I’m not a big Paula Deen fan (mostly because my experience with Paula Deen is limited to having listened to an NPR piece maybe three years ago while driving in the car, which does not an informed person make), but CitizenKerry has a really thoughtful piece about Deen’s diabetes announcement that I think is worth reading.

Also, because of Stacey McGill, every time I’m particularly thirsty a small part of me wonders if I have diabetes. The psyche of a pre-teen girl is an amazing thing.

citizenkerry:

I’ve been fascinated by the reactions from friends, celebrities, and other coastal liberals to Paula Deen, ever since her announcement that she has Type 2 Diabetes and is endorsing a medication to treat it. 

There seem to be two general responses to this:

1) That’s too bad—hope she uses her platform for good!

versus: 

2) That fat fuck finally got what she deserved. How dare she make us sick and profit from it? I hate that butterball.

Oh dear. I have sooo many thoughts, and they’re after the jump if you care. 

The short story is this: I think we should simmer down and give her a chance. Let’s wait one year and she what she does with her insanely huge, baby-Oprah platform.

I for one haven’t learned so much about diabetes since Stacey McGill in The Baby Sitters Club got it. I think this news has the potential to be the greatest thing that ever happened to diabetes awareness. It’s already been a freaking free PSA for the American Diabetes Association.

You can read the rest here.