Peggy Noonan: Them (smokers)

Opinion Journal ^ | 11/16/2002 | Peggy Noonan

[Pokey78]

The one group for whom liberals have no tolerance at all.

There's a lot to think about this week--the rise of Nancy Pelosi, the meaning of the Republican triumph--but my thoughts keep tugging toward a group of people who are abused, ostracized and facing a cold winter. It's not right what we do to them, and we should pay attention.

[Pokey78]

Pinging the Peggy Noonan list.

[lds23]

One of the reasons I look forward to Friday. Peggy in the WSJ.

[bonfire]

Best thing I've read in a LONG time.......puff puff

[per loin]

Fine words from a fine lady.

[conservativemusician]

I'm good for a pack a day. Bloomberg can go eff himself. Smoking as I type.

[abner]

I love this woman!

[Lokibob]

One of these days, they are going to have all of us smokers cornered, then they will come and kill us.

And it will be easy, because none of us can run.

[GOPJ]

It's the body think. Wise people care about the body and the spirit. Democrats only care about the body. Look at their politics and you'll see it reflected in all their major legislation. Look at their superficial values, and their emphasis on "looking good" rather than being good. Yes, they'll feed the homeless and encourage dependency and turn a marginal person into an animal, but the body will be fed. Protection of the body is their only morality. If that's possible...

Why do liberals punish smokers? Could we discuss this? Is it that it makes them feel clean? Some parts of our culture in which liberals largely call the shots--Hollywood, for instance--are fairly low and degraded. Maybe liberals can't face this, and make themselves feel clean if they ban unclean air? Or maybe banning smokers makes them feel safe, like they'll never die.

Maybe it makes them feel in control. Maybe it makes them feel superior.

[Happygal]

I love this!!!
Tell me both of you (privately) that this is not my destiny to write aame, in the same way?

J????

[Irish Eyes]

Great article as usual from Peggy Noonan I really enjoy her writing.

puff puff

[lainie]

At first I thought she was continuing to lose her mind -- then I realized this one's just slow to pick up speed. But, right she is.

[beckett]

Fantastic column --- I loathe these smoking ordinances and just voted against one here in Florida (it passed anyway). Like Peggy, I don't smoke, but treating smokers --- free agents in a free(?) country who choose to smoke --- like lepers offends me, as does getting sold a bill of goods about the supposed dangers of second hand smoke.

[Gabz]

Pinging the Smokers!!!!!!
Any ping lists you got - this is a keeper!!!!!!
And on that note I'm going nighty nite!!!!!!!!!

[wife-mom]

When I saw the title of this article, "THEM (SMOKERS)", I didn't want to read this. I stopped reading articles on smoking long ago because they were always full of lies and always sneeringly superior.

But I am a Peggy fan and I felt I owed her something for for all her great writings I have enjoyed over the years. So I took the plunge and began to read. I should have known that she would write with wit, common sense, understanding and, as much as I hate to say it, compassion.

I didn't have enough faith in Peggy and, again, I was wrong. Thanks, Pokey.

P.S. It will be a snowy day in hell when they let the smokers come in from the cold. They have won.

[sonofatpatcher2]

Chain-Smoking ping and loving it!

[NautiNurse]

Excellent commentary--thanks for the post.

[Dianna]

I made up the part about how they're disproportionately Catholic but I bet it's true and in any case why shouldn't I assert phony facts? The other side does.

I used to like Peggy. Now I think I adore her.

[A_perfect_lady]

I think PN is way cool. Having said that.... no. Smokers are not Indian untouchable caste-victims. They aren't even unclean-while-menstruating weird African tribe women. This isn't something they are born into, inescapable as class or gender. They are people whose habit has been outvoted and now they have to do it outside. Suck it up or quit. Don't try to turn them into baby seals being clubbed to death by heartless hunters. Come on now.

[ArcLight]

My father died from smoking. I truly believe the tobacco makers stand a very good chance of roasting in hell once they leave this earth.

And yet I absolutely agree with this lovely essay. I don't mind if people smoke around me; perhaps due to memories of dear old dad, I like the smell of it. And I'm angered sometimes when I see my colleagues out on the streets, forced into the cold to indulge their habit. I think it's outrageous that so many Americans sit still for this narrow-minded intrusion into the lives of others.