[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 183 (Friday, November 17, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E 2203]]


WHY DO PEOPLE SMOKE AND WHY THEY SHOULD QUIT: WINNERS OF THE SANTA ANA 
            SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY CENTER ANNUAL ESSAY CONTEST

                                 ______


                         HON. ROBERT K. DORNAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 17, 1995

  Mr. DORNAN. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to include in today's 
Congressional Record the winning essays in a recent local writing 
contest on smoking. I personally congratulate first place winner Alex 
Alvarado, second place winner Tiffany Dersam, third place winner Peter 
Nguyen, and all the other contestants for their outstanding essays.

                         I Want My Mother Alive

                           (By Alex Alvarado)

       People should never begin to smoke. Parents need to think 
     of their children. I know because I'm suffering myself having 
     a mother who smokes. Many times I have asked my mother why 
     she smokes. The answer is always she doesn't know, or she is 
     nervous. That's why smokers should never start smoking. It 
     destroys the smoker's health, and their family's too. One 
     thing that makes me happy is doing this essay. I am 
     dedicating it to my mother and all the people that smoke. I'm 
     hoping I'll make her think of the family a little bit. Every 
     night I pray that my mother will stop smoking.
       I don't think cigarettes should have ever been invented. If 
     I were President Clinton I'd remove cigarettes from the 
     stores. My brain just can't understand why people smoke in 
     the first place. My brothers, sisters, and I have made a 
     promise to each other that we will never even begin to smoke. 
     My dad is very happy about this essay, he loves my mother 
     very much and also wishes that she would stop. Poor mother, I 
     know I've hurt her feelings by writing this, but it's for her 
     own good.
       Smokers should quit so that they can live longer. People 
     need to be able to breathe clean air. With so many smokers in 
     the world, our air gets polluted. My personal opinion is that 
     it's a bad example for the younger generation to see adults 
     smoke. Instead of wasting their money on cigarettes, it would 
     be better for them to buy books to read.
       There are so many reasons to stop smoking, but the main one 
     is to be able to continue to live. People are dying of 
     smoking, that is bad. Also parents are dying and leaving 
     children alone. On the news I've heard many things about why 
     people should stop smoking. Today is the first time I can 
     express my feelings on this matter.
       My brother had a wonderful teacher who died from smoking. 
     It makes me really sad because I'll never be able to have her 
     as a teacher. I hope sharing this essay with my mother and 
     all of you will make her and you realize that smoking is not 
     good at all. May God bless all of us who are trying to help 
     smokers quit. Good luck to the smokers of the world too. I 
     may not win the contest, but if I've touched my mother's 
     heart and she decides to quit, I'll be an even bigger winner.

   Why I Think People Start to Smoke and Why I Think They Should Quit

                          (By Tiffany Dersam)

       I would like to share with you some of my ideas on why I 
     think people start smoking and why I think they should quit. 
     I think people start to smoke for many reasons and one is 
     that they think it will make them look cool but it won't. 
     People smoke because they think it will take their minds off 
     of other things. The most common reason people start smoking 
     is because of peer pressure.
       I think people should stop smoking for many reasons. 
     Smoking will give you yellow teeth, it will make you look 
     stupid, and it can make you smell really bad. Smoking can 
     cause you Lung Cancer and Heart Disease and not let your 
     brain work the way it is supposed to.
       Now I would like to share with you some personal 
     experiences with smoking. My grandma started smoking when she 
     was 19 and a half because every one at work was smoking.
       In my family both my grandma and my dad smoke. My dad 
     started smoking at the age of 17, and he has become very 
     addicted to smoking. Anytime he pulls out his box of cigars, 
     I get very annoyed. For awhile my sister would give my dad a 
     pack of gum to try to stop him from smoking.
       If you are a smoker, and you know it is bad for your health 
     then . . . quit. It may be hard, but you can do it if you 
     work hard and keep to it.
       Here are some ways you might want to consider. #1 For 
     example throw out all of your cigars and cigarettes and try 
     not to smoke for as long as you can. If you don't smoke for 
     two weeks or more then reward yourself, but remember the 
     reward can not be a cigar or cigarette. Then do not smoke for 
     three weeks, then four, then five and so on until you stop 
     smoking. #2 Pub a rubberband around your wrist (make sure the 
     rubberband fits loosely around your wrist but not too loose 
     and not too tight.) every time you pull out your pack of 
     cigars or cigarettes snap the rubberband on your wrist. After 
     a while your wrist will hurt so much that you will never want 
     to smoke again. #3 Tell your child(ren), if you have any that 
     is, that everytime you light up that you will give them $1.50 
     and when you are gone have someone else write down how many 
     times you do light up. Not only will you stop smoking but 
     your child will think you're the best person in the world.
       Good luck on quitting!
                                                                    ____


                                Smoking

                           (By Peter Nguyen)

       Smoking is an extremely hazardous thing to do. Smoking 
     cigarettes is one of the most dangerous kinds of smoking. 
     Pipes and cigars are also different kinds of smoking. They 
     are just as dangerous as cigarettes. A long time ago, people 
     used to smoke all the time. They did not know that smoking 
     was harmful to their health. Today, people still smoke and 
     children are starting to smoke, too!
       Some people smoke because their friends smoke, and they 
     think that it is cool. It is really difficult to say no to a 
     friend. Some people smoke because they are bored and have 
     nothing to do. Other people smoke because they have problems 
     that they think smoking cigarettes will get rid of. But, 
     smoking cigarettes is another problem they have to deal with. 
     Some people smoke because they think smoking would take them 
     to new places they have never been before. But, smoking ruins 
     your life and destroys any chance you have of reaching new 
     heights and exploring new places.
       People who smoke cigarettes should quit, because smoking 
     can destroy one's life. Smoking can make you sick or it can 
     kill you! It also kills anyone who breathes around you! 
     Smoking can damage your heart, too. It can also cause lung 
     cancer. You can not breathe very well when you have lung 
     cancer. Smoking cigarettes can be addictive. it sometimes 
     makes you hurt someone else for one cigarette. If you stop 
     smoking, you can save a lot of money and you can buy better 
     things than a pack of cigarettes. For example, you can buy a 
     brand new car.
       Three years ago, I visited my uncle. He smoked cigarettes 
     all the time. His house always smelled like smoke. He would 
     smoke four to six packs a day! I always tried to hold my 
     breath, so I would not breathe in any of that horrible smoke. 
     His clothes always smelled of smoke. Now, it is hard for him 
     to breathe because smoking made his lungs ill. So, he decided 
     to quit.
       If your friends try to get you to smoke, they are not 
     really your friends. Just walk away from them. You can make 
     up and excuse like, ``I am late for class'', or ``I need to 
     get to the bathroom.'' What ever you say, make sure you get 
     away from them. The best way to stop smoking is to not smoke 
     in the first place.

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