Smokers: The new minority
Cody Boland
Issue date: 4/6/09 Section: Opinion
As a Caucasian male who grew up in a suburban community, I have experienced very little prejudice in my life until recently. Over the past few years, I have made the conscious decision to become a persecuted minority. I am a smoker and treated like a lesser human being.
In my life I have experienced a growing intolerance for people of my kind. I cannot enjoy food in my favorite restaurant, am subject to ever-increasing fees that the majority does not have to pay and draw grimaces and demeaning comments from people who do not even know me.
I have been shooed away from buildings in the middle of a storm and threatened with monetary punishment while being well away from any of the majority's precious noses.
I am no militant. It is not my goal to achieve special rights or demand that others fall in line with my kind. All I ask is to not be treated like a second-class ruffian who is ignorant of the master way.
In a country that idealizes supporting the majority yet protecting minority rights, I see blatant discrimination that is truly sickening for a nation that calls itself free.
With a move that is not surprising for a history person such as myself, society places great weight on those that are not in power. With cigarette taxes recently rising and projected to rise even more, a smoker is paying $10 for 20 short tubes filled with a plant.
In an effort to get people to see beyond the official word that too many believe, Bill Maher once said, "The government would have us think that they put taxes on things we like, and are addicted to because they 'care' about us." Well Mr. Maher, the smoker does not miss your point.
The government wants money, and the majority does not want to pay, so it falls on the group that is not strong enough to defend itself to foot the bill for others' luxuries.
I get it. I am a fool who does not know what is good for me. I need to be told by others how to live, and until I act the right way, I will be subjected to a never-ending stream of unfair treatment and prejudice from people who do not know anything about me.
As the tides continue to turn against my kind, I do not see my mistreatment getting anything but worse. Ignorance is truly a terrible thing, and it seems that discrimination will never leave the actions of the human race.
In my life I have experienced a growing intolerance for people of my kind. I cannot enjoy food in my favorite restaurant, am subject to ever-increasing fees that the majority does not have to pay and draw grimaces and demeaning comments from people who do not even know me.
I have been shooed away from buildings in the middle of a storm and threatened with monetary punishment while being well away from any of the majority's precious noses.
I am no militant. It is not my goal to achieve special rights or demand that others fall in line with my kind. All I ask is to not be treated like a second-class ruffian who is ignorant of the master way.
In a country that idealizes supporting the majority yet protecting minority rights, I see blatant discrimination that is truly sickening for a nation that calls itself free.
With a move that is not surprising for a history person such as myself, society places great weight on those that are not in power. With cigarette taxes recently rising and projected to rise even more, a smoker is paying $10 for 20 short tubes filled with a plant.
In an effort to get people to see beyond the official word that too many believe, Bill Maher once said, "The government would have us think that they put taxes on things we like, and are addicted to because they 'care' about us." Well Mr. Maher, the smoker does not miss your point.
The government wants money, and the majority does not want to pay, so it falls on the group that is not strong enough to defend itself to foot the bill for others' luxuries.
I get it. I am a fool who does not know what is good for me. I need to be told by others how to live, and until I act the right way, I will be subjected to a never-ending stream of unfair treatment and prejudice from people who do not know anything about me.
As the tides continue to turn against my kind, I do not see my mistreatment getting anything but worse. Ignorance is truly a terrible thing, and it seems that discrimination will never leave the actions of the human race.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Maryanne Jofko
posted 4/10/09 @ 8:38 AM CST
At last I know I'm no longer alone in this unfair way that the world has a way of treating us all at one time or another.Yeah for you Cody for speaking out. (Continued…)
Kim
posted 4/10/09 @ 10:40 AM CST
having to run to the side of a gas station on long car rides because the driver who is your friend won't let you smoke in their car...when the gas station attendant saw me do this once at a 2am stop as he came out to smoke himself he said to me "soon they'll just start putting us in the middle of the streat so the trucks can hit us. (Continued…)
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