Posted on 03/10/2006 6:52:21 AM PST by SheLion
The rest of the story is quite simple. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is not the only national anti-smoking advocacy organization that works just on tobacco issues.
According to a prominent anti-smoking researcher and advocate, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids - a national anti-smoking advocacy organization - has sent out a communication to its constituents claiming to be the only national purely anti-smoking organization.
The communication reportedly stated: "As the only national advocacy organization that works just on tobacco issues, it's critical that we team up with other organizations and individuals to be successful." [emphasis mine]
The Rest of the Story
The rest of the story is quite simple. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is not the only national anti-smoking advocacy organization that works just on tobacco issues.
Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights (ANR), without question, is a national anti-smoking advocacy organization. And from what I can tell, they work only on tobacco issues. I was on the Executive Board of this organization for several years, and I can vouch for the fact that we never dealt with any non-tobacco issues.
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is clearly a national anti-smoking advocacy organization. And ASH also works only on tobacco issues.
And the American Legacy Foundation is another national anti-smoking advocacy organization. By charter, it only works on tobacco issues.
So it certainly appears to me that the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids' statement is false, or at very least, terribly misleading.
I guess we can add this to the list of inaccurate and misleading statements made by anti-smoking groups to try to raise money and advance their cause.
This time, what troubles me is not only the lack of accuracy in public communication, but also the lack of humility and the disregard for the other work being done by other anti-smoking groups (as much as I disapprove of much of what these other groups are doing - it's hard to deny that they are indeed national anti-smoking advocacy organizations).
I remember a time when the tobacco control movement did not have a lot of money, and we consisted mainly of grassroots local advocates - largely volunteers or very low-paid workers - who were involved in the field simply because we cared about the issues. Achieving national recognition and taking credit for victories was not part of our plan. It just wasn't of interest to us.
But now, with the infusion of huge amounts of money into the movement, the true grassroots social movement that was, and should still be, tobacco control, has been overtaken and co-opted, I believe, by a few large national organizations. And I think their desire for money and recognition is practically destroying the tobacco control movement.
Today alone, we see self-congratulatory, boastful, yet inaccurate hot air emanating from two of the largest anti-smoking groups (see my earlier post today about the National Association of Attorneys General and American Legacy Foundation taking credit for a reduction in cigarette consumption that likely would have occurred anyway [in the absence of the MSA] and in my opinion, would have been greater had the MSA not been signed).
Where has honesty and humility, accuracy and scientific integrity gone in the tobacco control movement?
It seems to have been sucked into the black hole of money, desire for recognition, and fanaticism.
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Nicotine nazis on the march, again?
Its like the Judian People's Front not getting along with the People's Front of Judia!
BUMP!
We are learning more and more every day just how low-down and dirty they are!
Even though he is still one of "them" you have to give Dr. Siegal a lot of credit. He has been taking a great deal of heat from the anti-smoker movement because he has been pointing out these type problems within the movement.
It's head-spinning how quickly they all turned on him when he pointed out some of the shortcomings in their tactics.
Of course! The professional anti's are worried that they will lose that big old paycheck that they have been gouging from the smoker's all these years! I'd be scared too. LOL!
Lie down with dogs......
Thanks for the ping!
We know these people are full of it. They just want to CONTROL. There have been warnings on cigs for years. I can read. I an an adult, I am an American. I am courteous to others.
I WANT TO MAKE MY OWN CHOICES. I want freedom. Why doesn't anyone advocate freedom? It is the most wonderful thing. These people do not know us, yet they demand we give into their every whim. Try to talk to them, and they'll shout you down .... Land of the free? I am beginning to wonder.........
If that's all they did I could probably tolerate them. I don't tolerate them because of the vile things they have said to and about me, right here on FR (let alone other forums).
There is not a single anti-smoker on Free Republic that has EVER stepped up to the plate to defend one of the smokers agaisnt the truly vile crap we have all been subjected to....especially the women. Many a non-smoker, who actually likes the outcomes of the bans, have come to our defense, but not a single anti-smoker. And that is how the difference can be told.
Anti-smokers are among the most vile, disgusting, hate-filled, selfish people I have ever met in my life, and I've met more than my fair share in person. And it's a danged shame there are so many of such on this forum.
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