You would think that shock advertising would not shock you anymore after experiencing that genre over the years (I’ve been around the block and almost back…o.k.!) This was not the case over the weekend when I was going about my business in the living room when a terribly dry, husky voice emanated from the television. I thought it was the trailer for a new movie with a sinister villain, the likes of Darth Vader. I looked at the television with excited curiosity only to see still images of a beautiful, healthy young woman which contrasted against the voice I was hearing. It was then revealed that those were photos of a young Terrie, the well known spokesperson for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) anti smoking campaign, before she became a cancer victim. Terrie has been doing this campaign for years as her cancer condition worsened. This may be her last ad as the commercial ended with her in the very late stages of her fight with cancer and the pronouncement that she has died.
The CDC certainly got my attention. I immediately went online to their site which is very informative and user friendly for both the smoker and non-smoker (who is at risk from second hand smoke).
I am not a smoker, but the CDC and Terrie have me thinking of my many years in those smoke filled joints before it became illegal to smoke indoors in Trinidad and Tobago.
