People of Walmart - People of America

Okay, I have spent the better part of today...and last night...looking at the website The People Of Walmart and I have to say that I am sickened. Yes, it's funny. Yes, I laughed out loud many times. Yes, I got a kick out of the shit that people will glue on to their car. But mostly I see it as a disgusting display of the most awful parts of what make America so truly unique.

Costume parties and Halloween aside, have we gotten so lost that we cannot dress ourselves properly anymore? Don't get me wrong, I am all for individuality and personal style (and dressing up in costumes), but - and this may sound politically incorrect - there is such a thing as class. Personal style does not mean throwing on whatever you want, audience be damned. Yes, some may choose to dress differently than others and that's fine. Dita Von Teese, for example, does not wear most modern trends, yet she still looks amazing everytime she sets foot in public. Victoria Beckham is a trendsetter and, while not all of her looks are the most flattering or the most wearable, she still manages a level of appropriateness that seems lost on much of America. Even Goth kids and Rockabillies, while I don't think that they are as non-conformist as they think they are, fall under personal style. It is when we lose sight of what is appropriate that we lose the privilege of calling it personal style. Why do we think it is acceptable to wear bikini tops and bras to a store? Why do we think that it's okay to wear shirts with slogans like, "While you were reading this I farted" or "I want to fuck your corpse"? Why is wearing anything that you can see through considered something that you should wear out?

Men, put on a shirt and pull up your pants. I know it's more acceptable for you to go shirtless than it is for women, but just because you can doesn't mean you should. Also, no one really wants to see your ass crack. We all get the joke. Ladies, if you've got your boobs out, put your legs away and vice versa. Show some self respect. When you go out looking like a hooker, people are going to treat you like one. In addition, please cut your fingernails. Not than many people can be going for the Guiness Book of World Records. For the whole of America, please, for God's sake, if you have a beer gut/giant belly, please, please, please cover it up. Dress for the body that you have, not the one that you want. I saw someone's belly fat peeking out from under their skirt...I would like to wash my brain.

Which brings me to the topic of fat. I know, I know, for the past decade or so we've decided that it's wrong to criticize people for being fat. Some can't help it, it's a disease, it's genetic, it's psychological...whatever. Okay, yes, there are some, a very few some, but some out there with Prader-Willi Syndrome. And, yes, there are some genetically challenged people. However, it's my personal belief that most of us are either lazy or stupid. Or some horrible combination of both.

Now, I am not talking about those of us who could stand to lose a few pounds...or even those of us who could stand to lose more than a few. I am not addressing those who lead active, healthy lifestyles while still carrying a large frame. But, those of you who are willingly putting your lives at risk - read a nutrition label for crying out loud. Easier isn't always better. McDonald's is good for no one. Even if it comes in a box and says lean, fat free, sugar free, or no trans-fats, it's not always going to be good for you. And, even if it were, sitting in your bedroom, playing World of Warcraft for the majority of your day isn't. Let's get outside and run around like we did when we were kids. Let's get educated about what we're stuffing in our faces.

Let's get educated, period. I think it doesn't take a rocket scientist or a brain surgeon to figure out that things like this don't overwhelmingly happen to an educated population. We need to take responsibility for ourselves, our lives, and how we look to the rest of the world. Please believe me when I say that I do not want to hurt anyone. I want to help. However, sometimes helping hurts. And America has been the brunt of hurtful jokes for far too long.