Chewing tobacco doesn’t hurt others

I applaud The Herald’s anti-smoking campaign and view. (Monday editorial “Time to spit out today’s cancerous role models.”) Yet I find it hard to understand why everyone is making such a hoopla about the Skoal song.

I am a Christian and I have never smoked, chewed or been drunk. Neither this song nor Gretchen Wilson’s actions at her concert are telling you buy it. I have never been bothered by someone chewing. I do not know any one who has. Yet, second-hand smoke bothers me and kills people daily. Alcohol and DUI’s kill daily. Why make such a big deal about a song, when there are so many bigger issues at hand? You say she is a role model to young girls. Yes, but then do we forget the Beatles “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” song? R Kelley was shown on the MTV video awards, isn’t he being tried as a child molester? Yet this man is paraded as a hero.

I like many styles of music and find the Skoal song pretty harmless, compared to other songs out there that have graphic lyrics about drugs, sex and murder. When was the last time someone was killed by someone chewing tobacco? Yes, they may be killing themselves, but it is not second-hand smoke or drinking while driving, which could harm. We have many higher priorities to be concerned with, not a country song.

Linda Morgan

Marysville