They've been driven from their desks and
workstations, forced to stand out in the rain and worse, why do they do
it? What do they know that some of us don't? Plenty if Jeff Coluba and the
smokers advocate group he represents is right. "For years now we've been
treated as outcasts, looked down upon, but we're still happy, and we're
still smoking." Coluba says. "Smokers are now treated as second class
citizens but it wasn't always that way. Once we were the brightest lights
of society, and one day we will be again." He goes on, taking an obviously
pleasurable puff.
"The reason we look
happy is that we are happy. Something few people know is that there is actual scientific research proving that smoking is good
for you. It has it's benefits." Quoting numerous studies Coluba goes on to
say that smokers are better able to concentrate on the task at hand, less
likely to allow minor distractions to upset them, more tolerant of pain
and can filter out those influences not pertinent to themselves or the
activities they are engaged in. These facts have been well documented
scientifically but the information is being withheld from the public
because it is unfashionable to say anything good about smoking
today.
Coluba and his organization, Smoke
Now! seek out information on the beneficial effects of smoking and make it
available to persons and groups who feel they have been unfairly
discriminated against. While Smoke Now! provides information to a diverse
range of interested parties it stops short of promoting the use of tobacco
to those who haven't already acquired a taste for it. "Fingernail polish
isn't right for everyone, neither is
smoking."
“In other times and other
societies fashion and public opinion have led people to believe that
things as delicious and healthful as the tomato were poisonous and even they passed laws
prohibiting people from eating them. Smoking is not much more harmful to the body than eating
fried pork rinds and you don't see any laws saying you can't sell them to
minors. When you cross the street, you take a risk. When you play rugby
you damage yourself. It is impossible to isolate ourselves from all the
damage just living does to us."Coluba says, leisurely grinding out the
butt of his cigarette into the well littered ashtray sitting on his desk.
"A life without a few well chosen, enjoyable vices is not a life worth
living."
