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Until the next episode...Posted Tuesday, February 17, 2009, at 11:55 PM
My life has taken a turn for busy street recently. I don't have a fondness for this particular street. It leaves me bewildered at how I get anything completed, including this blog.
I haven't given up! It was a close call when it snowed in my car after leaving the driver's window down overnight. Why was the window down given that it's wintertime? It will make sense after my next posting. The topic is something I want to be thorough and precise about. It is not something I am open about, but will not hide or deny because it is part of who I am -- for now. For now, I leave you with this question: Does a smoker or a non-smoker have more rights? I encourage everyone to leave a comment. Thanks! Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
Shannen Hayes is the newest addition to the Banner Graphic staff. She joined us on Oct. 13, 2008.
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You are opening a can of worms on that question.
The smokers I work with take A LOT more breaks than non-smokers. They get less work done as well.
I think the anti-smoking movement is a form of neo-McCarthyism. It's more convenient for non-smokers to single out the "bad" people than it is to recognize that we all contribute to environmental degradation in such great magnitudes that tobacco smoke is pretty insignificant outdoors.
Indoors(specifically in bars and casinos), they may have a point in that the workers are in that environment for extended periods day in and day out. The one thing that has eluded the discussion in our capital is that there are far more non-smokers than smokers. If not smoking is so popular, why aren't there more non-smoking bars? Then everyone could drink and drive home either with poisonous tar in their lungs or without, whichever they prefer. The owners of the establishments are the ones we should be really worried about. Their rights are being completely disregarded.
I personally do not smoke; however, my husband does. He does not smoke in our home or in my vehicle EVER. He will smoke in his vehicle, but not if I am with him. I had always thought it was due to our children having asthma, but now that they are grown and on their own I have found that it is due to something else....courtesy. Imagine that, a courteous smoker. Looking back I realize that he has always been a courteous smoker, it wasn't because of the kids at all. Going out to eat, we would sit in the non-smoking section, he would step outside if he felt the need to indulge. May I also say that he better not find a cigarette butt in our driveway or yard either, he takes pride in our landscaping and HE doesn't drop his butts, then others who do their evening walks shouldn't either.....but it happends anyway. I guess what I'm getting at is that if ALL smokers were just respectful and courteous of others around them, there wouldn't be such a big stink about smoking to begin with. The key word is ALL though, there are the few that make the rest of the smoking population look bad.
I don't smoke, and my husband is a...recovering smoker. I will say that with all the new legislation regarding smoking in public, that non-smokers have more rights, and more of a voice in government. In my husband's opinion, and he smoked for 26 years, as long as he could come home and relax and have all the cigs he wanted, he was happy. He quit because we just couldn't afford to buy them anymore. I bet if we start having money again (yeah, right) he will start, but one has to wonder if it will even be legal at that time.
The one thing that boggles my mind is that people want to stop smokers from the habit in bars, but isn't drinking and driving more dangerous that smoking and driving? It is my opinion that the wrong thing is being picked on in America, that the real problem isn't people passing by a group of huddled inhalers, but idiots that don't know when to say, "no" and then get behind a wheel. I agree with mad_mom and not_a_native, you opened a HUGE can of worms. lol Good luck with this one! :)
People that smoke think they have more rights than non smokers because it is an addiction(supposedly). I went through this same thing while in the Army, the smokers would take smoke breaks and leave me with more work, and I got sick of it. I started taking fresh air breaks and was ridiculed for it. I did not care as they were doing it so I started as well. The smokers that think their rights are being infringed on need to get a life, because you are damaging other people than just yourselves. If you want to change start CHEWING because when you do that you are only hurting yourself.
Sure it's a loaded question. Anything to do with people's oppinions is going to spark something. The way I see it courtesy is the way to go. Now I do think that some bars and establishments as such should maybe have some designated areas for those who smoke possibley even some fans to suck that air out. We have the freedom to do a lot of things, and some may need certain restrictions.