Getting Past the Smoke and Mirrors

By Michael YoegerIn my life, there have always been two political issues I have cared about the most. One of these is smoking policy.In fact, my desire to help the public become better informed about smoking nearly culminated with the creation of a student organization on my campus.Why did I feel so strongly about smoking?There are many reasons, but let me give you the main ones…

• Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disability in America [1]*, each year causing approximately 443,000 deaths [2].
• Secondhand smoke causes an estimated 46,000 premature deaths from heart disease and has also been found to exacerbate risk for many other types of disease. It is also responsible for over 3,000 lung cancer deaths each year and increases the risk for lung cancer by 20%-30% [3].
• Health-Care expenditures due to smoking cost the American people over $50 billion dollars annually and result in a loss in economic productivity at least twice as great [4].

Given how big of a problem smoking is and how strongly I felt about the issue, you may be wondering what on earth would have caused me to shift my efforts away from smoking.The answer has to do with that other important issue I was telling you about.This other issue is abortion.I found out that abortion is actually responsible for the death of nearly three times as many lives as firsthand smoke. Contrary to many textbooks, it is actually abortion that is the leading cause of death in America.And while some of those who are exposed to secondhand smoke are able to leave to an area free of harm, no such escape route is possible for the innocent life in the womb.The numbers above show that smoking clearly has a negative impact that reaches far beyond the individual, but the negative impact of abortion is even greater and more far-reaching.Since 1973, abortion has led to the death of nearly 53 million innocent lives [5]. It has often caused immediate and/or long-term medical complications [6]. In terms of psychological well-being, abortion can lead to a lifetime of emotional pain and trauma [7].

The Warning Label

When I heard of the FDA’s decision to eventually place graphic images and new warning labels on all cigarette packages, I was understandably very happy.However, there was something that seemed a little off about this.How can we be gaining so much ground in fighting the #2 leading cause of death, yet still be accomplishing relatively little with the #1 cause of death?Where are the warning labels for abortion? Where are the graphic images to be shown before the abortion takes place?As a pro-life activist I have always had mixed feelings about showing graphic images in public places. It can help some people realize the reality of abortion, but the intensity of the truth is too much for many people to handle.However, in order to be consistent, providing stronger warnings is exactly what the government should be doing. This does not even have to mean showing graphic, disturbing images of abortion. It can be as simple as showing women considering abortion an ultrasound of their preborn baby.The reason why these types of laws are not universal is because ultrasounds make it clear that the baby is human, not a mere blob of cells. This is something that the pro-choice movement desperately does not want women to know. The truth would not be good for business.

You Can Help

As frustrated as you may be that the government has taken so little action to warn women about the reality of abortion, the good news is that there is something you can do.To have your voice heard, please sign the petition at the link below.We must stand together to tell the FDA that abortion facilities and abortion-inducing drugs should also come with graphic warning labels - showing women what an abortion really does.

Women deserve the truth.

Click Here to Sign the Petition. -------------References[1] Hoeger, Werner W.K., Turner, Lori W., and Hafen, BrentQ. (2007). Wellness: Guidelines for a Healthy Lifestyle. 4th ed. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth, 2007. 315. Print.[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). "Smoking and Tobacco Use." CDC/Office on Smoking and Health, 2004. Web. 3 Sep 2010. http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/tables/index.htm[3] Office of the Surgeon General. (2010). "Secondhand Smoke: What It Means To You." (2010). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web. 3 Sep 2010. http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/secondhandsmoke/secondhandsmoke.pdf[4] Cooper, Mary H. (1994). "Regulating Tobacco." CQ Researcher 4.36 (1994): 831-864. CQ Researcher. Web. 2 Sept. 2010. http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1994093000[5] Ertelt, Steven. (2010). "United States Sees 53 Million Abortions Since Roe in 1973." LifeNews, 26 Nov 2010. Web. 25 Jun 2011. http://www.lifenews.com/2010/11/26/nat-6891/[6] Elliot Institute. "A List of Major Physical Complications of Abortion." AfterAbortion.Org., n.d. Web. 25 Jun 2011. www.afterabortion.org/1999/abortion-risks-a-list-of-major-physical-complications-related-to-abortion/[7] Elliot Institute. "A List of Major Psychological Effects Associated With Abortion." AfterAbortion.Org., n.d. Web. 25 Jun 2011. http://afterabortion.org/2011/abortion-risks-a-list-of-major-psychological-complications-related-to-abortion/*Actually, abortion is the leading cause of death.-------------