The Smoking Ban
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The smoking ban
1. Give an outline of the different positions on the smoking ban which are presented in the texts
Robin McKie is the writer of the text “Benefits of smoke ban will be felt at once”. Robin McKie is writing about the benefits that come with the smoking ban. He writes that the Britians health will improve very fast after the smoking ban takes effect. He is presenting facts. He explains the smoking ban has resulted in reduced numbers of heart attacks, and resulted in fewer respiratory problems among bar workers etc. He is also writing about how hard it is for people to quit smoking once they started, but the Britains health will improve very fast after the smoking ban takes effect.
A. N. Wilson a British novelist, writes the text “Is this the end of English literature?”. Wilson is writing that all of the great poets and authors from Britain were smokers. He says that there is connection between great literature, poetry and cigarettes. Cigarettes make writing seem more authentic. He is explaining that most of the pub and bars are almost empty since the smoking ban has become current. Basically he has a negative point of view on the smoking ban, but he says he do not really care about weather people smokes or not.
“Another victory for Britains insufferable paternalists” is written By Simon Jenkins. Jenkins criticizes the government a lot for their smoking policy. He is arguing that smoking among other things that has not been illegalized, can also lead to death: “Smoking is unpleasant but reasonably avoidable. Unpleasant too is fuming traffic, noisy neighbours, swearing youths and cruel parents. All may lead to death. We do not ban them, yet” (Line 22-23). He himself is not a smoker, but he hates this illiberal approach. He argues very convincingly, and he believes in personal freedom.
2. Comment on the use of exaggeration and irony in text 3. Illustrate your answer with quotations from the text.
The text “Another victory for Britains insufferable paternalists” is written By Simon Jenkins. Jenkins both uses exaggeration and irony – that has the effect that he seems like he is trying really hard to make his points clear. The intention of this text is to criticize, which he does by being ironic, and very sarcastic. He argues strongly, and a great example of his irony is this sentence: “They had been “allowed”, as the BBC put it, to do something called “vote with their consciences” (line 3-4). The fact that the word “allowed” is put in inverted commas, shows a lot of sarcasm, and he ridicule. The headline “another victory for Britains insufferable perternalists” also shows his negative opinion towards the smoking ban, and his anger towards the state. He calls the MPs “self-righteous”, which tells us he is very angry with them, and finds them ridicules. Jenkins compares the government to a “nanny state”, which means he sees the state as something that tries to be bossy, instead of something good. It means the state should mind their own business, and he finds them unnecessary with all of their rules. His problem is not that the state tries to prevent smoking, but his problem is the ban. He is very liberal in his