A little off the subject: R-E-S-P-E-C-T
By Jim Corcoran

A recent letter I wrote to the editor ran in the Oakland Press. While the printed edition was edited, here is what was sent in:

What was Aretha Franklin thinking when she agreed to promote cows’ milk on the radio? Is she so desperate for money that she’d disregard the health of millions of her fans? I suppose it’s possible that no one on her staff even bothered to research the facts and learn that 70% of her fellow African Americans are lactose intolerant or that 25% of all Americans can’t safely eat or drink dairy 
products (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine).

But, that’s not the only reason she should run (if that’s possible for her) away from the Dairy Board’s money. Milk is laden with saturated fat and cholesterol, which are directly linked to the top killers in America, heart disease, stroke and cancer (Townsend Medical Letter for Doctors).

Milk also contains blood, viruses, pesticides, hormones and many other unsavory impurities. To illustrate this egregious violation of public trust, the Food and Drug Administration allows more that 2.5 BILLION pus cells per gallon of milk, a total more than enough to explain the appearance of a white mustache on somebody’s upper lip (Milk A-Z by Robert Cohen).

If Franklin is interested in getting back a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T then she should follow the wisdom of the renowned Dr. Benjamin Spock in his last book and never, ever drink milk again (Baby and Child Care by Dr. Benjamin Spock).