Bad, bad thing

The World Health Organization continues its fight against smoking and smokers

I’m really concerned about what’s going on in the world now. I really care about the problem of smoking, because I am a smoker and… I want to continue smoking as much as I want, and I don’t want anybody to bother me while I’m having my coffee or writing my column or drinking wine with friends.

In earlier days, whenever I opened my packet of cigarettes gentlemen started to look for their lighters to help me. Today, people are shaking their red-cheeked, oxygen-saturated faces at me, probably the same way they would look at a serial killer: ”Get away, Anna. You’re not in the club of successful healthy life-lovers anymore.”

As you can see, the reason I’m writing this article is the discrimination I have been feeling of late. As this Anti Tobacco campaign is successfully gaining more and more zealots, it seems to me we’ll soon have to think of inventing new laws to protect those poor social outcasts who smoke.

Native Americans used to do communal smoking as the smoke rising to the sky was supposed to bring their prayers to the gods. There was nothing bad in smoking a pipe together, it was also a way of socialization and communication.

Tobacco use by Native Americans throughout North and South America dates back to 2000 BC. The practice was brought to Europe by the crew of Christopher Columbus. Tobacco smoking took hold in Spain and was introduced to the rest of the world.

And then the rest of the world joined the smoking habit. People smoked pipes, hookah, cigars, cigarettes and cigarillos. Smoking used to be a refined and aesthetic way to show off – almost the same as wearing a hat at the horse race or listening to music. Yes, smoking also gives you a feeling of tranquility and frees your mind so you can stop running somewhere and fussing. Smoking is actually a step closer to an eastern understanding of the world. Smoking is contemplation. It can even inspire success.

Charlize Teron credits her smoking habit with her Hollywood stardom since she met the director Paul Haggis in a designated smoking area.

Smoking doesn’t kill your time. Smoking gives you time to think and it inspires you.

A smoking woman looks realistic and even natural (if she is not pregnant, of course). Look at her – she’s not mincing words, she has weaknesses, she has addictions, she’s real.

Also, if this woman is a citizen of a megapolis and she breathes the polluted air of the city in any case – why not smoke, I mean the effect is the same. We get the same level of pollution by active smoking, passive smoking, walking in a park (which is not far from the highway), being in a club… Come on, we will all die anyway (I’m sorry to disappoint you).

My Spanish teacher, a 75-year old woman, has smoked since 1957. She’s quite old, her children have their own families and her husband (a non-smoker) died 10 years ago. Smoking is something that she wants to do. And as I imagine, it is probably somewhat hard for an old woman to find something that she really wants to do.

Scientists say many of tobacco’s health effects can be minimized through smoking cessation. The British doctors’ study showed that those who stopped smoking before they reached 30 years of age lived almost as long as those who never smoked. So if you are not 30 yet, you still have time to “almost save your life duration”.

Some research has indicated that some of the damage caused by smoking tobacco can be moderated with the use of antioxidants – things like vitamin C.

So, as it’s impossible to do only good things (at least because we need some contrast to identify what is right and what is wrong), smoking is going to be the most harmless bad thing for me.

Tobacco spoils your health (as well as life in general), but, believe me, it also makes you kind and considerate.

Wars are more dangerous. Maybe some wars were even caused by a person who was just trying to stop smoking and that was the reason he was so aggressive on that day, September,1, 1939…

Anna Ozar

The Moscow News 7/04/2007