Response to letter
on smoking ban
Dear David from Bagley: I hear what you're saying about our freedom of choice. It's unfortunate that you, and others who agree with you, are not as worried about my choices, as you are with yours.
Because without these smoking bans, if I choose to go to a certain place to eat or drink or socialize, my choice to not breathe second hand smoke is automatically taken away from me, since it's impossible for me not to breathe. I know you're thinking I could just choose to go somewhere else, but why should I? Am I doing anything wrong, wanting to be able to eat or drink or socialize in the place I choose, and be able to breathe clean air at the same time?
I can't stop breathing, but you can stop smoking in public places. It is you who chooses to engage in an unhealthy and harmful bad habit. The only reason this issue has to be taken to the level of the law is because it's an addiction issue, and the main symptom of any addiction is denial.
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You are unable to make the right decision in this instance, so the choice must be taken away from you for the good of the whole.
After all, the issue is pretty important - the air we breathe. In Hebrew, the word for Holy spirit translates literally to "The breath of Life." The word actually sounds like "oor_ock."
This gift is our first and most important gift from God. Do any of us have a right to pollute this, which gives us life, with that, which is known to take it away?
After all, they aren't asking you to stop altogether. You can still smoke privately. It is sad that they have to go to the length of even making a law to get people to do something that should be a no-brainer, a common courtesy. But then addiction is a barrier to right thinking.
Leda Mitchell
Akeley
