"Sexy to Deadly"

It is funny that my last post was about cigarette smoking. I found a related article in today's issue of New York Times.

The famous surgeon's general warning was manufactured on cigarettes thirty years ago, but health historians believe the impact of this warning took many decades to influence smokers. According to the article Tracing the Cigarette's Path From Sexy to Deadly, "In contrast to the symbol of death and disease it is today, from the early 1900s to the 1960s the cigarette was a cultural icon of sophistication, glamour and sexual allure-a highly prized commodity for one out of two Americans."

Advertising in the past conveyed a sexy, cool image of people who smoked. Think about old western movies or any old movies for that matter. Smoking cigarettes said alot about the character, often linking smoking and being rebellious in a good way. There was certainly a positive connotation connected to smoking, while today I think a negative stigma is becoming dominant. If you look at old cigarette ads from the 1930s, they are scary. Camel used the slogan "More Doctors Smoke Camel." How scary is that??!!

"In the 1980s, scientists established the revolutionary concept that nicotine is extremely addictive. The tobacco companies publicly rejected such claims, even as they took advantage of cigarettes' addictive potential by routinely spiking them with extra nicotine to make it harder to quit smoking. And their marketing memorandums document advertising campaigns aimed at youngsters to hook whole new generations of smokers."

In 2007 the general public is well aware of the health hazards of smoking, but many people choose to ignore these dangerous truths. I do not hold anything against smokers and it does not change what I think about someone. My dad smokes and my mom did for a long time. All I am trying to say is that America needs to make an effort to encourage kids to find a different habit, one that won't give them lung cancer at 40 years old. I'm sure many people reading this would bring up alcohol. Studies show drinking in moderation is safe and there are even health benefits of drinking wine occasionally. I have never read one positive affect of smoking cigarettes. It helps you de-stress? Actually, it puts more stress on your heart and body.

Visit the following site: http://www.chickenhead.com/truth/1950s.html. It has cigarette advertisements from the 1940s and 1950s, along with the texts of the ads. I can't believe the information the companies are promoting. Some of the ads not only suggest, but state that smoking could have health benefits such as healing a scratchy throat.