2008 Woodie Awards
Editorial
Fourth of July fireworks viewed by big, big crowds
Issue date: 7/9/07 Section: Opinions
Ahh, the Fourth of July, a time for friends, family, and of course, fireworks.
Like most cities around the country, St. Cloud ignited its own light display show for thousands of onlookers around the area, including a large gathering at Hester Park.
And when we say large, we're referring not only to the number of people who gathered Wednesday night to witness the spectacle, but to the actual size of those attending the event, and in particular, the children at hand for the display.
This editorial board was not shocked and awed by the fireworks, for they went off without a hitch and looked the same as they always do, but we were stunned by the vast number of obese children present.
For some reason, maybe because the fireworks drew in so many people to one place, the reports about the childhood obesity epidemic did not have that much impact until Wednesday night, when the reports came alive before our eyes.
This board has never seen so many overweight and unhealthy looking children. It was not only shocking, but slightly sad and upsetting to see so many children who are so visibly unhealthy.
It was appalling to see so many children be so large, sad to know these children stand a much higher risk of developing diabetes and heart disease and upsetting to see the parents or guardians of these children sit by doing nothing.
Not surprisingly, many of the larger children were grouped with people who had brought eight bags of groceries to the park for a three-hour event.
These bags of groceries didn't contain bags of fruit and veggies or anything considered healthy, but instead were full of bags of Doritos and Cheetos.
It is understandable to sit on a grassy knoll on Independence Day with your kids and enjoy chips and a sandwich and a beer or soda, but bringing with junk food for hours on end is far from acceptable, or healthy.
Perhaps the sight of obese crowds gathered to celebrate the birth of our nation can be viewed as a sad look at the majority of Americans from sea to shining sea.
Stopping the obesity trend requires a complete lifestyle change for most of these children, and that can only be accomplished when parents start being parents and help, or force their children to change.
Enabling them with chips and video games is not only lazy parenting, it's a recipe for disaster, and one that could cost their children their lives.
Like most cities around the country, St. Cloud ignited its own light display show for thousands of onlookers around the area, including a large gathering at Hester Park.
And when we say large, we're referring not only to the number of people who gathered Wednesday night to witness the spectacle, but to the actual size of those attending the event, and in particular, the children at hand for the display.
This editorial board was not shocked and awed by the fireworks, for they went off without a hitch and looked the same as they always do, but we were stunned by the vast number of obese children present.
For some reason, maybe because the fireworks drew in so many people to one place, the reports about the childhood obesity epidemic did not have that much impact until Wednesday night, when the reports came alive before our eyes.
This board has never seen so many overweight and unhealthy looking children. It was not only shocking, but slightly sad and upsetting to see so many children who are so visibly unhealthy.
It was appalling to see so many children be so large, sad to know these children stand a much higher risk of developing diabetes and heart disease and upsetting to see the parents or guardians of these children sit by doing nothing.
Not surprisingly, many of the larger children were grouped with people who had brought eight bags of groceries to the park for a three-hour event.
These bags of groceries didn't contain bags of fruit and veggies or anything considered healthy, but instead were full of bags of Doritos and Cheetos.
It is understandable to sit on a grassy knoll on Independence Day with your kids and enjoy chips and a sandwich and a beer or soda, but bringing with junk food for hours on end is far from acceptable, or healthy.
Perhaps the sight of obese crowds gathered to celebrate the birth of our nation can be viewed as a sad look at the majority of Americans from sea to shining sea.
Stopping the obesity trend requires a complete lifestyle change for most of these children, and that can only be accomplished when parents start being parents and help, or force their children to change.
Enabling them with chips and video games is not only lazy parenting, it's a recipe for disaster, and one that could cost their children their lives.