Yet another "holier than thou controversy," smoking. Some cities have even stated that it is illegal to smoke in their town unless you are in your home or car. Okay, I will be the first to say that smoking is not good. It is not good for you and it definitely is not good for your children to see you smoking. However, (dusts off soapbox and prepares to mount) who the hell are you to tell me I cannot smoke outside? What gives you the right? Now that I have got that out of my system, we will go over the possibilities. The Anti-smoker will be called “Anti” and I will go by the name “me.” Simple enough that even a bureaucrat can even understand it.
Anti-Smoker: Smoking is bad for you! You are committing suicide slowly and suicide is against the law.
Me:You might want to take a close look at your blood pressure as you sit there chugging that double latte. How about the level of your cholesterol and the three southern fried greasy eggs you ate this morning. Still not enough? Why don't you ask your liver's opinion tonight as you go out with the boys and toss a few back, like you've done every night for past thirty years?
Anti-Smoker: You are destroying the ozone layer!
Me: There's a good point, now get into your Mercedes with a diesel engine pouring out smoke every time you consider stepping on the gas and ride off into the sunset, content with yourself because you're so environmentally sound!
Anti-Smoker: You are killing everyone else with your second-hand smoke!
Me: That bill you just signed to dump the toxic waste in the ground isn't hurting anyone? Don't even get me started on the Abortion that is now legal most everywhere. I'm putting people's health at risk? I am not killing babies.
Anti-Smoker: Well, some people think that smoke stinks!
Me: Oil wells stink but you can bet that you aren't going to get rid of them!
Anti-Smoker: Cigarettes are addictive. They are a drug!
Me: Caffeine is addictive. Still, you toss back pot after pot of coffee! Oh, and that gin and tonic isn't addictive, either?
Do I think smoking is okay? No, I do not. I do, however, stand by my rights as an American, regardless if I smoke or not. If you are going to make one physically harmful thing illegal, then all of them have to go. No more sodas, coffee, guns, cars, gas, and the list goes on and on. You cannot pick and choose. If you do, then there is no freedom. So, as you take away the smokers rights, remember, someday it might be the drinkers, the automobile drivers, or even the sports players. Hey, I've seen a lot of football players carried off the field with their arm at a 90 degree angle backwards.
