(click photo for larger version)
I’m normally all for ANYTHING that can used successfully in my personal war against cigarettes. I’ve not found anything I’d consider tasteless, over the top, and/or inappropriate and excessive- until now. There are certain things that even I feel are off limits…and using 9.11 to advance your agenda, no matter how laudable and desirable it may be, is beyond inappropriate. To call this ad tasteless wouldn’t begin to do it justice.
I will admit that part of my sensitivity on the issue of 9.11 may stem from the fact that I lost a friend and college classmate in one of the WTC towers. Even taking that into consideration, though, I’m still offended by this ad…and I seriously doubt I’m the only one. As much as I detest all things tobacco-related, even I recognize that this is no way to get your point across. It’s like pouring salt into an open wound, and going on seven years later, 9.11 is still very much exactly that.
ASH (Action on Smoking and Health), in addition to having one of the most poorly-designed websites of all time (greetings from 1991, when HTML was ALL the rage….), seems not to care what this image might do to their support. I’m as rabidly anti-smoking as anyone I know, and I’m offended by the image. There’s nothing even remotely appropriate or acceptable about adapting this image of the Twin Towers for political (or any other) purposes. ASH should be ashamed of itself. When even those who agree with the group’s goals line up against this ad, it’s time to recognize that a line has been crossed and pull it. Then again, ASH is probably quite proud of itself. Just look at the attention it’s received.
