March 20, 2003 the U.S. invaded Iraq begins.  Since then, I’ve seen all sorts of protests for and against the war.  As of today, we’ve lost around 4,200 brave heroes over there – and I am deeply respectful and grateful of their sacrifice.  Compare that to the more destructive power of our own habits.  During the time we’ve been in Iraq, the U.S. has lost around 1.5 million citizens to obesity related conditions!  Conditions like cancer, diabetes, heart attack, stroke and some forms of cancer. 

In other words, we’re killing ourselves at a much faster rate than Al Queda can.  In other words, there is an army of fervent terrorists set out to kill as many of us as they can.  They have bullets, bombs, hatred, all the things you need to fight a damn good war.  We have candy, soda, ice cream, chips – and we’re kicking our own rear-ends in record time.

While they plan the next September 11, we’ve lose around 3,000 every ten days just because we can’t control our desire for sweet, fattening, garbage.  Al Queda should open up some fast food joints.  They’d wipe us out in no time.

The answer must be in educating those who obviously don’t understand what damage they’re doing to themselves with food.  Parents absolutely must take responsibility for themselves as well as their children.  Kids must be raised in an environment where food is respected as a source of fuel, a gift from earth or God or your particular Creator rather than something we shove into our mouths until we’re stuffed. 

While I anticipate changes to our healthcare system, I’m sure a nationalized plan at this time would only further exacerbate the problem.  If people don’t feel a sense of responsibility to their bodies now, I can’t imagine it will get better when they don’t need to concern themselves with the financial implications of bypass surgery or liposuction or any other “free” service they’ll be getting.  No, we need to learn that with poor eating there are consequences.

On the other hand, we must fight this hard and work to show people that they can save  themselves from years of pain and heartache.  They can watch their children grow up and marry and celebrate so much in life with a dedicated program to change their eating and exercise habits.  I’m not asking for people to be incredibly fit, just healthy.