I don't normally do this

This post is going to be a little different.

I was reading my Hometown's newspaper online, and clicked on the Opinion section. If you want to know what I read, here it is.

Here's part of what I would like to respond. (Highly recommend reading the article before reading this... might not make sense if you read this first.)

I was contemplating sending this to them, but I know it would be edited and lose some of it's meaning.

Re: ‘War on Tobacco’ Editorial by Chris Miller, Oct. 24, 2006

By any chance, are you a smoker, Chris Miller?

In our society, people should be allowed to go out to a restaurant without having to suffer through breathing in a cloud of poison. While I believe that everybody has a right to smoke, if they so choose, why does it then mean that smokers have the right to decide that everybody else around them has to breathe in deadly toxins?

Yes, I’ve heard the ‘if you don’t like it, leave’, but where is the fairness in that? Are you saying that people who don’t want to be exposed to unnecessary toxins should stay at home? Well, how am I supposed to do anything?

If things hadn’t progressed the way it has, there would probably be smoking in grocery stores, drug stores, hospitals… Then what? Am I supposed to just deal with it or leave?

The issue of smoking has been around for years, and isn’t likely to disappear anytime soon. There is no clear answer, because smokers and non-smokers have very differing points of views. Everybody’s rights are being infringed upon because of this issue, and the lines become grayed as a result.

Not all oil patch workers smoke. Not every non-smoker has an issue with smokers. And no, smoking bans don’t affect the tobacco companies. It just makes life a little better for those of us who don’t choose to poison ourselves daily, the slowest suicide besides living. If you really want to smoke, then do it by yourself. Poison yourself. Kill yourself. Leave my lungs and health out of it.

Other I’d like to add…

Whatever people choose to do in the privacy of their own homes, is up to them.

What people choose to do when they are affecting other people, is not always up to them.

Deal with it.

(Maybe the Gov't of Canada needs to sit up and realize that the cost of health care is as a result of people not taking care of themselves. Maybe they should refuse to pay for services that are needed as a result of people smoking, overeating, doing illegal drugs. If people can take the responsibility of choosing to do things that harm them, maybe they should deal with the consequences, too. If you smoke, and get lung cancer as a direct result, maybe you should pay for the surgeries, and chemo...)

I think people these days just don't take responsibility for their choices anymore. People drink and drive, and expect to get a light sentence. They abuse other people, and expect to be out of jail in a few years.

I think there is something seriously wrong with people, and health care systems, and everything else.

I am getting exhausted just thinking about all this crap I want to say.

So, this is my response to the issue that the Cold Lake Sun's Editor has chosen to bring up. I don't mind if people want to leave comments, but keep it tactful please.

To anyone out there in my famly and friends who smoke, or whatever else, I am not attacking you. This is my general opinion.

Anyway, I never thought I'd be posting anything like this, or posting a disclaimer to hopefully prevent anyone from being offended by a post like this.

Sigh. This is the kind of crap that makes me depressed about the world we live in.

And then I read my Auntie's blogs, or look at pictures of my sweet little cousin painting, or Chris's niece, and I feel better.

:) Just had to get that out, I think.

TAK