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Aug 30, 2003 I see another group (this time two dozen state Attorneys General) is petitioning Hollywood to stop making movies showing people smoking. Apparently they're very concerned that the depiction of smoking will be a negative influence on children, who will then emulate the behavior they see on screen. In a letter, the group states that Hollywood is in a "uniquely powerful position to bring about a profoundly beneficial impact on the health and well-being of millions of Americans." I wish they'd make up their minds about this, because I'm confused. Apparently it's bad to show people smoking, but it's First-Amendment- protected freedom of expression to show murder, casual and/or underage sex, widespread destruction, drug use, abusive language, violence, denigration of traditional values, and glorification of criminals? I get the feeling that these attorneys general have seen a movie in which a character grinds a teenager into pulp with a chainsaw, then lights up a cigarette--and the most objectionable part of the scene is the cigarette. To me, this is a little like a doctor telling a patient dying from cancer, emphysema, and heart failure that if he doesn't trim his fingernails, he could get an infection. While I don't like the thought of young people starting smoking any more than anyone else does, we need a sense of perspective here. It seems to me that there are far more pressing problems with the movies currently being made. If these attorneys general were genuinely interested in the greater "health and well-being of millions of Americans," smoking would drop pretty far on the list of their concerns about movies. Which brings me to wonder--what is it that these do-gooders really want? Smoking in movies points right back to tobacco companies. So...do they see another opportunity to shake down tobacco companies, perhaps? Ah, that sounds more like it. After all, these days it's easier for government to generate revenue through lawsuits than by doing it the old-fashioned way: through taxes. Why tobacco, again? Well, how much money are states likely to get by suing the manufacturers of chainsaws? ------------ Email Scott R. Lucado: scottrlucado@aol.com Comment on this column in the forum. Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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