MovieChat Forums > Freeheld (2016) Discussion > Hester was shown to be a smoker, and her...

Hester was shown to be a smoker, and her illness was lung cancer

posted 8 years ago by mel-holden
3 replies | jump to latest

Setting aside the whole issue of gay rights - what about the rights of constituents who don't want their hard earned tax dollars spent for the medical care and decades-long pension being given out due to someone choosing to ingest carcinogenic chemicals into their lungs for decades! If she hadn't been a smoker, good chance she'd still be serving the public and earning her wages.

If every time I drank a cup of coffee, I put a little rat poison in it, and eventually started getting sick, would you have much compassion for me?

YOU HAVE THE POWER - YOU HAVE THE POWER was chanted over and over so many times

Well, Hester had the power to not smoke - we've known smoking causes cancer since the 60s when the surgeon general's report came out linking cancer to smoking.

I noticed in the documentary nothing was implied that she was a smoker. Come on people, take SOME responsibility rather than expecting support from strangers after you've chosen unsafe behaviors.

[–] gigigo317 8 years ago

I have no support for smokers. My mother died of lung cancer from smoking, just 5 years after my sister, also a smoker, died of lung cancer at a relatively young age. I do not support smokers' "rights". I do have compassion for your issue with smoking.

However, I think you are missing the point here. Had Hester been a heterosexual married detective, she would have the pension benefits no questions asked. If we start denying benefits based on lifestyle choices, we would have to deny benefits to people who eat too much bacon and clog their arteries, people who eat too many chips and spike their cholesterol, people who eat too much grilled meat and get colon cancer, people who use too many pesticides in their garden and get liver cancer, people who have a few too many beers and develop liver disease. The list goes on and on. Eventually, everyone will be on the list, and no one gets a pension. Do we need to improve our health and take better care of ourselves, yes. Did Hester fail to do that by smoking? Yes, of course. But in this life, we must have compassion. She worked all her life to improve the life of others by protecting them. The very least we could do is give her spouse her death benefits. And figure out a way to convince young people not to smoke. But not punish smokers for their habit by taking away their pensions. Death is "punishment" enough.

[–] kristinwilliams2007 8 years ago

I could not have said that any better. This movie is so moving, and so emotional, and it's REAL! I am from NJ, and am happy to say our state was one of the earlier states to legalize same sex marriage, and has been making greater strides toward equality. Unfortunately, some states STILL are not complying to Federal Law, and are trying to completely alienate the LGBTQ community, as the recent situation in North Carolina has shown. Having said that, as a lifelong supporter of Equality, Equal Rights, and the LGBTQ community, as well as Equal Rights for ALL, despite religion, race, gender, wealth/poverty, etc., and a woman who identifies as a Pan-Sexual (attracted to a person despite gender, feel free to ask questions), have been in a long, over 9 years, committed relationship with my male fiance, yet have not been able to afford getting married, nor felt like all the paperwork is necessary to prove we are in love, and fully committed to each other as husband and wife, and thanks to the new laws and bills being passed, has allowed us Equal Rights as an unmarried couple/Domestic Partners. This film truly touched me, and filled my soul with joy knowing that change IS happening, and the consequences the states, and other countries for their complete disregard for Equal Human Rights, will show them that Equality Matters, and it is not going away, and there will ALWAYS be people standing up and taking action in support of these rights.

As for the comment about the smoking, yes, she smoked and that caused her to get cancer, however this film is about her, as a human being, and an amazing person, and dedicated Police Officer, despite her flaw of having a terrible smoking habit and having to suffer through horrific cancer because of it, fighting for something quite simple, yet extremely difficult and painful, she just wanted to make sure that the woman she loved could keep THEIR home, and receive the same benefits a straight couple's widow or widower would receive, had their significant other passed away, and yes, it would not have even been questioned if she was straight and married to a man, and got cancer because she smoked alot, or a man in the same situation, who wanted his wife to recieve his pension. There are many people who die from cancer because they were smokers and their pension was given to their significant other. My point is this, I understand what you are saying, but the purpose, and story of this film is about basic Equality, Equal Human Rights, for ALL, and it is absolutely a beautifully made film, and a wonderful tribute to this fantastic woman, and the people who supported her in standing up and making change happen! ?

[–] RAYNA-1 8 years ago

If she paid for health insurance; she's entitled to receive coverage when she's ill. With my comany's insurance, you pay more if you smoke. BUT you also pay more if you have have high blood pressure, cholesterol, and if you are just plain fat (they measure your waist). Are you in the peak of health? Should we deny you ins benefits when you turn 60, because you'll prob have a lot of claims then. Did you ever try to get a suntan? Sure with my company its under the guise of "if you aren't any of these we give you a discount". But, how far are you willing to go here? What if somone is "skinny" but can eat crap all day, and is young enough to pass those biometrics? What if someone is seemingly fit but never exercises? Are you going to check for a gym membership and their attendance record? Get video of them using the machines? Shall we deny all 16 year olds car insurance bc they are inexperiened drivers? AFIK...insurance coverage is something you pay for: hence the term: insurance. Pensions are totally different. Hence the point of the movie- as other posters have noted. Glad to hear you are going to live forever, though :p