Royko’s gag reflex

I am writing in response to Mike Royko’s column in the June 18 Bangor Daily News. I have read his column many times and have even gotten a chuckle or two about some of his observations.

On this occasion, I was sadly disappointed. I found his column about Princess Diana extremely tasteless and insensitive. Referring to Diana as a “blond bimbo” who married an “inbred freak” was truly tasteless. The description “she had this thing about sticking her finger down her throat and throwing up. I can’t get excited about a babe who isn’t puking,” was insensitive.

When Royko went on to say, “She is no Sharon Stone, Michelle Pfeiffer or Sandra Bullock. These dolls could stick their fingers down their throat and I’d live with it,” that was disturbing. Why would such a column be printed in the first place? He not only insulted women in general by referring to them as bimbos, chicks and dolls, but he made light of eating disorders, which are nothing to ridicule.

People who suffer from these types of disorders and go on to overcome the stigma associated with them deserve much more for their efforts than has been printed in this column. These kinds of cheap shots should not be tolerated. For whether they are aimed at Princess Diana or a relative or friend, someone is being hurt by them. Melissa Hallett Hulls Cove