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Moronic Anti-smoking Logic

By Terry Gray

Since the beginning of this great nation, we have been exposed to “secondary smoke”.  Since the beginning of this great nation, we have added years to our lifespan while being exposed to “secondary smoke.”  Since the beginning of this great nation, we’ve seen fanatical groups attempt to force others to surrender their freedoms so that those objecting to those freedoms achieve their desires.  Through all of this, those attempting to bend others to their will have used propaganda and blatant lies in order to achieve their goals.  We are seeing the same tactics today.  Did we learn nothing from alcohol prohibition?  Did we learn nothing from Salem and their witch hunts?  Yes, the comparison between smoking bans and witch hunts rings true; fanatical involvement in social movements.  Accused witches were burned primarily for the health and safety of the community.

Like the witches of Salem who were deemed innocent if they drowned or guilty if they didn’t drown, the latter outcome leading to death by burning, smokers face a gauntlet.  We have committed no crimes, yet we are punished.  We are doing what we’ve done for centuries; we smoke. 

Not long ago, if someone objected to tobacco smoke in a restaurant or other gathering place, now defined as public places even though privately owned, they would wave their hands in front of them to ward off the smoke or they would back away.  "Today, anti-smokers propose knee-jerk legislation to force private property owners to wave the smoke away even if no one on their property objects to the smoke."

Most bartenders and other servers have no problem with being around tobacco smoke.  They understand that this is a part of their business and their income.  They were aware when they accepted employment that they would be subjected to tobacco smoke, and they accepted anyway.  Many bartenders and servers smoke.  Those who don’t smoke and find tobacco smoke offensive have a free choice to seek employment elsewhere.  They have not been chained to the profession or the place of employment.  It is an insult to bartenders and servers to suggest that they are limited in what they can do and where they can do it.

It has been said that if patrons are in a business that allows smoking, the owner of the business is poisoning the patrons.  Not so. Patrons are subjecting themselves to the so-called “poison”.  No one dragged them into the evil place of business.  Of course there is still the consideration that tobacco smoke has yet to be proven to be the killer that fanatic groups profess it to be.

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