle the disabilities factor that goes along with obesity. Sadly, they represent a minority of the people in the Middle Eastern countries who wish to see their people return to healthy Body Mass Indexes (BMI) and learn how to balance the new ideas of the advanced technological world with the established traditions of their cultural identity. Only time will tell if these progressive ideas come to fruition in both the Middle East and elsewhere affected by this pandemic.

Kellye Tamura

30 April 2010

In response to "Wealth and Tradition Pull Qatar Towards Unhealthy Choices" (27 April 2010)

Greeley, Colo.

Time to Grow Up

RE: Mood Is Dark As Israel Marks Its 62nd Year As a Nation (20 April 2010)

To the Editor:

As with any conflicting country, there are many trials that it must go through in order to achieve peace. And it takes time; some reach that goal fast whilst others do not. Considering how short a time Israel has been a country, it has made significant progress. Even with the continual conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, the country has made strides to support itself. It is then through these observations that I find the article's Israeli arguments that the Obama administration is not supporting the country contradictory. America can remain an ally to Israel, but Israel should not continue to take for granted American support if they are truly dedicated to becoming a strong, peaceful country. The country should not forget how far it has come in the past 62 years, but it should not dwell on that past when looking ahead for a brighter future with the prospects of peace and prosperity.

Kellye Tamura
21 April 2010
Greeley, Colo.

When Will This Cruel Conflict Be Over?

RE: For 2 Grieving Families, Video Reveals Grim Truth (7 April 2010)

To the Editor:

This is perhaps one of the lowest points for public relations in the Iraq conflict. The entire event and the sources available have demonstrated that perhaps the U.S. forces have become too trigger-happy. What has made me furious is the fact that many of the articles try to defend the actions of the troops, stating that it was a "fog of war" moment. Due to limited vocabulary, this is insanely ridiculous. Even with an untrained eye, I could see that the "weapons" carried by the two Reuters reporters were cameras, much smaller than an AK-47. The other men held weapons, but were casually walking around. The article mentioned that Bravo Company was near by, but in watching the footage, the audio clearly said there was no American troops near the site, which otherwise would have given just cause for the attack. There is also no talk of reprimanding the soldiers who were involved. I find this preposterous, especially with all the media coverage and the ambiguous nature of the event. I do not think this event calls for court-martialing the troops, but justice must be served and consequences given, even if that means making another black stain on the U.S. military.

Kellye Tamura
9 April 2010
Greeley, Colo.

What is Sand? That by which any other kind would work as well.

RE: Iraq: The Wrong Type of Sand (31 March 2010)

To the Editor,

It is amazing to me that often times people are so set in their ways that they cannot see any other possibilities. The article discussed American troops importing sand from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to Iraq in order to build "proper" blast walls. First off, if things were going as well as the military says, why are more walls and defensive structures being built? Instead, that time and energy should be put to other uses such as focusing on schools and building up Iraq again as an independently stable state. Second, the military personnel that was interviewed stated that "standards" needed to be met. What and who created those standards? They are arbitrary and the geological landscape should not be altered to fit them. If anything, scientists should use their degrees and help to figure out a blast wall structure that uses the native soil. In all, it is mostly the American taxpayer's money that is going towards shipping dirt and paying for tariffs. With everything else in the economy decreasing in value, I think there needs to be a serious reconsideration of what is the most logical actions.

Kellye Tamura
1 April 2010
Greeley, Colo.

Unlikely Allies

RE: China and Russia Pressed Ian to Accept U.N. Deal (24 March 2010)

To the Editor,

For many years throughout history, Russia and China have worked cooperatively together to achieve their political agendas. The article discussed how both countries are working together to pressure Iran to accept nuclear sanctions. Both countries were open to promoting peace in the Middle East, however both were also vague in what they hoped to achieve through these tactics. Like the article stated, both may feel the pressure of the U.N. sanctions committee. I think that this is only part of these actions. I also think that Russia and China are trying to renew their status amongst the world powers. In recent past, they have been the perpetrators of antagonism for the U.S. and other countries; Russia and the rest of the Soviet Union during the Cold War and China in association with North Korea. I believe that both countries are trying to take the spotlight away from themselves and shine it on the issues surrounding Iran. In doing this, Russian and China are trying to peacefully transition into becoming a "good" part of the political realm. Or, in other words, on friendly and beneficial terms with the U.S.

Kellye Tamura
25 March 2010
Greeley, Colo.

Two Sides of the Same Coin

RE: Palestinians Honor a Figure Reviled In Isreal as a Terrorist (12 March)

To the Editor:

This article brought to light a very interesting topic that further illustrates the animosities between Israel and Palestine. The 32nd anniversary of the largest Israeli killing led by Dalal Mughrabi had come and people on both sides were curious to see what would happen. To the Israelis, it is a black mark on their history, but to the Palestinians it was a successful mark in their fight against oppression. I think that this demonstrates the lack of compassion on either side for the circumstances of the situation. Neither side is able to see what the other has had to endure. Thus, peace talks have not been successful. The national ties both groups possess are very strong and thus blind them to parts of the larger picture. I suppose it is fair to say that there are attempts to quell the violence that has existed for centuries between these two groups, but it must be the people, not politicians, who ultimately decide that present peace is more important than historical memory.

Kellye Tamura
12 March 2010
Greeley, Colo.

Question: Is All Fair in Love and War?

RE: Indicted Ex-Leader of Bosnian Serbs Calls Atrocities 'Myths' (3 March 2010)

To the Editor:

Some would say that it is a characteristic of men to face up to their actions with dignity. Apparently, Radovan Karadzic does not measure up to this. The article discussed his defense base during his trial in The Hague, Netherlands this week. Whilst I can see that he is trying to save himself from a severe sentence, I think it is more that he cannot own up to the consequences of his actions. He claimed that the events at Srebrenica were nothing but natural events for the war. I find this slightly insulting to all the work of forensic anthropologists who have worked to prove what occurred during the war years (1992 -1995). The war has been blamed on religious differences between the Christian and Muslim factions of the country. However, I think that it is more of an ethnic rift that has caused the conflicts. Bosnia is a multi-nation state, meaning that there are many different ethnic identities that have a say in the government. The shattering of Yugoslavia into its present states was supposed to fix this. And it has failed. There are still so many tensions within the area. The term "balkanization" derived from the area and describes situations that are shattered so many times from different factors that the results actually prove more detrimental (hence the war). But for Karadzic to deny his actions in the war, all I have to say is, "Sic Semper Tyrannis".

Kellye Tamura
Greeley, Colo. 3 March 2010

Mi Casa no es Su Casa

RE: "Mayor's Housing Offer Sets Off Row in Jerusalem" (25 February 2010)

The conflicts between Israel and Palestine are not by any means new. Everything within the state is affected by this ethnic division. Housing is no exception. The article discussed Mayor Nir Barkat's new plan to demolish a Palestinian neighborhood and rebuild it up as a high-class residency. The current residents worry that they are being kicked out to make way for Jewish families to take over. As the article mentioned, this clearly exemplifies the tensions and mistrust both groups have towards each other. However, I do not think this is a religious debate. Rather, it is a political debate under the tensions of religious differences. It is because religion is the most prominent division that it gets most of the blame, and neither side is willing to see how events affect others. This ignorance has dragged the problem on for centuries and it is time to end. Perhaps Barkat's plan will fail and the situation worsens, or perhaps it will actually succeed and relations will improve. But who can say until it is done?

Kellye T.
26 February 2010
Greeley, Colo.

Who Dunnit?

RE: More Mystery Over Killing of an Official in Hamas (17 February 2010)

To the Editor:

Throughout the article published on 17 February 2010, there are very few instances that mentioned any sort of stance on the murder itself. Instead, the article focused primarily on the investigations about the passport frauds and the concerns of those U.K. citizens with the same names as those used on the frauds. I would think that assassinating a Hamas leader would take precedence and be the major concern for all involved. Because of the volatile atmosphere associated with the group, any actions would most definitely create reactions from the other side. The relationship between Israel and Dubai was mentioned in the article, but was very vague about what each side thinks about the events. Finding the people who committed the crimes is important, but I think creating diplomatic safety measures (such as appeasement) to make sure that there is no further retribution is also highly important.

Kellye T.
19 February 2010
Greeley, Colo.

"Avalanches Kill Dozens on Mountain Highway in Afghanistan"

Although the modern is in a constant state of turmoil, it seems that this week has been especially disastrous. The earthquakes last month in Haiti shook the world with its destruction. But now, the misfortunes in Afghanistan adds to the suffering of human life. Wednesday, 10 February an article announced the avalanches in the northern part of Afghanistan that occurred on Tuesday ("Avalanches Kill Dozens on Mountain Highway in Afghanistan"). Though this incident did not reach the numerous calamities as Haiti, it does not make it any less shocking. Thus, I think that instead of concentrating so hard in preparing for the attack near Marja, the U.S. forces should send aid or resources to the Hindu Kush pass. In doing so, it demonstrates that the U.S. forces are not simply fighting machines, but compassionate beings. The recovery work may be concluding by the time forces reach the area, but the philanthropic work would only have just begun. This is how the U.S. should present itself to the Afghani people; they should respond with kindness. The U.S. military actions may have created tensions in Afghanistan, but even "enemies" can show respect for the loss of human life, wherever it may be.

"Forces Ready to Attack Taliban in Afghan Town"

To the Editor:
Oxymoron: Military intelligence. Sometimes I wonder what goes through the minds of our military generals. I have no doubt they know more about military tactics than I do, but many times I question if they realize how unusual their decisions look to the laity. In reference to an article on 4 February 2010 (“Forces Ready to Attack Taliban in Afghan Town”), I fail to see how the tactics mentioned would greatly benefit the U.S./ISAF. The article stated that a “secret” offensive would be launched in the “near future” somewhere. Whilst the article did not mention when, it repeatedly stated a name of a town that is most likely the target city. Marja, Afghanistan has been a Taliban stronghold and is the expected location for the offensive. The tactic of telling the other side “secret” plans is nothing new, but it is extremely risky, with few historical examples of success. Because of the increased troop numbers since last December, the Taliban have become more concentrated in their efforts and when this offense occurs, there will likely be many casualties on both sides. But to what end? A retreat by a side to regroup, reorganize, and retaliate? Surrender? And what will happen after? The article mentioned that if Marja is taken by U.S. forces, the troops will stay to defend it, but it opens the door to retribution by Taliban forces. This offensive also comes at an interesting time. The U.N. was trying to get peace negotiations with the Taliban by taking some names off the terrorist “blacklist”. With this offensive, any hope for that tactic is gone, as well as any sort of peace talks. I do support the efforts to liberate the city of Marja, but I fail to see the logic in the operational tactics to achieve this objective. But even this is mere speculation. What proof is there that the U.S. forces will even succeed? I guess only time will tell what will come of this offensive and how it will affect the ongoing conflict.

Kellye T.
Greeley, Colo. 5 February 2010

"U.N. Aide Seeks Revision of Terroist List for Talks"

To the Editor:

Whilst I agree that cooperative action is the best solution to solving many problems, the circumstances leading up to them are just as critical as to what comes out. In regards to the 25 January 2010 article ("U.N. Aide Seeks Revision of Terrorist List for Talks"), it is uncertain how letting some of the men off the terrorist "blacklist is beneficial to U.N./Taliban peace negotiations. It is a huge risk for the U.N. to clear some Taliban leaders from the list because the potential costs outweigh the benefits. There is absolutely no certainty that the Taliban will even honor their word to begin talking with U.N. officials, let alone come to a peaceful agreement. If anything, more attacks are likely, as a perceived demonstration of Taliban power over U.N. forces. After President Barrack Obama's December 2009 announcement to increase troops by 30,000, the Taliban responded in saying they would also continue to fight stronger. Under these premises, it is more likely that those taken off the "blacklist" will rejoin their compatriots and continue to fight. It is understandable that the U.N. needs to find other ways to try and end the conflicts, but I do not think that giving the Taliban back some of their possible terrorism resources is the best solution nor end anything any sooner.

Kellye T.
Greeley, Colo. 29 Jan. 2010