Peggy Noonan: Them (smokers)

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

[Great Dane]

Your nose does not have any particular rights...... get over it.

[A_perfect_lady]

Gee, so an action, say homosexual behavior, can be banned if the majority says so? It should be firmly stuffed in the closet, never to be allowed in public places? How nice of you.

Yes. I would definitely support laws prohibiting gays from doing each other at the restaurant where I'm trying to eat. I also support laws prohibiting them from doing each other in public restrooms, elevators, libraries, etc etc etc. I know, I know... horribly fascist of me.

But in the interest of fairplay I'll support laws banning heterosexual acts on the tables of my favorite restaurants as well. Especially since the participants will no doubt want a cigarette afterward! Happy now?

[FreedomPoster]

Tell you what - I'll just come drop a big old bottle of mercaptan in your business, and you can decide for yourself if it isn't possible to create an olfactory tort.

[carenot]

I'll just come drop a big old bottle of mercaptan in your business, and you can decide for yourself if it isn't possible to create an olfactory tort

My monitor and keyboard are yellow from the cigrette smoke.

Will that mercaptan crap clean off the yellow?

[FreedomPoster]

No - it's the stuff utilities put in natural gas (which, by itself, is odorless) to give it that distictive smell. A very small amount goes a very long way, smell-wise.

[Doctor Raoul]

It's still OK to hate smokers, Christians (especially Roman Catholics), white males, conservatives, gun ownwers, heterosexuals, Southerners and meat eaters. That is of course, if you are a liberal.

[Teacher317]

Ah, but you skip over public homosexual activities like french kissing and heavy petting. Shall we make those illegal as well? And are you getting ready to outlaw it for heterosexual couples as well, "in the interests of fair play"?

[anncoulteriscool]

I thought this was a great column. I am surprised that Rush Limbaugh did not say anything about this on his radio show today. It seems right up his alley.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Our daughter is getting married soon, and I'm happy that all the facilities are non-smoking. A few years ago when our daughter was a bridesmaid, my mother had to leave early because every single person at our table was smoking. I know I'm out of step with just about everbody on this thread, but I'm glad we don't have to put up with this at our daughter's wedding.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

I don't regret that I can go out to eat in a pleasant atmosphere without the stench.

ME EITHER!

[A_perfect_lady]

Ah, but you skip over public homosexual activities like french kissing and heavy petting. Shall we make those illegal as well? And are you getting ready to outlaw it for heterosexual couples as well, "in the interests of fair play"?

Pardon me for being blunt, but this line of reasoning is absolutely full of crap. You seem to be saying that we cannot outlaw any kind of behavior and if we outlaw smoking in enclosed spaces we are on the slippery slope to a totalitarian state. Do you feel this way about public nudity being outlawed? What's their excuse for that? After all, there's no such thing as a second-hand sunburn. This is purely a matter of people "being offended" and I don't hear a peep out of you about it. Why not?