STOP Global Warming SMOKING

Today my wife and I rode our bikes to downtown Bloomington to grab some ice cream at our favorite local ice cream shop.  As we sat down to enjoy our sweets I noticed a 20 something hipster walking our way.  When she walked past I noticed two things about her that were in such conflict I couldn’t stop thinking about it:  

1. She was wearing a “Stop Global Warming” shirt

2. She was smoking a cigarette

Here are a few things to think about:

Altria Group, the parent company of Philip Morris USA, or RJ Reynolds, was more than likely the manufacturer of the cigarette the young lady was smoking.  Altria Group’s brands include: Marlboro, Virginia Slims, L&M, Lark and Parliament and RJ Reynolds brands are: Camel, Kool, Pall Mall, Winston, Salem, Doral, Misty, Capri, Barclay, Lucky Strike, Private Label, Monarch, Carlton, More, Vantage, GPC, Now, and Viceroy. These companies ship their air polluting products all over the world in air polluting trucks, boats, and planes.  Their products come in frivolous packaging and after consumption can’t be recycled.  The fields of tobacco plants owned by these 2 multinationals cover vast portions of land that were at one time vibrant ecosystems filled with oxygen rich plants and trees.So here is what I think. If this girl really, really, really, wants to stop global warming, she’ll not only wear the shirt, but she’ll put out the cigarette too.

Now I’m not judging anyone for being a smoker, and I’m not going to get on a soapbox about global climate change and pollution, I was just confused that this woman, who is obviously passionate enough about her beliefs to wear them on her shirt, has not allowed those passionate beliefs to transform her behavior in such a way that it reflects her beliefs.  Of course we all live in the awkward gap between our beliefs and behaviors – so either this woman has simply come to terms with the fact that she can’t completely behave in a way that reflects her beliefs or her convictions just don’t run that deep.  So let me cut right to the moral of the story - I was reminded in a BIG way that I need to allow my deepest held convictions to permeate my life in such a way that my behavior reflects what I hold dear.  I value peace and non-violence, but I often lose my temper and my words and emotions can be anything but peaceful.  I value humility, but I often speak and act with an over inflated sense of pride and self righteousness that can be bitterly insulting.  So either I need to come to terms with the dissonance between my beliefs and behaviors, or I need to allow my convictions to sting a little deeper, and transform my way of life into something worth talking about.