Daily Doc: PM, Feb 11, 1986: Ode to PM (a.k.a. 'Crackpot letter')
Daily Doc: Ode to PM (a.k.a."Crackpot letter")
Title: [no title]
PM, Feb 11, 1986
Bates #: 2024946186
September 13, 2000
The unchecked spreading of death and disease in the name of profits by tobacco companies can move some human beings to deep, creative emotional expression. Obligingly, Philip Morris's legal department keeps an entertaining file entitled "Crack Pot Letters." It contains some amazing stuff. Following is a unique and powerful ode penned by a gentleman from Michigan who seems to have a good grip on tobacco issues. It was sent to George Weissman, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Philip Morris, in 1986.
I thought it was well worth copying, and just gets better every time I read it.
CITATION
Title: No title
Type of Document: Letter
Author: Freeman, Gary
Recipient: Weissman, George (Chairman of the Executive Committee of Philip Morris, in 1986)
Date: 19860211
Site: Philip Morris Document Site http://www.pmdocs.com/
Bates No. 2024946186
URL on PM: http://www.pmdocs.com/getallimg.asp?DOCID=2024946186
URL on TDO: http://my.tobaccodocuments.org/tdo/view.cfm?CitID=1582964&GetListArrayIdx=1&ShowImages=yes
Litigation Usage: N/A
QUOTES
Gary Freeman
[Address excised]
February 11, 1986
George Weissman
Philip Morris Inc.
120 Park AVe.
New York, NY 10017
Dear Mr. Weissman,
The soothing taste of your despicable ware
Rolled and sold by those who don't care
Centuries ago a ritual of peace
You've turned into a murdering thief
Subsidies keep the growers content
But who also pays the widow's rent
Bringing in tax, your congressmen claim
Supply and demand; no one's to blame
Your advertisers prey on dreams they invent
To ride the wide range is the road to content
Millions of dollars and millions of lives
Pave the road you've built over those who have died
To foster this addiction, this cancerous stick
Takes a soul as black as the lungs of the tricked
Smokers make up your legion of slaves
Pipe dreams in fumes, you fill while they crave
Now that there's hope--many more know much better
Do you repress any life-saving measure
You fought and protested then gave a small label
It's weak and unnoticed is why you felt able
The fruits of your efforts serve no useful purpose
Worse than worthless is the bounty you serve us
By combustion and fire is how your work's done
Satanic influences blackening innocent lungs
We'll cut consumption and gain the farmland we need
For the world's nutrition, not poison for greed
A fertile idea: We'll blow you asunder
With a spit and a curse when we plow you under
Sincerely,
[signature]
Gary J. Freeman
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