Why do People Loathe Smokers? A response to Florence King A response to "I'd Rather Smoke than Kiss"

Essay by Ericindtown@aolCollege, UndergraduateA, October 2004

download word file, 4 pages 5.0

Downloaded 61 times

Why do People Loathe Smokers? A response to Florence King

The death of a human soul is a sensitive subject. People react negatively if they believe the death of a human being could have been potentially avoided. Smoking has always and will always be a debated issue. Humanity smokes for many logical reasons and many illogical reasons. Should we as a culture loath the smoker? Or take attack against the root of the problem.

Florence King attacks people who "hate" smokers calling them "bigots". In "I'd Rather Smoke than Kiss" King expresses her anger toward anti-smokers. As a youth, she explains her unique way of discovering cigarettes. King talks briefly of her life. Then, continues to articulate a need for smoking. After, the author compares anti-smoking organizations to Nazis. For example, her comparison brings fourth hatred or "schadenfreude: pleasure in the unhappiness of others" (King 136). Also, she criticizes American culture by stating that "fear of being physically disgusting and smelling bad is American's worst nightmare" (136).

Her rant does not stop their. She proceeds to say that African Americans and Caucasian female's ages 18 to 24 are targets of tobacco advertisement. Then, Concluding her article by condemning people who "hate" smokers. The radical themes expressed in Kings article could be seen as irrational or insane. However, claims of smoking by social-economic class and the corrupt government involvement in the tobacco crisis are surprisingly valid. We should not continue to be misinformed toward smokers but further are knowledge on this dilemma.

It was extremely difficult to fell comfortable with Florence Kings article. Then, you began to feel and understand her point of view and smoking in a totally different context. After, the tirade developed; the first idea was very realistic. Most smokers feel a dislike or disgust from non...