News-Record.com

Those who use tobacco products deserve exactly what they get -

Cregar is tired of paying three points above the vig for advertising.

Funny how none of these doctors tell you have many lives have been saved with tobacco money. Duke Hospital was built with tobacco money.

Beachwalker, there's a huge difference between tobacco and tobacco money.

That the tobacco companies gave money to build hospitals does not absolve them of their guilt in creating the hospital's customers.

You don't have to just repent the sin to get absolution. You have to stop doing the sin.

The tobacco companies aren't interested in going out of business. So they get no pass from me just because they put money into Duke.

Panacea
How can you have tobacco money without tobacco?
Tobacco money in this state has built more churches, hospitals, schools, roads, businesses and supplied more jobs than any other industry in this state. This state would not be what it is today without tobacco. If you don't like it, MOVE. But as you leave don't take anything with you. Because most of what you have and own is because of tobacco money. If anyone has anything to be guilty about it is you, not the tobacco companies. You should be ashamed of your negative attitude towards an industry that has provided so much for you and this state.

As a long-time proud North Carolinian I am ashamed of our state's long historical involvement with tobacco. Those who place financial considerations above public health and safety are unethical, immoral, and criminal. I wonder if any of those who once farmed tobacco or worked in the cigarette factories now feel remorse for their part in creating drug (nicotine) addicts and endangering the good health and well being of tobacco users and their families.

I knew my comments would bring out the holier than thou fruitcakes.
If it wasn't for tobacco you wouldn't be a "proud" North Carolinian. There would not be much to be proud of, without tobacco in NC.
Are you going to stop driving your car? How many people are killed in these 2 ton masses of steel. How about all the polution from these cars, that has kill so many. What a hypocrite you are.
Tobacco is still a legal product, that for years has provided so much to so many (including Monica and Panacea).

Which beach is it? I'm planning a vacation and need to know where to avoid.

Which beach is it? I'm planning a vacation and need to know where to avoid.

North Myrtle Beach. SC
But if you could plan your vacation somewhere other than N.C. or S.C. it would be better for all of us. As a matter of fact, outside of the USA would be even better.

Only a warped or underdeveloped sense of values could allow you to believe that all that is legal is also ethical and moral -

No problem Beach. I'll spend it in Uranus.

Beachwalker said, "This state would not be what it is today without tobacco."

True. It would be something else, likely just as good if not better.

Lots of other industries built North Carolina: textiles and furniture for example. So don't sit there and try to tell me North Carolina would be nothing without tobacco, cuz it just ain't true.

Moses Cone Hospital was built with textile money.

I'm from Maryland: a state founded on tobacco. The industry has been declining for decades, but I still remember tobacco fields as far as the eye can see when I was a kid. My best friend's family farmed tobacco.

Not much tobacco there nowadays, but lots of corn and soybeans. Marylanders adapted. So can North Carolinians.

So . . . no thanks to your not so polite suggestion to move. I like it here just fine. The state is moving to get the tobacco monkey of its back and move into the 21st century. Which is a good thing.

I feel no shame towards despising the tobacco industry. I don't owe them a thing. I am under NO obligation to support their spread of poison just because they contributed to worthwhile causes. What part about no absolution if you don't committing the sin was unclear to you?

The only thing the tobacco industry ever gave me was patients with smoking related cancer, heart disease, and lung disease.

Unlike the tobacco industry, I'd dance for joy the day nurses went out of business.

Beachwalker

http://blog.news-record.com/opinion/letters/archives/2009/04/obamas_charity_choice_appears.shtml

rahrah

http://blog.news-record.com/opinion/letters/archives/2009/04/obamas_charity_choice_appears.shtml

does the fact that the textile company gave money to build a hospital absolve them of guilt in creating their customers - those who came from working there covered in blue dust and died from byssinosis? one of those was my grandmother. she suffered for years before she died. God bless the textile mill that gave money to build a hospital. and, NO, i feel no remorse for having worked in tobacco for my uncles when i was young. i enjoy each and every cigarette i smoke. this may be a "poor lifestyle choice" on my part. i'm willing to take the chance. my grandfather lit one cigarette off another and lived to be 89. i'm not sure i want to live that long.

Brenda, no one is asking you to feel remorse for working for the tobacco industry. I stated I feel no remorse for despising Big Tobacco's profit mongering at the expense of lives (and who continue to do so), and refuse to glorify them because they built a few hospitals.

I'm sorry about your grandmother. I didn't know working in textiles had that kind of health risk. I certainly do not condone any company that puts its workers at risk when a simple face mask would fix things.

However, I pointed out Cone simply to remind Beachwalker that Big Tobacco is not the only corporate face that built this state. If Cone's practices contributed to health problems, and they knew it was happening and did nothing about it, then they are just as guilty as Big Tobacco for ruining lives and I would never state otherwise.

panacea, check monica's rhetorical question 4/28 @1pm. that is what i answered.

" i wonder if those who once farmed tobacco blah, blah, blah feel any remorse" NO, i don't.

Monica said: Those who place financial considerations above public health and safety are unethical, immoral, and criminal. I wonder if any of those who once farmed tobacco or worked in the cigarette factories now feel remorse for their part in creating drug addicts and endangering the good health and well being of tobacco users and their families.

I guess you feel the same way about the workers of Miller Brewery in Eden. Or the owners and workers of the many wineries we now have in this state. What about the farmers who grew the grain for Miller Brewery. Or the farmers who grow the grapes for the wineries. I guess you think they also should "feel remorse for their part in creating drug addicts".

I got an idea let's shut down all industry in NC. I think that will be the only thing that will satisfy poor little Monica.