Soldier Bob: Smoking and drinking aren't good for you.

Authored by Robert M. Traxler

According to the United States Surgeon General, consuming alcohol is harmful to your health and is linked to at least six different types of cancer.

This statement brings to mind the 1960s, particularly the moment in 1964 when the Surgeon General declared that smoking leads to cancer. This revelation came after over five hundred years of tobacco consumption, which had been introduced to Europeans by the indigenous peoples of the Americas, all while the medical community previously endorsed tobacco use as beneficial for health.

In fact, anecdotal evidence supported this notion. Smokers experienced lower incidences of malaria and yellow fever, although we were unaware back then that the smoke acted as a repellent for mosquitoes, resulting in reduced exposure to these illnesses. When the Surgeon General's report was released in 1964, many dismissed it with comments like, “Of course, concentrated tobacco applied to mice led to cancer in them, but we have no concrete evidence that it applies to humans.”

In 1966, when warning labels began to appear on cigarette packs (even back then, they were humorously referred to as cancer sticks), it took a long time for the public to accept the message. Numerous justifications were offered, and most individuals continued to smoke. Filter-tipped cigarettes were introduced and promoted as a healthier option, yet smoking persisted among the masses.

The Army included cigarettes in our C-Rations, allowing us to receive four complimentary cigarettes with each meal. It took a long time for society to criticize smoking; years of education and awareness were necessary to shift the perception away from its acceptance. Ashtrays were commonplace in movie theaters, on planes, and in various public settings. It's difficult for us to comprehend the extent of tobacco consumption in earlier times.

The media launched an intense campaign in educational institutions to criticize and stigmatize smokers. Legislation was enacted to restrict smoking, coupled with exorbitant taxes on tobacco products, turning smoking into not only a costly but also a hazardous and unsightly habit.

We will observe whether alcohol usage follows the same trajectory as tobacco. It remains to be seen if the advocates for political correctness will target alcohol with the same intensity as they did with tobacco.

An interesting question to consider is whether we will ever regulate marijuana smoking in the same manner as tobacco. Research has identified 69 compounds present in both marijuana and tobacco that can lead to cancer. However, the key distinction lies in the fact that most individuals are reluctant to accept or acknowledge the potential health risks associated with marijuana use.

A friend, familiar to the audience of this magazine, recently shared with me that smoking marijuana has health benefits and serves as a remedy for various conditions. This reminds me of how, in the past, some deniers claimed that tobacco had positive effects on weight loss and stress relief.

The medical field has established a connection between obesity and cancer, presenting a dilemma for the politically progressive community, similar to the debates surrounding marijuana. Fat shaming has become a prominent issue for progressives, with roles advocating against it being created within Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) departments across the country.

Will we see a rise in "politically correct" cancers, similar to those linked to marijuana and obesity, or will we take a stand through education and social pressure against all types of cancer? Only time will reveal the answer. Just my thoughts.