No More NObama and McNasty

Managing Editor  

      Despite the lack of posters on campus urging students to vote, it seems what interests most is the debates between John McCain and Barack Obama. Well, I‘m traveling out of the box and focusing on something just a little closer to something that can affect the nerves and concentration of those attempting to complete their college education.

   Everyone knows life itself can be stressful and some lucky ones can handle life’s stressors in healthy ways such as exercising and yoga. I personally am not one of those people. 

   Now, before you snarl your nose up, I found a couple of years ago that smoking helps calm my nerves. I am in no way condoning smoking as a stress reliever, but, the fact is, many students are smokers. What concerns me, aside from getting lung cancer or emphysema, is an article on USAToday.com, which brought to my attention, that most college campuses are completely banning smoking.

   So, what’s the big deal?

   The big deal is while one may be financially struggling, working long hours, taking care of their family and attending college they also have to deal with the side effects associated with nicotine withdrawal which doesn’t complete its nerve-racking cycle for months.

   According to the American Cancer Society, withdrawal symptoms include:

   I can handle waiting to smoke for an hour or so while in class, but by the time that hour has lapsed, I am itching for a cigarette. If I don’t get the chance to smoke, anxiety sets in so heavily I can’t concentrate on anything, but when, if, how and where I will be able to smoke. It’s sad, I know, but it’s the choice I made.

   Speaking of choices, I do believe Americans are supposed to have freedoms and as humans with brains have the ability to make choices.  It’s apparent every choice we make can have a positive or negative outcome, but isn’t it my body I am contaminating? If I smoke outside, within 25 feet of the door who am I hurting? Only myself, besides we all contaminate our bodies everyday with pesticides, preservatives and our own self-created pollution.

   Commercials and billboards all encourage smokers to quit by having gross people with their mouth eaten up by cancer, but strangely the alcohol advertisements always depict another side to propaganda by showing some smiling dude amongst well-proportioned women having a party.  I guess they haven’t seen pictures of people mutilated and killed in drunk driving accidents.

   If smoking is going to be under the magnifying glass, so should obesity, vegetarians, racists, atheists, illiterates…should I go on? Some say they don’t want to smell the smoke, but what about those people you pass that smell like the whole fragrance section in Dillard’s while others smell as if they need to be introduced to soap and water. Does anyone make them bathe because it may offend others? No, and why? It’s elementary!  Power is involved, my dear Watson!

    While smoking, I came across a stunning revelation. The government taxes tobacco, but then strangely tells you not to smoke. It’s because the government is attempting to gain more power and the government is in a win-win situation.  If they increase the tax on tobacco, those who really want to buy it will go ahead and spend the money and the government has made you pay that tax. Anti-smoking groups, who are working for the government, make smokers feel like the government cares which helps build more trust in the government resulting in the ability to come up with ideas and then citizens just going along with whatever they propose.

   To end my opinionated rant, I simply ask don’t let smoke get in your eyes when it comes to the government’s agenda. Let’s take a breather on phony NObama and McNasty McCain and hope UAM keeps its accepting campus open to everyone.

Have a comment? Please e-mail us.

©The Voice 2008