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Smokers |
In the past hundred years or so
of American history, many large groups of people have escaped persecution
and gained civil rights. African Americans saw the end of slavery and
people of color in general have escaped segregation and saw the beginning
of affirmative action. Women have gained the right to vote and are inching
closer to equality. One group, however, is rapidly losing rights by the
day, smokers.
Obviously
I am not saying that smoking is a wise decision, if anything it is stupid.
I feel smoking in all cases is just something superficial that people
start because it is rebellious and cool. Nor am I denying the negative
effects of second hand smoke. I am simply saying that smokers are unjustly
persecuted by political do-gooders and soccer moms with self-righteous
agendas.
Anti-smoking ads aimed against smokers are completely idiotic. Do
the half-wit hippies who design these pointless campaigns actually imagine
them being effective? Do they close their eyes and imagine that longtime
smokers by watching a “truth’ commercial for the first time will drop
to their knees and scream out in surprised anger “What! Cigarettes are
bad for you!”? Unless it is preventative through brainwashing, anti
smoking ads make me want to light up. DARE is also a waste of effort. If
for no other reason, some teenagers will start smoking simply because they
will do the opposite of whatever a police officer says. Besides, nothing
is more important to most kids today than being cool; especially not what
Deputy Barney Fife tells them in fifth grade right after recess.
Compared to other unhealthy habits or practices, smoking is blown
out of proportion. Why not focus other dangerous products such as Big
Macs, Chocodiles, soda or foods high in hydrogenated oils. Why not go to
McDonalds and scream “You’re gonna have a heart attack!” Why not
yell at a mother feeding beef to her pudgy kid. Is that not as bad as
second hand smoke? Maybe someone should form a program that attempts
“witty and daring” protest/stunts outside of the Hostess headquarters.
Why are we so against smoking but not other hazardous products? Our
society is too particular about what can or cannot kill us.
The Supreme Court has prosecuted tobacco companies a countless
number of times. Why does our government punish these companies so
diligently while keeping it illegal? The answer is obviously money. Both
the Democratic and Republican candidates in the 2000 election accepted
huge amounts of money from the Phillip Morris Corporation. How against
smoking can these greedy politicians be? Of course making smoking illegal
is a ridiculous idea. Just like prohibition, it would fail terribly. But
how can our government and politicians be so against something that they
condone by making legal and accepting money from its producers? They
don’t care about our health and well being, only our wallets, or our
parents wallets at least.