Takeru Kobayashi Gobbles 7.5 Pounds of Turkey in 10 Minutes, Devours Record

"Gluttony is not only accepted, but celebrated here in America ...."

American newspapers, magazines, and television constantly run stories about obesity and its dangers and how to minimize overeating. We have multi-billion-dollar industries marketing products and medical services to help people eat less. The popular ideal for both male and female attractiveness has long been thin, trim, and slim, and you'd be hard pressed to find a fat American who didn't want to be skinny. Yet, according to the OC Weekly, "gluttony is ... celebrated" here, your only examples being a holiday expressing thanks for the American bounty and a stunt eating-competition where the two chief competitors were born in Japan and Korea.

Americans, like many people in economically advanced countries, eat more than good health demands, but -- like many -- we struggle to do better. The claim that gluttony is generally celebrated here is foolish. How about a little more creative clear-thinking on the OC Weekly, less "hipper than thou" suburbanite smug?