Mexican Resort Caters to Large People
Tankah, Mexico is just south of the island of Cancun, and it is there that Freedom Paradise resort opened on Sunday. It claims that it is the first "size-friendly, all inclusive beach resort." It has sturdy chairs and benches, extra wide doors, and the beds are reinforced.
The market, apparently, has a vacancy for places that let fat people feel comfortable in their extra-sized skins. Putting off a beach vacation until one loses the extra 25 pounds, for most, is a permanent postponement; so why not enjoy life now? Because there are thin people lurking, eager to poke fun at the flab. This resort, and others like it that feature horse-back riding and the like, are designed to allow relaxation about one's size as well as relaxation in general.
At first, the temptation to write about the health risks of obesity arose but could be dismissed as having been done to death. Then, there was the counter-argument that thin is an unhealthy obsession in the 21st century, and that decency demanded supporting the heavy -- yet one's genetic loathing for what is fashionable makes this too easy a target.
Before giving up in despair and finding a different topic, one ran across a key fact. On the same day that this resort opened, there were 2 million malnourished children under the age of 10 in Mexico. Put in perspective, Freedom Paradise can make a mint or go bankrupt -- it makes no difference. The Mexican government, Mexican business, Mexican media, Mexican unions, the Mexican churches have a problem on their hands that will have ramifications for at least 2 generations if it isn't solved now. And thanks to NAFTA, the problem belongs to the US and Canada as well.