In defence of TTC ballet ads

Re Campaign dances into negative spotlight, Oct. 28 In their ongoing efforts to distract riders from the mundane, mindless chore of commuting in a metal box to and from work each day, and possibly add a little imagination and decoration to an otherwise drab and gloomy atmosphere, the TTC has posted images of ballerinas in a series of poses representing dance and grace typical of ballet.

Ms. Andrew takes offence to these images as they do not represent her self-described “fat” self. Seriously? I love living in a country that prides itself on diversity and human rights, but give me a break.

Now we can’t display ballerinas because it may offend an overweight woman with self-confidence issues? Get a treadmill. Maurice Sacco, Toronto Jill Andrew should restrict herself to supporting fat people instead of trying to shut down the beauty in other people’s lives. Plus she has it wrong: healthy bodies create a healthy body stereotype. Unhealthy bodies create an unhealthy body-image stereotype. Nikolaus Legrady, Toronto “Body Confidence Canada says the TTC’s new National Ballet campaign promotes unhealthy body image stereotypes.”

The objection smacks of Kurt Vonnegut’s dystopic story, in “Welcome to the Monkey House,” of the handicapper general whose job was to ensure that no one was abler, smarter or more attractive than anyone else.

While Ms. Andrew should never have to endure the insults she describes, the fault is in the person who insulted her, not in the TTC for celebrating the world famous accomplishments of the National Ballet. Paul Collier, Toronto