OCR Text |
Show THE DAILY I An Individual Matter On January 11, 1964, the Surgeon General's report on : smoking was unveiled. Since then it is a rare day when some "expert" doesn't come forth with a proposal to save. Americans Ameri-cans from themselves. Many have wanted to outlaw the nasty weed, or at least to make it unavailable in a specific area. To make it impossible impos-sible for the "addict" to enjoy his pleasurable, if slightly lethal, habit. Numerous colleges have taken specific action in this area. The Board of Regents of The Rochester Institute Insti-tute of Technology has banned cigaret machines from the campus and from all resident, halls. Other campuses have passed stringent smoking regulations. I A second group suggests that youths, the next gene-J gene-J ration of smokers, be educated to the evils of cigarettes. However, since 1948 the cause and effect relationship be-tween be-tween tobacco and lung cancer has been suspected and j publicized. Yet millions of otherwise health conscious i Americans have continued or begun to pull at the weed. A third school of thought holds that to brand the labels i of cigarette packages with the skull and crossbones or a written warning about the dangers contained therein would j cause the American people to cut down their frantic inhaling, j However, since the only literate person in the entire country who is unaware of the contents of the Surgeon General's darning report is a 42 year old man who has been buried in a mine shaft in Lakeland, Montana, since October 23, it is ! doubtful that this proposal holds much water, j i Even Congress has entered the dispute with a suggestion j that the federal government appropriate funds to find a ! i "safe" cigarette which would allow those who desire to smoke I I to do so without fear. All of these ideas are probably all ver ywell and j j good. But the question we would ask is, Can protection I j of any kind be literally shoved down the throats of adult Americans? I ' v ( Several years ago the Nation Safety Council launched an intensive and expensive campaign to convince drivers of the increased safety seat belts would bring to themseles and their passengers in case of an accident or a sudden stop. The ; Council employed the best brains Madison Avenue had to j offer. The idea was repeated over and over to anyone who j chanced to turn on his radio or TV or open a newspaper ; or magazine. And seat belts did become a hot commodity on j the market. Millions were sold and installed. The National ! Safety Council sat back and relaxed. Today they are once again engaged in a massive campaign to get drivers and passengers to fasten those same seat belts. This may all be a simple result of the inborn human philosophy that "it," be it auto accidents or lung cancer, "can't happen to me." I We agree that Americans, and especially young Ameri cans, should be made aware of the dangers apparently contained con-tained in tobacco. If this really does require an extensive educational program, and this is doubtful, then such a program pro-gram should be started. But above and beyond being made aware of the risks, to smoke or not to smoke is an individual matter and a persons health is his own concern, not that of Congress, the Federal i Trade Commission, or the Board of Regents. I I |