I found another interesting (that I had totally forgotten about) assignment from a writing class...

 Loralee Ford

English 3311.01

09DEC08

Essay# 5-Final

 

 

 

The Foundation for a Smokefree America

 

 

 

Cigarettes have been around for centuries.  Regarding them, Christopher Columbus wrote in his journal, “the natives brought fruit, wooden spears, and certain dried leaves which gave off a distinct fragrance.”( http://www.tobacco.org/History/Tobacco_History.html.) Smoking was popular for many years before researchers discovered that it causes many health problems not only those who directly ingest it, but also for those who accept it into their bodies in a secondary manner. In the last several decades, the malicious affects of nicotine consumption has become common knowledge.  Those who work toward the complete destruction of smoking in America have become many in number. Some promote their message in person. Others do so in print or on the radio; and still others perform their service via the Internet. The Foundation for a Smokefree America (FFSA) is one such group and can be found online at anti-smoking.org.

FFSA declare a very negative message about cigarettes that is well-accepted by a very large percentage of people. Even the companies who produce the product admit, via the Surgeon General's warning stamped on the outside of their packages, that cigarettes are dangerous. FFSA's website is very useful in its presentation of the facts regarding this pervasive menace. It could be used, not only as a tool for someone who wants to help others, but also as a “school-master” to help bring someone out of the pit of nicotine addiction.

The website contains several sections which all contain useful information. The goals of this organization are listed on its mission link and are:

·        “To establish in-house programs to fight tobacco use at the local, regional and national levels.

·        To prevent youth smoking through our websites and school-based educational programs.

·        To help empower those suffering from tobacco addiction to quit successfully, through our websites and other educational venues.

·        To enact peer teaching programs, empowering youth to defend themselves against the onslaught of advertising and peer pressure.

·        To implement programs to remind physicians to take a proactive role with their smoking patients, intervening and asking them to quit.”

 

The “About Us” section considered by some to be a “brag sheet.” However, if the goal of this page is to impress its readers, it has succeeded with flying colors. The “letters of support” are a veritable “Who's Who” of Florence Nightingale types. Chris Quint of the Colorado Tobacco Education and Prevention Alliance, Roy Mitchell of the Mississippi Health Advocacy Program, and Wendy Simpkins of the American Cancer Society, along with five other dedicated anti-smokers all write letters expressing their support of the good work done by FFSA. Even Everett Koop--United States Surgeon General from 1981 to 1989--wrote a note endorsing the contributions given by FFSA to achieve a tobacco free society.

There are three sections on this website which are especially effective. The quitting tips section is not only encouraging, but also realistic. You can do it stands alongside But it's gonna be hard. Keep your chin up, Little Chopper!  Various styles of “Quit Smoking” programs are discussed and links to their websites and/or contact information are included on this page. Scholarly, psychological, and medical information is given here, also.

The last two sections are very long, but are very useful.  ‘Message to Youth’ and ‘Message to Adults’ overlap in much of their information; however, this fact does not negate the truth of it.  These pages mimic the anti-smoking program used in middle schools and high schools all over the United States and ones designed for grown-ups, as well. The program covers the addicting qualities of cigarettes and illustrates easy ways for teens to see past the manipulative aspects of advertisements. It also touches on some of the psychological reasons behind why a person would choose to begin smoking. There are also tips about how to talk to a loved one about quitting and true stories about the deadly consequences of the choices we make.  It is an extremely convincing website.

There is one aspect of this website, however, that gives it a large amount of credence. The person who is the speaker at all the abovementioned anti-smoking programs is Patrick Reynolds, the grandson of R.J. Reynolds, the founder of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.    This company made his family millionaires.  His conversion over to the other side of the issue provides sturdy glue to all the other pieces of anti-smoking information provided in this website. Most people wouldn't go against their families in such an obvious and public way.

All in all, this site was very useful. It provided statistics, helpful tips, examples of consequences, and many other things which would easily convince an open and logical mind.   I give it 10 out of 10 red Starbursts.