Greta? Is That You? Part 2
Holy smokes! I was planning on tuning in to Greta Van Susteren's debut on the Fox News Channel tonight (10pm ET) to see how she looks after undergoing what was rumored to be pretty major plastic surgery, but Fox News' website has a publicity photo of Greta ver. 2.0 already up.
Now, the photo is kind of small, and press photos are usually a little doctored anyway, but she looks incredibly different. Just look at Greta's previous CNN publicity photo from her CNN bio, which CNN apparently hasn't gotten around to taking down yet. Okay, but that's not even a good comparison. Look at this photo which is a screenshot of her as she truly looked on air. Talk about going under the knife.
If you're wondering why I'm obsessing about Greta, it's because I always appreciated her candid style and often-intelligent analysis of the legal side of news headlines, while most everyone else were just pretty Communications majors without a lick of intellect or perspective. Greta was different.
Sheesh, listen to me. I'm talking about her like she died.
But my rambling goes beyond Greta. I just don't understand plastic, er...cosmetic, surgery. That is, any surgery outside of necessary facial reconstruction due to an accident or what-have-you.
It all reminds me of when I was 16 and I flipped out when my then-girlfriend decided she wanted a nose-job. She had a perfectly beautiful nose, which by no means protruded, seemed large, or anything else. She simply wanted a nose that was..."perkier," and her mother was ready to shell out thousands of dollars to bust up her face and turn her into something else. I reacted angrily then, and today the shock of seeing someone suddenly change still twists something inside.
My negative feelings about plastic surgery has nothing to do with religion, as in "living with what God gave you" or whatever, but is rooted in the belief that walking down that path of radically altering your physical appearance for greater social conformity is just plain wrong.
Comments
I agree. But isn't having plastic surgery for the means of reconstructing someone's face or body because of an accident which has left them disfigured done for the same reason of greater social acceptance?
Posted by: Chris at February 4, 2002 6:41 PM
OK, guys, let's get right to the point. Some people just don't like being ugly or old looking. OK? They're tired of the ridicule, hatred, ostracizing and lost opportunities to advance easily afforded those who merely look better. The are seeking a more level playing field in the arena of opportunity and today the seemingly drastic measure of cosmetic alteration is commonplace and safe.
I agree with Todd that cosmetic surgery in pursuit of "just a little bit better nose" or a "cooler chin" is a purely indulgent absurdity. But the incentive to upgrade one's looks comes from the humiliation and stress gladly bestowed upon them by "the beautiful people" who routinely discount their character and abilities.
And, no Chris, re-constructive surgery is not a frivolous attempt to become socially accepted. It is RE-constructive. It is done to restore features and functions previously existing. It is done to return someone back to zero instead of leaving them at a negative.
Posted by: Tim Peck at February 4, 2002 8:03 PM
Paying someone to slice up your face in the name of vanity is revolting. Why can't people accept themselves as they are?
Posted by: Louis deBruge at February 6, 2002 11:14 AM
