Be Smart, Don’t start.
We can vividly recall the endless television commercials from reporters and speeches we received from teachers that informed us of the side affects of smoking. As young boys, neither one of us quite understood what was so bad about smoking. We just knew it was frowned upon, and it was strictly discouraged by our parents. Recently our foundations were shaken when we read an article by Peter Brimelow that presented smoking as beneficial and a preventative tool against certain diseases and cancers. Was our education about smoking just a myth programmed into our heads? According to Brimelow it was. Brimelow provides clear and evident research and statistics supporting the fact that smoking is healthy.
Thank you for Smoking
In the article “Thank You for Smoking…?” by Brimelow, the major claim is that smoking, in some ways, may be good for one and one’s health. Brimelow reports that people who smoke have half the risk of getting Parkinson’s disease compared to that of non-smokers. People who smoke have been found to have a 50% less chance of getting Alzheimer’s disease. Smokers have a 50% lower rate of prostate cancer than that of non-smokers and a fifty percent chance of developing colon and ulcerative cancer. It is clear that smoking can considerably reduce the chance of contracting some of the most deadly diseases in the United States today (Brimelow 142).
Brimelow doesn’t stop with just presenting statistics. He points out that smoking is an individual’s freedom as an American. Every American is defensive toward their rights and freedoms provided by the Constitution, so the issue stirs an up an emotional and value orientated interest. Whether people view smoking as good or bad,...
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...ential evidence and data to keep people smoking and to inform people of the benefits of smoking. Readers are also reminded of their individual rights, which is never a bad thing. However, the information presented is somewhat lopsided. The reader is not informed of the terrible negatives caused by smoking. We feel that smoking is a person’s right. However when we endure the effects of second hand smoke, our rights are also violated. Let it be known, that smoking really is bad for one, and the effect can be fatal to the smokers and the people in the environment surrounding them. Be smart. Don’t start.
Works Cited
Brimelow, Peter, “Thank You for Smoking...?” The Genre of Argument Ed. Irene L. Clark Boston: Thomson/Heinle, 1998. 141-143
“Health Tobacco Report.” Carter. 22 Mar. 1998. 7 Oct. 2003 http://www.napanet.net/~joshc/smoking/effects.htm.
...he success of his treatment, it’s clear that some-if not all is the result of her escaping from beneath the foot of her oppressors.
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Smoking tobacco in the cigarette form was extremely popular in the early part of the 20th century. Many people joined in the popular habit, got addicted, and had no fear of the future consequences or health concerns. Many people were under the impression that smoking was good for their bodies, and were unaware of the unhealthy side affects that cigarette smoking caused. Some famous people like Walt Disney, Ty Cobb, and Babe Ruth all were killed from their love of tobacco. Soon enough more and more cases of lung, throat, and mouth cancers began popping up all over the place, but people were reluctant to blame their beloved tobacco. It wasn’t until 1964 when Surgeon General Luther Terry stated that smoking causes lung cancer in people who smoke and inhale the fumes, that perceptions on smoking began to change. Since the findings of the Surgeon General, there has been an on going battle between pro-smoking, and anti-smoking groups over the rights of smokers. As the non smoking movement is growing at a rapid pace, and smoking bans have been ruled to not violate the 1st Amendment. In the last decade we have banned smoking in almost all public areas from bars and restaurants, offices, malls, and living quarters. The smoking bans are one effective way to abolish smoking, but it fails to address the major component in smoking; addiction to nicotine, and the psychological effect it has on users. Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy way to end smoking. This is because treatment plans have such a small level of success. Medical treatment such as prescription medication often have more side effects than positive effects for the user. But one product has been making huge gains in the fight to quit tobacco, and that is the electronic cigarette...
Human trafficking is the third largest international crime industry followed behind illegal drugs and arms trafficking (“11 Facts” pg. 2). The International Labour Organization estimates that women and girls represent the largest share of forced labor victims with 11.4 million trafficked victims compared to 9.5 million men ( ). Trafficking comes in many forms, forcing victims into prostitution, subjecting victims to slavery or involuntary servitude, compelling victims to commit sex acts for the purpose of creating pornography, and misleading victims into debt bondage (11 Facts. Pg 2). According to federal reports estimate that 14,500 to 17,500 victims are trafficked into the United States each year (What is Human Trafficking. Pg 2). Traffickers will often make their victims’ new birth certificates, passports, and drivers’ licenses making it almost in possible for them to ...
Smoking is the cause of numerous citizens of the United States dying prematurely. The CDC (2014) explains, “smoking causes more deaths each year than: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, and firearm-related incidents”. Some deaths are unavoidable such as a vehicular accident, but a death by a cigarette is because the results of the decision the user made. Cassidy and Tramarchi (2011) describe, “Ci...
“Modern-day slavery and the sex trade in the United States has become a $28 billion dollar industry, rivaling drug trafficking” (Tomas 1). “Human trafficking is the fastest growing crime and the third largest organized crime in the world after the drug and arms trade. UNICEF estimates that 5.5 million children are trafficked globally every year”(Ezeobi 2). “Dec. 6 of this year marks 150 years since the ratification of the 13th Amendment formally abolished slavery in the United States”(Krulak 1). “In spite of more than a decade of efforts to rescue victims and raise awareness, the overall problem of modern-day slavery is actually getting worse” (Krulak 2). “Human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world”(Krulak 2). “We’ve seen increases in trafficking case filed, prosecuted and convicted”(Perez 1). “The NHTRC received reports of 9,298 unique cases of human trafficking”(Lee 2). “Of those cases, 64% involved sex trafficking, 22% involved labor trafficking, nearly 3% involved both sex and labor trafficking”(Lee 2). An additional 12% were unspecified”(Lee 2). “The National Center for missing and Exploited Children says at least 100,000 children across the country ate trafficked each year”(Alcindor 1). “Polaris project, a non-profit that runs the national human trafficking hotline, has received 58, 911 calls since December 2007”(Alcindor 3). At least 2,081 callers have identified themselves as a
Many people are astounded to hear that human trafficking is not just a complication outside of America’s borders and that it is flattering more of an American drawback as intervals go on. Human trafficking has converted into creation's second leading criminal industry, transforming the individual, their dignity and rights as a human being, and humankind. The United States of America is mainly a transfer for trafficking in persons. It is assessed in The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, “that 14,500 to 17,500 people, primarily women and children, are trafficked to the U.S. annually.” This act augments pre-existing illegal disadvantages, offers new defenses and makes accessible certain welfares and aids to victims of trafficking. The Department’s Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices estimated that from at least 127 countries have found to be harnessed in 137 states. In the United States, for instance, more than 15,000 individuals are enforced into the present day counterpart of slavery every year. An estimated one hundred thousand to three hundred thousand Americans are forced into this each year, as predicted by the national police department. But the collision of human trafficking goes beyond individual victims; it undermines the safety and security of all nations it touches. The U.S. has aided states to enact anti-trafficking regulation, educated law enforcement officials, DAs, border guards and judicial officers, and impeaching traffickers, and protecting targets.
Smoking cigarettes is a detrimental practice not only to the smoker, but also to everyone around the smoker. According to an article from the American Lung Association, “Health Effects” (n.d.), “Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., causing over 438,000 deaths per year”. The umbrella term for tobacco use includes the use of cigarettes, cigars, e-cigs and chewing tobacco. While tobacco causes adverse health consequences, it also has been a unifying factor for change in public health. While the tobacco industries targets specific populations, public health specifically targets smokers, possible smokers, and the public to influence cessation, policies and education.
Every year cigarette smoking is responsible for 500,000 premature deaths (Nugel), you do not want to be just another statistic, do you? America’s first cash crop was tobacco. That means that tobacco has been around for a really long time. It was not until 1865, though, that cigarettes were sold commercially. They were sold to soldiers at the end of the Civil War (Dowshen). From then, cigarettes spread like wildfire, and it was not until 1964 that anyone made a stand about the negative effects of tobacco and cigarettes. People start smoking for all different reasons, some to fit in and some to “escape”. Regardless, it is a horrible habit. 3900 children will try their first cigarette today. Amongst adults who currently smoke, 68% of them began at age 18 or younger, and 85% at 21 or younger (American Lung Association). And of all those people, 70% say if they were given another chance they would never have picked up that first cigarette (Tobacco Free Maine). Smoking is responsible for 1 and 5 deaths in the united states, and is the number one preventable cause of death (NLH). Smoking burns and there is no doubt about that, but before one picks up that cigarette, understand the negative effects on not only oneself, but others affected by ones poor choices, like second-hand smoke. Because of smoking cigarettes, many types of cancer, decrease of life quality, and negative health effects have become all too common in the world today.
Peter Brimelow’s “Thank You for Smoking” is a misleading argument which has very little precise evidence and illustrates a weak argument. The essay is about how smoking in some small ways, can be good for you. (Brimelow). In his claim it sounds like he isn’t sure of it himself because he used “might be” and “some” which are not strong argumentative words. When stating a major claim it has to be strong and get the message clear. It is supported by logic and reason, not by emotional rhetoric. (Clark 5).
In other words, people who smoke should quit not only for their health, but for the health of their loved ones and the people around when they smoke, especially for that of children. We now know that when a person smokes, you’re inhaling life-threatening chemicals, and you’re damaging your internal organs. In addition, smoking leads to wrinkles, teeth falling out, along with other gruesome consequences that eventually lead to death. Another think to recalculate is that apart from the chemicals already in the cigarette more are created when a person light it. It is said that people who quit smoking are doing the most preventable cause of death in the United States.Some of the effects that smoking causes is that it increases the person’s irritability, impatience, hostility, anxiety, depressed mood, it’s difficult for the smoker to concentrate, restlessness, decreased heart rate, appetite or weight gain, all of these things in which are bad for a person’s health.
There is little to no mention of any statistics that might show when, and thereby, why, cigarette smoking gained popularity. The author also fails to provide cultural context in many areas. Alleged masculine values in America are presented as fact, when there is no evidence, aside from the author’s word, that this is true. The arguments would be much stronger had the author successfully differentiated between correlation and causation. At times, the article is unbalanced, such as the argument surrounding post-World War Two advertising. Within the article, it is unproven that there was a spike in cigarette smoking in men. It was also unproven that the advertisements had an effect. The article ignores the possibility that the increase in smoking among men was merely a consequence of reaching a few opinion leaders. As cigarettes are such an addictive product, simple curiosity in the privacy of one’s home may have turned some men into smokers.
Thousands of people are dying each year because of cigarette smoking; therefore, it is important to learn to avoid smoking at all costs. Everyone is aware that smoking is detrimental to our health because all cigarette packets are labeled with the warning; hence, it is vital to avoid cigarette smoking. We must support the no smoking campaign by educating mostly the youth on the effects of smoking and why it is important for them to never learn or start smoking (Williams, 2000). In addition, those already smoking or addicted to smoking should be warned about the damages of smoking on their health and given a reason to quit. Moreover, there should be a ban of tobacco smoking advertisements and promotions in order to lessen its popularity and this will reduce its