Marlboro to stay

UPDATE #3 Another reader writes, On the same note Kenneth, Domino's and Burger King don't make people unhealthy or obese….people who make the decision to constantly eat poorly and avoid exercise do that. The real interesting thing is that these same people then try to blame their obesity and unhealthy ways on food providers rather than their own personal choices. I'm not a smoker or tobacco company fan, but I believe this "obesity" phenomena is rooted in the same psychological context as your view on tobacco companies. D. Hughes, Cincinnati, OH

Dear Derek and Ken, Food does not cause cancer, tobacco does. Food causes you to be obese not others. Secondhand smoke kills innocent non-smokers. Hence smoking kills not only yourself, but others too. So in some respects we don't have a choice. To lump overeating in the same category as tobacco is insane. One can, however, lump drinking and driving in the same category – both kill innocent victims. The World Health Organizations is making great strides in wiping out tobacco advertising worldwide. Bravo to them. I'm sure Penske, with all his business connections and wealth, can find sponsorship from a product that does not kill innocent victims. Mark C.

09/11/06 A reader writes, Dear AutoRacing1.com, Regarding your article on Marlboro allegedly raising nicotine levels, I'd like to take exception to the following section of your article:

'Bottom line here is that if F1 and the IRL allow Marlboro to continue to use their sport to promote a product known to definitely kill people. We guess it's a matter principle, of sleeping at night knowing your actions are leading to people getting cancer and eventually dying.'

Do cigarettes contribute to cancer in many (not all) cases? I think most people would agree that this is true and I agree as well. However, the assertion above that the product 'definitely kills people' is an irresponsible comment because cigarettes themselves do NOT kill people, cancer does. There is a difference. The difference is accountability and responsibility for one's own actions.

Even more troubling is the second part of the above quote, 'of sleeping at night knowing your actions are leading to people getting cancer and eventually dying'.

Just who's actions are you referring to? The IRL? Formula 1? Ferrari? Roger Penske? Mild Seven Renault (I could go on)?

These racing bodies and teams 'actions' are merely to use capital from the sponsor to compete in racing. I see NOTHING in their actions that would indicate that they are leading to the death of people who smoke! Smoking is legal. People CHOOSE to either smoke or not to smoke and I have yet to hear that Roger Penske has tried to jam a 'Marlboro Red' in someone's mouth!

Personally, I do not smoke cigarettes because I believe they are unhealthy but I also don't eat 3 Big Macs a day either.

And by the way, if this is indeed the path we are following then we ought to prepare for the banning of alcohol sponsorship and fast food sponsorship, don't you think? Obesity is fast becoming one the biggest health issues our country faces yet no one seems to care about that as it applies to, for example, Michael Waltrip's upcoming sponsorship with Domino's Pizza and Burger King. Kenneth Holland

09/11/06 This article talks about an issue that has come up with how tobacco companies are trying to make their product more addictive by raising nicotine levels. Bottom line here is that if F1 and the IRL allow Marlboro to continue to use their sport to promote a product known to definitely kill people. We guess it's a matter principle, of sleeping at night knowing your actions are leading to people getting cancer and eventually dying.

09/11/06 A rumor we heard this weekend in Chicago was that Marlboro will continue to sponsor Team Penske's IRL cars in 2007 even though they, and other USA tobacco companies previously agreed to end all sports tobacco advertising after 2006. In F1 the rumor is that the Ferrari cars may not carry the word Marlboro on them but Marlboro can make the association by putting the Ferrari F1 cars on individual cigarette packages and cartons. We shall see if this is how they will do it and whether they will try a similar scheme in the IRL.