Opinions voiced on possible ban (07/23/07)

"But what about me? Don't I count?" the nagging little voice in my head asked repeatedly at the recent meeting about the proposed local smoking ban in public places.

I listened while veterans told me they fought for their country; they fought for freedom. They didn't fight for their country to tell them what they could and could not do.

Way back when I was in grade school we were taught that our country's government was comprised of three branches. We were taught that the legislative branch was charged with making laws - laws that tell us what we can and cannot do and where we can and cannot do it. We were taught that we, the people, chose our representatives and that they were beholden to the wishes of the majority of us. We were taught that we were the government. I must have learned that wrong all those years ago or else it changed somewhere along the away.

I listened politely to the veterans express their views while the little voice asked, "Didn't you fight for me, too? Don't I have a right to breathe clean air? Don't I count?"

I listened while restaurant owners said they would lose all their business if they banned smoking. They cited the recent closing of a local restaurant that had done just that. My little voice asked, "Don't they realize that they have already lost my business? Isn't my money good enough for them? Don't I count?"

I wondered why they thought they would have more income if they catered to the 20- to 30-percent of people who smoke than if they chose their clientele from the 70- to 80-percent of non-smokers. It must be that new math I've been hearing about all these years. Maybe they think that non-smokers don't enjoy a meal out. They are mistaken. I, personally, would love to be able to sit down in the town where I live and have a nice meal. I choose not to because it isn't worth being sick for several hours afterward due to the smoke.

I have been to restaurants in lots of places that banned smoking and they all had long lines of customers waiting up to and over an hour to get in. I don't see that here. I must be looking at the wrong times.

I listened while people said that smoking was their choice and that no one had the right to tell them what to do. Hmmmm . . . so maybe we should empty all the jails and prisons because nobody has the right to tell us what to do? That is absurd, of course, but it follows the same line of reasoning.

I listened to people who chose to smoke. I understand that some people derive great pleasure and satisfaction from sucking on burning weeds. I understand that it is difficult to quit. I don't begrudge them their rights but I don't understand why they insist I don't have the right to breathe clean air.

I also listened to people who suffered great anguish because the ones they loved died before their times. It wasn't their choice to lose a relative to smoking. It wasn't their choice to pay that price. Someone else selfishly made that choice for them.

Mostly I listened as proponents of the ban were loudly derided and shouted down for their views while the opponents were quietly listened to or cheered on. Smokers and other opponents of the ban didn't even have the common courtesy to wait until it was their turn to talk. They all but drowned out the D.A.R.E. officer who came to speak. It was sheer rudeness at its worst. Then they wonder why the rest of us are so adamantly against them.

After the meeting was over I exited the courthouse only to face a virtual gauntlet of second-hand smoke. At one point on the way home I had to cross the street just to be able to breathe.

Nothing I say will change anyone's mind about smoking or a smoking ban. Those who smoke will continue to fight for their rights while those who object to smoke will fight for a ban on smoking in as many places as possible.

Personally I don't want a county-wide smoking ban in public places. I want a planetary ban. Then I won't have to listen to that little voice in my head saying, "What about me? Don't I have rights, too? Don't I count?"[[In-content Ad]]