Goodbye to All That Low Fat

"If the members of the American medical establishment were to have a collective find-yourself-standing-naked-in-Times-Square-type nightmare, this might be it. They spend 30 years ridiculing Robert Atkins, author of the phenomenally-best-selling ‘Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution’ and ‘Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution,’ accusing the Manhattan doctor of quackery and fraud, only to discover that the unrepentant Atkins was right all along. Or maybe it's this: they find that their very own dietary recommendations -- eat less fat and more carbohydrates -- are the cause of the rampaging epidemic of obesity in America. Or, just possibly this: they find out both of the above are true."
  — Gary Taubes, "What If It’s All Been a Big Fat Lie?" New York Times Magazine, 7/7/02




I shall eat no more of rice cakes,
Vermicelli, pretzels, corn flakes,
And those snacks with clever fat fakes
     That I crave:
Now the studies seem to show that
Diets high in extra low fat
Only serve to throw a "Yo!" at
     Early grave.

All that low-fat talk was prattle:
Seems a diet high in fat’ll
Be an ally in the battle
     Of the bulge.
High-carb diet now displeases,
Appetite it ne’er appeases,
We should all choose meats and cheeses
     To indulge.

Now I’ll order rafts of bacon
That I’d long ago forsaken
For to save my heart from achin’
     Who knows when.
In the meat aisle I’ll be rangin’,
Carbs for fats I’ll be exchangin’,
‘Til the doctors’ minds are changin’
     Once again.

Celebration

     Freedom of Speech

Born to thinking, feeling, speaking,
     Each contains a universe;
Larger still the realm they’re seeking,
     Forged from sparks of minds diverse.



     Freedom of Conscience

All are born to own their sinning,
     Born to raise their highest prayers,
Errors large or progress winning,
     Most importantly, it’s theirs.



     The Rule of Law

Search in vain for unchecked power
     Bringing forth a lasting peace,
Freedom grows in law’s sweet bower,
     Fencing out a king’s caprice.



     Equal Justice

Not the strength of high position,
     Not the weak man’s tearful tales,
All alike in free submission
     Stand upon the lady’s scales.



     Freedom of Labor

None is born with yoke or saddle,
     None is born for anthill life,
Those who strive to make them chattel
     Summon only endless strife.



     Private Property

Always will the poorest peasant
     Dream of plot to call his own,
Never is an hour more pleasant
     Than the hour it’s his alone.



     Human Dignity

Let the happy and the careworn
     Peacefully their ends pursue;
At the cry of every newborn,
     Universe is born anew.