Jackson Progress-Argus

Ben Wright

Sixty or 70 years ago, cigarette smoking was very popular. Old movies depict everyone smoking. Thank goodness today smoking is not very popular. Smoking is prohibited by law, in some places. Almost every establishment is smoke free. It has been proven that second-hand smoke is very harmful.

Some of my friends still smoke and it worries me that eventually they will die of lung cancer or other respiratory diseases like my father and brother, who were heavy smokers.

It is odd logic when a heavy smoker expects the tobacco companies to pay a huge price for his or her addiction and ill health. We sure have an extreme case of Adam and Eve Syndrome in our society. “I’m not responsible, it’s your fault.” Some of our politicians are well schooled in this area.

When I was 10 years old, one of my friends gave me two cigarettes. Even then I knew that smoking was not good for a person. More than likely, my mama had a great influence on me. When I would come in from playing in the woods, she would smell my breath. If she smelled rabbit tobacco scent on my breath, she would beat my tail. I got the non-verbal message quickly.

Probably, many of you have never heard of “rabbit tobacco.” Well, it is a spiral leaf that grows on a weed-type stalk. When it dries on the stalk, it turns gray. Then it can be rolled in newspaper and smoked. As a kid, I did not know to inhale it, so I really did not get high. Ignorance in this case was bliss and a blessing. Nevertheless, at a young age I knew tobacco was bad for my health -- and my tail. That is the reason I decided to throw away those cigarettes my buddy had given me.

Now, 68 years later, I feel the same way. I am responsible for my actions. I am a free being, not some robot that is controlled from the outside. No amount of money can take the place of my individual freedom and the power of individual choice. What a sad commentary when we feel so weak that we have no power to choose for ourselves.

Our freedom depends on our ability to take responsibility for our actions. Blaming others or making excuses only makes a mockery of the significance of living in a free country.

The supervisor was interviewing a woman for the position of lemon picker. After reading her resume, he said, “Ms. Jones, it seems to me that you are way too qualified for this job. Have you had any actual experience picking lemons?”

Ms. Jones replied, “As a matter of fact, I do. I’ve been divorced three times!”

Have a good week.

Ben Wright is a former prison chaplain and is a longtime Jackson resident.