The past few days...Jess, and issues.

I have so many thoughts on what's been happening over the past few days in the media, regarding Jess. Anyone reading this probably knows that I've been a fan for over 9 years, and witnessed a great deal of harsh criticisms- whether people are jealous, just nasty, judgmental, I don't know. But what's going on now feels like the worst- and for some reason, maybe because these particular issues upset me so much, I haven't been able to process my thoughts into a blog. So I'm re-posting what Ashlee wrote on hers, because it pretty much says it all:

"Since when did a woman's weight become newsworthy...
I am completely disgusted by the headlines concerning my sister's weight. A week after the inauguration and with such a feeling of hope in the air for our country, I find it completely embarrassing and belittling to all women to read about a woman's weight or figure as a headline on Fox News. All women come in different shapes, sizes, and forms and just because you're a celebrity, there shouldn't be a different standard. Is this something you would say to your wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, or even a friend?
I seriously doubt it. How can we expect teenage girls to love and respect themselves in an environment where we criticize a size 2 figure?
Now can we focus on the things that really matter.
-Ash"

My thoughts- There is nothing wrong with the way Jessica looks- she's normal and healthy. How are we, girls and women in society, supposed to feel when we read articles like the ones that have been going around? And if they're written by women, that's even more awful. Where's the support? I don't care if you don't like what she was wearing. I don't even care if she gained a million pounds- that doesn't give anybody the right to put someone else down, or ridicule them, or treat them any differently. I really hope that somehow she's ok and not affected by all this. It's really hard to feel ok, living in a screwed up society like this, and maybe that's why I've been going slightly crazy these past few days. So, sorry, to everyone I've driven crazy. I'm trying to be calm now LOL. I just hope you all know that you're beautiful just how you are- the people you love, finding happiness and peace, strength of character, the things you're passionate about- that's what makes you who you are. Not a stupid number on the scale or a clothing size. God didn't mean for us to all look like some model who should probably be in hospital, anyway. This was really hard to write, and I know it's even harder to believe sometimes, so I'll gladly shut up now. *Sending love to you all.*