Wow, of all the things we could and should be upset about in our affluent culture, I cannot even believe people are outspoken and serious critics of the Pizza Hut BookIt program. This program is one of the formative programs of my childhood and some of the best memories of accomplishment in school, especially in my 3rd and 4th grade years revolve around what this program started.

Do I remember the pizzas? Barely. They were the kid versions, not like huge pizzas that I could engorge myself on. They were personal kid pizzas. But pizza aside, that was just a side benefit and nothing more. Maybe these days the program is different, but back then you could only get one pizza a week and the program only lasted about 2 months or something to that effect.

I don't even remember the first books I read, but I can tell you I didn't read books for pleasure before this program. Due to this program, I ended up accomplishing some things and feeling great about them, while also discovering reading. I think I soaked up over 100 Hardy Boys books over the course of the next 2-3 years!

I just can't believe how anal and pitiful our culture can become in denouncing such things. Maybe they have kids they think are slightly overweight and are looking for something to blame. I wonder what sort of vision of reality these people are trying to accomplish and if that is even attainable. There are so many other worthy things to criticize and be ensconced about versus going after a very successful and amazingly formative program that has sparked mine, and many others into reading and learning.

One last note, while these people are using rising rates of child obesity to support their claims, I wonder if there is a correlation between a decades old program and a years old problem. Gee, I really freakin' doubt it.