by Ann Palmieri

Created on: April 25, 2009   Last Updated: May 14, 2009

This might be the worst case of "profiling" that has raised its ugly head. "Step on the scale, please." This could be the new age slogan for charging more for people over a certain poundage. If that becomes the norm, then airlines, buses, and trains will have to standardize the size of their seats. This would cost billions of dollars. Discriminating against a certain population because of weight is not new, but making the overweight shell out more money to travel from place to place is absolutely ridiculous.

If obesity is defined as fifty pounds over the "normal" weight for a person, who is to dictate the standard? Having large body frames, bigger breasts, wider hips, and more hair on one's body would cause that weight gain in some and not others. Society is always picking on someone: the minorities (whoever they are these days), women, gays, seniors, and now the obese. Isn't it enough that these people have to suffer major health issues and psychological/personal issues? Why would we want to charge them for their extra weight?

We all know that the airlines are making their seats smaller and closer together in order to make more money. Some have decent sized seats, but most cramp everyone together as close as possible. It is very uncomfortable for tall men as well as hippy women, especially the older ones. Those small seats should be outlawed as discriminatory. In some extreme cases when a person cannot get into one seat on a plane, then there should be a row or two of over sized seats put into use on all airlines. As it is, one has to pay for a seat that has more leg room; that same charge could be applied for an over sized seat...not the cost of two tickets.

The world is getting to be a scary place to live because we profile people. We are falling into the prophecies of the Bible. Soon people will be asked to implant their sex, religion, sexual preference, race, political party, height, and weight onto a chip inside their bodies. Wherever we go, someone will scan us and make conclusions and decisions based on these attributes. Where have we gone wrong, world? How long will we be individuals instead of numbers?

Those scales and scanners are already out there. Should we add one more threat to our society's views on body image? Aren't our young people already fearful of gaining weight? Aren't they already dying? We keep hearing about tolerance when it comes to the gay community; what about the obese community? Unless you have walked in the shoes of an obese person, don't judge them. Many have incurable illnesses; many have deep scars from childhood and use food as consolation and love. How sad that we as a society will even consider to pile on some more pain!

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