America is a wasteful country
published: Wednesday | December 31, 2003

THE EDITOR, Sir:

AMERICA IS a wasteful country. On cable television recently I witnessed a chicken wing eating contest that took place in the USA. The winner is decided by whichever contestant consumes the most chicken wings. The eventual victor had consumed over a hundred chicken wings. In a world where famine is a major problem, I found this vulgar display of waste and greed disgusting.

Americans in my view have a propensity to overdo almost everything they do. Obesity is now the number one health problem in America. It would behoove Americans to place more emphasis on the fact that other countries are not as economically well off as they are and as such inane competitions based upon who can eat the most ought never to take place. Such events smack of blatant boastfulness and disrespect, particularly to famine-stricken countries of the world as well as the poor.

While America's numerous food eating competitions throughout the year take place, millions are dying globally from starvation. In 2002, according to medical organizations, Angola had at least 1.5 million people suffering from severe starvation. Eating is a privilege, not a right.

I am, etc.,

PATRICK A.

GALLIMORE

pagalley@hotmail.com

Kingston

Via Go-Jamaica