Once upon a time, people thought tobacco was safe.

In the late 1960s, the government was presented with a dilemma. Science began to say that tobacco was dangerous; life-threatening. The tobacco companies provided science that said that tobacco was safe, healthy even. There was science on both sides. The government sided with, “we need more information and we will wait for a consensus from the scientific and medical communities.” Smoking continued to be allowed in doctor offices, clinics, restaurants, airports, airplanes, etc. Media portrayed cigarettes as “cool” and for decades, things moved along in this manner.

Let’s see how that worked out, shall we?

Fast forward to 2018 when every tobacco product is required by law to list the harmful effects that are often fatal and the fact that smoking is outlawed in just about every indoor location in the country. The media now are touting the negative effects and encouraging people to “get help.”

The government, at that time in our history, made the wrong decision and hundreds of thousands of people are dead and even more have terminal illnesses.

Today, to mandate full disclosure and buffer zones for our keiki — or not to — is the question facing our leaders.

Should chemical companies be required to alert their neighbors about days and times that they are spraying? Should we have buffer zones around schools and parks? Should chemical companies have to tell us what they are spraying?

Here is a basic description of the issue.

There are chemical companies in the state of Hawaii spraying pesticides in fields. This issue has become controversial as neighbors turn on and vilify each other. There is science on both sides of this issue. Many studies tout the dangers of the process and how it causes irrevocable harm to our keiki, both in utero and out. Many studies share that these chemicals are completely safe. Given the conflicting data, how should our Legislature decide?

Let’s take a lesson from our past. We have already seen how the tobacco issue was resolved. Death.

Do we want our Legislature to make the same mistake in 2018?

I beg lawmakers not to allow our keiki to be used as guinea pigs. Einstein defines insanity as doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. Many are dead as a result of the “guinea pig” mentality. Let’s not make that mistake again. The worst-case scenario in this case is not simply loss of money. It is death and illness. An entire generation sick and dead.

I am not asking that we vilify either side of this issue. Attacking each other does not benefit our keiki. I am asking that we don’t risk the lives of this generation, only to later say, “Oops” as we attend funerals.

Join us on April 9 at the state Capitol from noon to 2 p.m. to speak to legislators and ask them to support Senate Bill 3095 HD1. Tell them that voting yes on this bill will save lives.

Zahava Zaidoff, a Big Island resident and mother, is a behavioral health counselor/trainer.