by Patrick Sills

Created on: May 21, 2008

It is simply ridiculous to suggest that motion pictures depicting smoking should be given an "R" rating. Whether you like to hear it or not, approximately 20% of the U.S. adult population is made up of smokers. A vain attempt to prevent those under 17 or 18 years of age from seeing people light up in the movies isn't going to make it go away. I would venture to guess that most film makers strive for realism in their pictures, regardless of genre. Since this is presumably the case, it would stand to reason that every fifth person on the big screen should be puffing away. Why is this not the case? Because of our government's ongoing agenda of social engineering; to denormalize the practice of smoking. In our current society gone mad, it is genuinely believed by many that if our children simply bury their figurative heads in the sand and don't see anyone using tobacco, they will not be influenced by this wicked vice. As a result, we now have an increasing number of outdoor smoking restrictions in place at amusement parks and beaches that have absolutely nothing to do with public health.

Recently, I was in Corpus Christi, Texas on vacation. While there, my family and I visited a decommissioned naval vessel known as the U.S.S. Lexington. It was an aircraft carrier used during the Second World War. Every single ashtray on the ship had either been removed or welded shut; like the ones on older airliners. I couldn't help but believe that this was so children visiting this monument would not see them. It was as if our military was ashamed to admit that many sailors smoked in those days. The fact remains that this is a part of our history; who we are, and nobody; children or otherwise, should be deprived of learning every aspect of this past.

Likewise, classic films from this era are filled with smokers. Granted, today's smoking demographic has been considerably reduced, but can you actually envision a corporate chain of DVD rental stores such as Blockbuster prohibiting minors from renting legendary movies like Casablanca or Citizen Kane because Humphrey Bogart and Orson Welles can be seen smoking? This is indeed a far cry from my high school days when we were required to watch James Dean, a chain-smoker, in Rebel Without a Cause.

Should we restrict minors from movies or television shows that illustrate other risky behaviors such as auto racing? Skydiving? Bungee-jumping? Mountain-climbing? Rapid river-rafting? Or Heaven forbid, we can't have children witness anyone on the big screen eating fast food; or anything, for that matter, that contains red meat!

On second thought; readers, let's keep that last thought between us, for there is undoubtedly someone in the industry that would take this and run with it. As our nation moves further away from the principles of democracy and hence closer to a communistic state, such action would be deemed as a logical next step.

A return to common sense would be prudent if we wish to change this course.

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