Letters to the editor

The Gitane affair
BY DEBRA OLLIVIER
(02/09/00)

Voila! Debra Ollivier has found "le mot juste" in describing France's reluctance to protect nonsmokers: "anti-Americanism." The French are in a state of pique over American economic and cultural dominance and they see tobacco control as another form of American-style intrusion on their sacred way of life. Many times I have heard French people say, "Oh, no, we don't tell anyone where they can smoke. This isn't America, you know!" Last June I paid a visit to the Paris headquarters of Medecins du Monde (Doctors of the World) and the entire building was choked with cigarette smoke amidst the posters proclaiming proudly "Nous luttons contre toutes les maladies, meme l'injustice ... We fight against all diseases, even injustice!"

-- Adella Harris

Marlboro Man lives
BY ALEX SALKEVER
(02/10/00)

Alex Salkever makes passing mention of Joe, the late, great spokescamel for RJ Reynolds. Fortunately, RJR buckled to public pressure to eliminate Joe Camel, as he and his cartoonish friends made smoking out to be glamorous and fun. They've certainly solved that problem with their new ad campaign, featuring drawings of scantily clad women puffing away.

-- Matthew Rice

I can't understand why such a big deal is made out of the tobacco ads when alcohol abuse is far more immediately lethal to teens. I don't recall ever hearing about any kids who wrapped themselves around a telephone pole because they were driving under the influence of nicotine, or got rushed to the hospital and had their lungs pumped after smoking too many cigarettes at a party.

I suspect that the rise in young smokers has far more to do with teens' natural urge to rebel against authority (i.e. the officially sanctioned and increasingly hysterical anti-smoking crusade) rather than brainwashing by the tobacco industry.

-- Matt Bertrand

Next Page: "I, too, was a victim of the infamous panty lovers"

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