CMT Contribution by Mark Brownlee, CMT
Consumer Board Member of Cigar Rights of America
ci-vil-i-ty
/se’viledē/
noun
formal politeness
and courtesy in behavior or speech.
“I hope we can
treat each other with civility and respect”
synonyms: courtesy,
good manners, graciousness, politeness
Why begin an article this way?
I like to refer to a cigar as “A TOOL OF CIVILITY”.
I have often espoused this phrase to whichever of my friends
or fellow cigar enthusiasts within ear shot, that will entertain the idea. I truly believe the concept is sound and
would like to explain.
I have enjoyed cigars with close friends, friends,
accomplices, and new acquaintances in nearly every state in our country and
several countries abroad for well over 30 years. The one over reaching takeaway I have learned
from these experiences is I can sit down in any kind of an environment, any
place in the world, with complete strangers or those I know well, and
experience meaningful conversation and friendship, over a cigar.
Not only is it usually more than interesting, most times we
laugh, and occasionally there have been tears.
We give earnest consideration to issues that concern us, our families,
and friends. Also importantly, I always,
always learn something from the experience.
Please understand it’s not all pleasantries. Some of the conversations become passionate
and go to serious depths, however, they all end pretty much the same. We acknowledge the good company, and that we
agree or that it’s okay to agree to disagree, shake hands, and then we go about
our day. We can be from completely
different social economic, or political backgrounds. From different races, religions, sexual
orientations, or cultures and despite our differences the enjoyment of a
premium handmade cigar together, has allowed us to be civil towards each
other. The Tobacconist University
Handbook refers to the bi phasic effects of tobacco which may explain a part of
this phenomenon. I also believe,
however, that there is a true comradery and mutual respect amongst cigar
enthusiasts.
If you think about the world we live in, I have to believe
these are traits that are becoming increasingly rare yet more valuable every
year. Also, these are traits that are
worth preserving and protecting.
Why would I choose the word protecting? Plain and simple. There are people in our country that want
nothing more than to impose their political will upon you and I and to put an
end to the cigar industry in this country.
These same people don’t understand or appreciate the social dynamic of
“Cigar Civility” nor do they provide any current scientific data proving they
fully know or understand the true health impacts they tout as the basis for
their arguments.
Over the past 10 years, municipal, state, and federal
government bureaucrats have increasingly misunderstood, maligned, and
marginalized cigar enthusiasts and the handmade premium cigar industry. As consumers if we don’t stand up to defend
our positions we will certainly be accepting a fate we would not choose.
In an effort to provide disclosure, I am a consumer board
member of the Cigar Rights of America. I
started by joining when I saw the original internet post for membership and
then began helping with events across the country, and enrolling membership at
other cigar events locally. I’ve met and
talked to literally thousands of cigar lovers all over the United States and
Central America. I have met some amazing
people and made lifelong friends. All
because of a cigar! It has been an
extremely meaningful experience and is the motivation to put these thoughts to
paper.
My intention is a call to action. To continue working diligently in any way you
can, for those that are currently involved, at all levels. I also am asking those of you who have not
yet chosen to become involved to do so now.
Before we have to refer to enjoying a great cigar in the context of what
we did in “the good old days”. Believe
me, left unabated, this is a reality you need to accept. I would suggest we a s a group deserve and
should demand something better!
Like many of you, I was raised to work hard, deal honestly,
and to standup for what I believed. If
you weren’t willing to take a position and defend it in our household you lost
your right to discuss the topic. This of
course, means fighting to protect something you care about. Cigar activism is one of those things for
many of us. Just imagine getting up one
day thinking about heading to your local shop to enjoy a cigar with friends and
you can’t any longer as the bureaucrats prohibition by increments has reached
its final goal. It can happen. Say what you will but that’s a loss to all of
us on many levels. We should not allow
it to take place!
Based upon the actions of those that are committed to
protecting your rights and keeping the government out of your humidors. I would like to cite a few statistics that
reflect what those efforts have produced for all of us.
·
Between
April 15, 2011 and December 31, 2016, 407,684 consumers used the CRA petition
system to express their support of exemption from FDA regulation to their
respective members of US House of Representatives and US Senate.
·
Of
the over 119,000 comments filed during the Public Comment Period on regulating
cigars by the US Food & Drug Administration, over 6,000 hand signed
comments pleading for the exemption for premium handmade cigars were submitted
by consumers via CRA. This figure does
not count those filed electronically.
·
Consumers
have used the petitions to oppose tax measures on cigars in six different
states and in the City of Chicago.
·
Using
the relatively new White House petition system called “We The People”,
consumers pleading for premium cigar exemption from FDA oversight amassed
25,000 petitions to the President’s Administration in less that 60 days. Politically speaking, the significance lies
not in the response or even actual impact on the process or policy, but in the
act of getting cigar consumers to actually take action in defense of their
affection for cigars, and the industry as a whole.
·
In
the words of Glynn Loope as CRA Executive Director, “I knew we were making
headway in changing the psychology of the consumer, when they started actually
taking the time and effort to fax or email to us the responses from their
lawmakers. They took that extra step in
not only expressing their opinion on a cigar legislative matter, but following
through with letting us know of the words they received back. A sure sign of what’s possible in the future.”
These are the results of you, cigar consumers that have
stepped up to help an industry and a pastime under siege. These are significant contributions!
Thank you to those that have spent time and or money helping
preserve what I and many of us consider one of life’s undeniably fulfilling
pleasures. I also hope those of you that
have not yet chosen to be part of the solution can consider what you can do to
contribute.
The following are a few ways to protect your rights to enjoy
premium handmade cigars:
1.
Send a handwritten letter to your state and
federal Representatives and Senators.
2.
Visit the CRA website to learn about current
FDA/Government issues and to sign petitions or send automated letters to
congress. www.cigarrights.org
3.
Hold an event/herf to raise funds to dedicate to
political defense.
4.
Join CRA.
5.
Talk to your friends about what is happening to
you rights and offer the above suggestions.
Please contribute in any way you feel you can to help
preserve your pastime, a noble culture, and provide your fellow citizens with
civility. One cigar at a time!
Yours Sincerely,
Mark Brownlee
