Clearing the Smokescreen of Cigarettes
North Texas Daily, 11/01

To him, it was an innocent puff of smoke. To me, it was a cloud of hypocrisy.

One of my favorite people stomped out the cigarette he was smoking and ran across the parking lot, apparently eager tell me something.

Before I could say hi, he shared with me the latest anecdotal allegation of corporate evil. Not one to stay on subject, or wait for a response, he reminded me about urban air pollution problems and ranted and raved about the irreversible stemming from mankind tipping the scales of ecological balance.

Though we often agree more than we disagree, he enjoys arguing with me—Or at least he likes talking and I’m one of the few “conservatives” who will listen. So I just nod my head and pretend to look enlightened.

Interrupting, and in an unwarranted change of subject, he began to tell me how I have no right to infringe on the religious rights of other people.

As I finally got a word in edge-wise and tried to explain how evangelism does not equal hindering someone’s religious freedom, he lit up another cigarette.

I asked him if he thought it was hypocritical to be so concerned for one’s planet and for the religious rights of others, yet have little concern for one’s own “environmental health” or my right to breathe clean air.

This is a kid who has a “Free Tibet” sticker on his Volvo, but couldn’t show me where that country is on a map! So I guess I won’t classify him as an expert in liberal politics. I get the impression he’s not making his own decisions. And I told him that.

So instead, after his cigarette expired, he preached about how our predominately Christian nation is polluting America and selling destruction to the masses.

I told him that the tobacco industry he supports spends over $8 billion dollars per year in advertising. “I’d say that’s selling destruction, wouldn’t you?” He just stood there.

I then asked the big question we were all waiting for: “Why do you smoke?”

Bottom line: He feels like it.

I believe that generation x (and perhaps also y) is one of the most morally-aware generations ever. But in personal standards, we are lacking commitment.

We’ve all heard of religious ministers who fall from grace—preaching the evils of sexual promiscuity only to be caught in a scandal of their own.

Being in the pro-life movement, I have spoken with several ladies who have had abortions and regretted it. I asked them if they believed it was wrong before the abortion, and they said yes. But even though it was wrong in their minds, they still aborted their child.

If we know something is wrong, then why do we do it? Where’s the consistency?

The American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout is Thursday. Yet somehow, I don’t see anti-smoking initiatives as the antidote to the nicotine addiction.

NT Recycle Day is scheduled for this week, too. I wonder how many students will be standing around smoking cigarettes? I hope not too many.

We can list pages of reasons why one should be against smoking. We’ve all seen the pictures of damaged lungs before. We’re aware smoking is unhealthy as much as we are aware that drugs are bad and Jesus saves. Few people would have the naiveté to say that smoking is healthy. Therefore, I see smoking as a mere symptom of the greater problem of moral indifference.

When does this cycle of apathy and hypocrisy end? On Thursday, I dare smokers, especially the ones that care about the planet, to quit for just one day. Perhaps then, once the smoke screen is removed, we can more clearly see the issues we’re facing.