by Morrigana Shalafae

Created on: May 17, 2008

It is rather easy to jump on the bandwagon, and persecute smokers. It is rather safe to stay in the middle of the crowd, with all those other people around oneself, decrying a legal choice. Anti-smoking has become a modern day witch hunt. Having a black cat and knowing herb lore carries less stigma these days, however.

All the hysterical fanaticism covers many questions that rarely get answered, or even noticed. First of all, why is it that smoking is an unhealthy choice that is so acceptable to outlaw? Certainly not because it is an immediately mortal habit. There are many cases of smokers who lived long lives without the serious complications attributed to smoking. Same with second hand smoke. In my own family, neither set of my grandparents developed lung cancer, or emphysema, or needed tracheotomies, and yet both of my grandmothers smoked for decades. An increased risk clearly does not mean a definite occurrence.

If smoking is to be banned because of its health risks, where is the line drawn? At what point do we as citizens allow someone else to make our choices for us? Trans fat has already been banned in New York. Shall cholesterol and sugar and other fats be banned as well? Shall it be made illegal for children to consume candy? Will it become mandatory for Americans to all be vegans?

Using the logic of the health risks presented by smoking, why shouldn't we all become vegans? We'd all lower our risk for colon cancer, because we wouldn't have meat rotting in our intestines. We'd lower green house gases, because we wouldn't need as many cattle, who produce more methane than cars produce carbon monoxide. We'd, if anything, be helping the environment, because all the crops we'd need to support ourselves would produce more oxygen and help clean the air. There would be less cases of food poisoning if we all ate fresh fruit and vegetables.

But that's slightly ludicrous. Why should someone else dictate what we can and cannot eat? Why are we not allowed to make our own choices? If someone wants to eat nothing but junk food, that is their right as a citizen of a free country. We do not need a parental government making sure we wash behind our ears, and clean our plates, and keeping us from smoking.

I want it known that I do not think smoking should be outlawed. That doesn't mean I think every establishment or locale should include smokers. If a proprietor wants a non-smoking store, that is their prerogative. If a bar wants to cater specifically to smokers, that is also their decision. In the wide open, common courtesy would dictate behaviors. If someone's smoking is bothersome, move away from them or politely ask them to stop. No one would hide behind legal actions to stop a fellow citizen from blaring their music; they would ask them to be quiet.

I cannot advocate any action being outlawed that is our own choice. Alcohol was already prohibited once, and I'm sure we know how well that went. We can certainly police our own vices, and need no one riding herd over us to keep us in check.

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