Defending Oprah’s beef comments
My first reaction upon reading Erin Zeedyk’s letter “Oprah should take responsibility” was, “Oh no – here come the thought police.” I offer the following observations:While I am not a regular viewer of Oprah’s show, or any other talk show for that matter, I have seen enough of them to know that everything seen or heard therein ought to be taken with a grain of salt by any “responsible” individual. Viewing a show entitled “Transsexual bikers from Long Beach” would certainly not encourage this “responsible” individual to schedule sex-change surgery, buy a Harley or move to southern California. Nor would Oprah’s assertion that “she would never eat beef again” encourage me to give up eating, and absolutely enjoying, a nice filet mignon, either. Any of the above choices would be, for me at least, a matter of personal choice, not a compulsion to follow the advice of some television entertainer. I would hope that Zeedyk’s reaction would be the same, if indeed she considers herself to be a person “responsible” for her own actions.Oprah was expressing an opinion, Erin, the same way that the beef industry did when they created the “beef – it’s what’s for dinner” advertisements also seen on television. In the light of abundant medical evidence regarding the dangers of fat in the diet, would you propose a massive lawsuit against the beef industry? After all, they must be held as “responsible” for expressing their opinion as you would have Oprah held “responsible” for expressing hers. And how about Anheuser-Busch, or the state of Ohio? Each advertises and distributes a product (beer, lottery tickets) that has been known to cause much misery if used in anything other than a “responsible” manner.Every human endeavor, flying, driving, eating, attending a rock concert at the Newport, contains an article of risk, Erin. So who would you hold “responsible” for these risks, the purveyor of the goods or services, or the “responsible” party who chooses, sometimes wisely, sometimes not, to use the goods or services?Take a walk through Long’s Book Store, Erin. I guarantee you’ll find a whole shelf of books encouraging you to eat sensibly, avoiding some “unhealthy” foods and eating other foods that are “healthy.” Do you advocate bringing legal action against the authors/publishers for expressing their opinion? Or are you, as a “responsible” individual simply going to make up your own mind? That’s what it’s really all about, Erin – choice. Your choice. My choice. Every “responsible” individual’s choice.How ironic that it’s the great state of Texas bringing suit against Oprah for expressing her opinion that red meat is unhealthy. Had this law been in effect ten years ago we’d have all been treated to the spectacle of one of Texas’ native sons, President George Bush, being sued by the agricultural industry of his home state for expressing the opinion that he hated broccoli!
Donn SmithStaff
