Me either. I need to read this one more time!
Posted on 02/03/2008 2:37:45 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Would Jesus smoke a cigarette? And, if so, which brand would he smoke?
As you might imagine, I don 't have the slightest idea of the answer to either question. Jesus had the luxury of living in days before we started worshipping good health. So, my guess is that if he had access to a Marlboro, he would have smoked it.
But here 's a more important question: Would Jesus own stock in Philip Morris International?
Philip Morris International is a new company, one spun off from Philip Morris USA. Philip Morris International will be based in Switzerland and it will be free of the irritating health laws and public relations scrutiny that surround American tobacco makers.
The Wall Street Journal reported this week that one way the new company plans to maximize sales is to market Marlboros that are high in tar and nicotine.
The company hopes for strong sales in China, which, with 350 million smokers, has more cigarette addicts than America has people. It also is planning on big sales in other Asian countries.
That being the case, one might think holding stock in the Marlboro company would be good for the Lord 's Individual Retirement Account.
On the other hand, he might be a bit troubled by the no-longer disputed fact that tar and nicotine cause people to be addicted to cigarettes and that cigarettes kill people.
This could cause Jesus an ethical dilemma.
Of course, lots of products cause ethical dilemmas.
Alcoholics drink large quantities of beer and have an unfortunate habit of driving after having done so. Beer companies make lots of money.
Fast-food companies sell products loaded with saturated fats and many cardiologists believe saturated fats lead to heart attacks. These companies also employ millions of people and have stock that supports millions of pensions.
And, just to be clear: I hope all these sin companies advertise their products in this newspaper as often as possible since my salary is pretty dependent upon the success of our ad sales.
I can be bought.
I doubt that Jesus could be bought. But if he actually is true man as well as true God, it would be pretty hard for him to avoid the moral ambiguities of our time. The products Phillip Morris International makes are legal products, sought after by people who have human freedom to make their own choices.
On the other hand, don 't you think it is more than a little seedy to purposely develop products that kill one's customers at an ever-increasing rate?
Contact Bill Wineke at bwineke@madison.com or 608-252-6146. Read his blog at www.madison.com/wsj/blogs.
Me either. I need to read this one more time!
Actually, I do too.
Exactly! 
Have you looked into The Vice Fund?
“The Vice Fund invests in companies, both domestic and foreign, engaged in the aerospace and defense industries, owners and operators of casinos and gaming facilities, manufacturers of gaming equipment such as slot machines, manufacturers of cigarettes and other tobacco products, and brewers, distillers, vintners and producers of other alcoholic beverages.”
One stop stock shopping. :)
Funny how the Smoke Gnatzies aren’t all over this. Why stop with America when there’s a whole wide WORLD to tell what to do with a legal, adult product? ;)
I have read that the State of MI pension funds is vested heavily in PM. When some “high and mighty” state employee scolds me for smoking, I remind them that I am just doing my part to ensure they can afford to retire. Even they don’t know where their pension’s are invested....
“Philip Morris International is a new company, one spun off from Philip Morris USA. Philip Morris International will be based in Switzerland and it will be free of the irritating health laws and public relations scrutiny that surround American tobacco makers.”
Atlas Shrugs?
However, after a trip to a Gulf Coast casino Saturday night and the Bacchus parade last night, I am feeling greatly reassured about the future of the company.
I have also also visited India and Hong Kong in the past and that has also been very reassuring.
The very last thing people cut out of their monthly budgets when times get tough are cigarettes, liquor and entertainment (i.e., cable TV, rented movies, porn, etc.)
uhhhh, didn’t Jesus die when he was 33? There was no tobacco back then, the wine didn’t kill him and the copious amounts of food at those feasts didn’t kill him either.
Seems to me that organized hysteria and political correctness did Him in.
Amen!
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