Cheers to a BU Superager

In the Winter–Spring 2024 edition of Bostonia (“The Secrets of Living to 100”), I was thrilled to see that Millie Flashman (PAL’43, SSW’45) is not only still going strong at 101 but is contributing to BU’s research on superagers. She was one of my professors at the School of Social Work when I was there, from 1982 to 1984. She was a dynamic, well-respected teacher and a wonderful example for new social workers.

Congratulations, Millie, for being such a great example of both lifelong learning and lifelong teaching!

Charlotte Herrmann (SSW’84)
South Yarmouth, Mass.

Remembering Otto Lerbinger

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Otto Lerbinger (“Intellectual Brilliance and Brilliant Kindness,” Winter–Spring 2024). Quite frankly, he was the finest professor I ever had in both undergraduate and graduate school. It was an honor to have known him and to have been taught by him.

Gary Bruell (COM’75)
Lewes, Del.

Offended by Fat Church

I am appalled that you highlighted “Alum’s New Book Calls Out Christianity for Stigmatizing Fat People” (Winter–Spring 2024). There is NO data to back this claim up, and it is utterly ridiculous. I am a Christian, and [Anastasia Kidd’s comment] “unyielding in its denigration of bodily appetites of all sorts” is the opposite of Christian faith. And trying to parallel slavery to fat-shaming as a basis of Christianity is not only offensive but extremely far-fetched. Do better next time in picking out an alum to highlight who has done good in our community promoting positivity and unity. Or at least write the interview as the opinion of the author.

Annina Donaldson (CGS’01, Questrom’03)
Saint Petersburg, Fla.

Thank you for your alumni magazine. There is so much good happening within the BU community, but I take offense with Anastasia Kidd’s book Fat Church, which contends that the Christian church is to blame for promoting fat-shaming and that Christianity must do its part by embracing the “fat liberation.”

While people may do many unthinkable things as free wills, it is hard to point to any teaching of Jesus (Christians) that would cause Kidd to call out Christians as the source of this behavior. In fact, Christians are to love the Lord with all their minds and souls and treat neighbors as they would themselves. A pretty simple message. No mention of weight concerns. Additionally, seeking the church to embrace the “fat liberation” would detract from sharing the good word of God. A message that is so badly needed in this world.

While the church embraces all seekers and helps them with any number of inflictions, it seems inappropriate to suggest that the Christian church contributed to body-shaming. The book’s title does, however, grab attention—which is probably more the point.

Kerry Pope (Questrom’94)
Rye, N.H. 

This article about obesity finds new causes for a common American problem. The author, Anastasia Kidd (STH’04,’18), blames Christianity and Anglo-Saxon settlers of the 18th and 19th centuries for personal weight issues. I am hard-pressed to remember any Christian references to obesity. Anglo-Saxons who built this country were rarely obese, because they worked their heads off building America. Abraham Lincoln—tall and slim—acquired his physique splitting rails before he went home to study at night. In 21st-century America, white men are blamed for every ill facing the country, including Proud Boys, MAGA Republicans, and now, tall, thin men. In America today it’s popular to blame someone else—not yourself—for problems. 

James E. Haviland (Wheelock’67)
Aiken, S.C.

 How Not to Be Objective

I was stunned to see this quote from Maria Smilios (“Restoring the ‘Black Angels’ to Medical History,” Winter–Spring 2024): “I wanted to write a book that was objective. I wanted to write a book where the story would tell people, ‘You need to be angry.’” This underscores the delusion of those who seek to be “objective.” There is nothing objective in wanting to make anyone angry. It is the kind of thing that Damian Siekonic (CGS’89, COM’91) (thank you) calls out in his letter about writers, particularly many of the so-called journalists, who write/broadcast for mainstream media—the kind of thing that really divides the US (“Feedback,” Winter–Spring 2024). Not a defender of “assault style” rifles or a member of any political party, but this: 106,000 persons died from drug overdoses in 2021; (48,830 by firearms—how many alcohol/drug-related? A whopping 54 percent suicides!); 42,939 in automobile accidents in 2021, lower than firearms likely due to reduced pandemic travel (how many alcohol/drug-related?). Perhaps writing designed to make people want to feel anger, or sadness, or loss, or love are best left to activists—and to poets. 

Sasenarine Persaud (GRS’06)
Tampa, Fla. 

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