by Author Name Withheld 126

Created on: December 20, 2009

Where exactly does the concept of respect come into play in life? I have never encountered it. In the sense of actions that are accepted, they all seem to be governed by fads more than a universal standard of appropriateness. Where was this concept of disrespect thirty years ago?

Back then, as a child, I was still a non-smoker. My house was filled with smoke. Every car ride, windows usually up to keep others warm, was clouded with smoke. You went out to eat with smokers at nearly every table. Even the schools allowed smoking in the lounge that you had to walk past. At the time, there was really no where that smoke didn't exist in your life as a child.

I remember constantly having breathing problems. Most of winter, you would have swore that I had pneumonia. Often, I did have some sort of condition from the irritation to my lungs. As a non-smoker, there were constant headaches and other issues. It doesn't take much to realize that giving in and smoking makes these problems start to vanish.

Suddenly, the smoke isn't as noticeable and you get that protective layer of mucus that makes life routine and bearable again. For all I knew, smoking would continue this way indefinitely. It was just part of life that you accepted. Now, people tell me that it is disrespectful. Where were they back then? Not only are these people complaining, old smokers are complaining.

People who once smoked, the same ones that made my life miserable, come in touting their breathing devices and put up their nose at the fact that you don't put it out. I have no feeling of respect for any of those people. They don't deserve it. These are the same people who didn't think twice a decade or two ago about smoking next to infants.

This whole country is still full of people who accept murdering infants anyway. There is no respect that has been earned. I have nothing but spite for most people that I encounter. Every bit of respect that I have has been earned. I smoke because I tolerated it for all of my youth. I earned that right. Frankly, if you told me otherwise, I would confirm the respect I earned with a punch to the face; that is the claim to respect that I accept.

Every bit of respect in my life has come from force. There was no protective shelter or sympathy that came inherently from society. I can't even cross the street on a busy day at unprotected crosswalks. I see cars stop for women or random people who merit some interest and sympathy. For rough burly men, respect never exists in that realm. Eventually, I have to simply walk out and intimidate traffic. I stare right into face of coming drivers and wait to rip them from the vehicle if they taunt me.

Those people are annoyed, but they look down and silently voice their outrage. That is how our society works. All day long there is no respect for most of us. In fact, most of our lives. Cars drive down busy streets putting out more harmful emissions than all the smokers walking them. People walk by coated in perfume and Cologne that irritates all of your senses. Respect doesn't really occur in the open public of a town or city.

What is all boils down to is power. When I was a child, I accepted things because I had none. That was how the world was. Non-smokers have gained some power and use that to intimidate others now with rudeness and intolerance. If you want me to put out my cigarettes, make me; otherwise, accept it and stop complaining. In my world, respect has to be earned. It is likely that I enjoy knowing that the smoke harms you. You will, of course, do what you always do. You will put down that head and quietly walk away. That is respect.

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