Are you a contender?

     To contend:  to strive in opposition to or against difficulties; to compete.
    
     I read a couple of interesting articles this week that I am going to pass on to you. 

     The first, "Shape Up America before it's too late," is from NPR's blog.  It has a great video :  "Living in Mississippi."  America is the fattest country in the world and Mississippi is the fattest state, therefore Mississippians are the fattest people in the world.  It is worth your time to watch.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/12/07/143271253/shape-up-america-before-its-too-late#more

     The second article is called "Too Fat to Fight".  It states that childhood obesity is now a national security issue.  "Three fourths of Americans aged 17-24 can't enter the military because they are ineligible---either because they are obese or dealing with substance abuse, a criminal record, or academic problems.  Obesity is the leading medical reason why potential recruits are turned away." 

     Academically, "the U.S. was once first in the world in both high school and college graduation rates.  Today we are respectively at postions 20 and 16."

     Our global competitiveness is at risk.  Is the USA still a contender?

     http://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-novick-okeefe/too-fat-to-fight_b_1133758.html?ref=healthy-living&ir=Healthy%20Living

     These articles really make one think. What do you care about that makes you contend, strive, or compete, just a little bit harder?  Your health?  The planet's health?  Are you a contender?  I'd like to think that I am a contender.  Shout it out and mean it:  "I am a contender!"

  "You don't understand.  I coulda had class.  I coulda been a contender.  I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it."      From the movie "On the Waterfront"