Tobacco Documents Online

The National Smokers Alliance The Voice of Reason

The National Smokers Alliance We represent the voices of over fifty million American smokers and the voices of many non-smokers, as well, For too lbng, these voices have beenn silent or shouted' down in the din of anti smoker rhetoric...rhetoric whichhasl resulted in a cascade of legislation that has compromised and abridged the riights of millions of Ameriican citizens. Rhetoric which is creating a new form of prejudice in our society. Ironically, people who smoke are enjoying a legal product which is taxed for the benefit of society. For making this choice, too many smokers have been scorned and abused, treated iake, social outcasts and labeled second class citizens by a growing, nunaber of anti-smoking zealots who advocate "politi~callycorrect~'' solutions to~ society'sproblems. At the NISA, we believe this is wrong. And like most fair-minded Americans, we believe people who smoke have the same rights as everyone e1~e:..riigbts which our customs and laws say should be respected and honored. Through formal Accommodation Programs, whiich, show how we can respect the rights of smokers and non- smokers equally in enclosed environments, we believe there is a, workable and happy solution to a, di;bate which is careening out of control and out of all proportion. At the NSA, we db not promote smolang or infringing on the rights of non- smokers. On the contrary, our main mission is defend¢ng the right of people who smoke to make that informed choice - freely and'with.oact societal backlasli: Freedom of Choice is one of Amerias basic tenets and!a.cornerstone of'our society. We believe this important freedom should be preserrved and defended. Today, it''s rnore important than ever that we hear the voices of reason raised against prejudiice. T'he National Sinokers Alliance The Voice of Reason ,;. ,,.,..

The NSA - The Voice of Reason "Prejudice" is a, word which nearly all Americans know because it has playe i a pivotal role in much of our history: I,rideed~ America was formed by people escaping forms of prejudice in their native lands. Our country's founding, principlles were crafted to ensure that government sanctioned prejudice would not interfere with the lives of everyday Americans, So, Americans stand firmly against "prejudice."' But what exactly is it? Webster's Dictionary says: "'Prejudice is injury or damage resulting from some judgment or action of another in disregard of one's rights; especially one's legal rights or clalms: rr In the context of the smoking debate, "prejudice" is a start'lingly accurate description of what~ is happening to s mokers: Worse yet, it is a form of prejudice which has become socialQy acceptable and "politically correct." "Politically correct" has become a codeword for prejudice. Intended to describe the acceptance of differences in our diverse society, "politically correct" is beco.ming a parody as iis proponents seek to regulate even the most mundane personat behavior. At the NSA, we believe Americans are growing increasingly weary of being told how to behave and how to think. And while smokers are on the current list of "polilically incorrect" citizens, they are by no means the only group singled out in this fashion. "Politically correct" prejudice is something all Americans should be wary of. The vigilance of citizens who smoke gave birth to the NSA, because prejudice, even if it's "acceptable, popular or fashionable" prejudice, has no place in our society. At the NSA, we represent the voice of reason. The voice those Americans who believe the freedom to choose is right,and politically correct prejudice is wrong. And we will raise these voices to America's lawmakers so, unnecessary bans can be stopped; to a, biased media establishment so more objective perspectives can be aired; to America's business leaders and corporations so~ discriminatory hiring, practices can be stopped.

The Anti Smoking Movement : Promoting and Sanctlioning Prejudice Thei~deaof telling others how they should live their liveshasbecome arn, increasingly pervasive feature of life in America today. And in the tradition of American custom and law, it is also sornething, most Americans loathe. In the case of s moking, a well=organized and militant~ anti-smoking minority has pushed public opinion to the point where it's now acceptable to ostracize citizens who: choose to smoke. It's even pe 'ssible to deny people who smoke employment: "Help Wanted" ads openly say, "Non Smokers Only" recalling the worst and ugliest memories of America's immigrant heritage ("TrishJItalian need not apply"): And this prejudicial treatment is reinforced by an ever-growing list of legislated and overly restrictive smoking bans: in California, there are towns and cities where it is illegal'to smoke outdoors. The Anti-Smoking IVlovernent did not start this way. In large part, it was an educational effort designed to: provide Americans with information about the possible health risks of s moking, However, at~ the NSA, we believe this worthy effort has degenerated into an aggressive offensive which has two key and; worrisome characteristics: 1) ~ The~~ designation ~ of s~~mokers~ as~~ less important~ citiz~ens~ in ~~ society 2) The institrrction;alizing of this concept through legislation What we're seeing is the segregation of Aznerica, but not by nationality or background. Instead, Americans are increasingly being segregated based on the "choices!" they make. The real danger comes in trying to discern which choices are "wrong" and whichi are "right" -- because then we've started down the tricky path of compromising people's Freedom to Choose: Where does this lead; and once started; where does it stop? Nearly all fair, rnminded Americans would unflinchingly say this is wrong. But in the case of smoking, many fair minded Americans, particularly non} smokers, haven' yet realized it's wrong he re. too. At the NSA, we fight the spread of sanctioned prejudice towards people who smoke: And we believe this issue is important enough for all Americans to join us.