There are at least four areas of our western world that possess the ability to be the most dogmatic, absolutist, and arrogant to the point of being downright fascist. What ever any one of these ivory towers may broadcast at any given point in time, one thing is certain -they are right, you are wrong and to argue or even think differently is to be ignorant or stupid. Or both.
Academia
Science
Medicine
The Media
So when I see an ad like this I laugh, but then I also get upset. Really upset.
I get upset because at one point in time you better believe the medical community that supported this, along with the people of academia that documented it, next to the media that promoted it, would treat you like an absolute idiot if you were to contest their ‘professional’ options on what we now know to be patently, undeniably true- smoking is bad for you.
Now, seeing this complete 180 played out in it’s entirety over the past 50 years I then ask -what else are the big 4 (or more) dogmatically arguing to be infallible reality that cannot –dare not– be contested?
Let’s see…um… Global warming maybe? An imminent crisis? Sure ’bout that?
Any sex is OK as long as it’s ‘safe’?
On the subject of smoking -second hand smoke is just as deadly as actual smoking?
Overpopulation is a worldwide crisis?
Nuclear power is terribly, terribly unsafe?
The list could go on.
It is of the utmost importance to always dig one step deeper and unpack the slogans that get bantered about everywhere we turn. Most issues cannot be summed up on a bumper sticker.