Re: your April 2 article, “Where there's smoke …�
I have never been a smoker, at least not by choice, but I feel that many smokers often don't consider where they light up and who will be affected by their choice.
The right not to smoke is often literally taken away from the nonsmoker. We can't help but breathe the secondhand smoke, and waving in front of our faces or covering them is all we can do to keep inhalation to a minimum. It's not an act to degrade the smoker. I actually hold my breath until I'm through the smoky air; I'm often red-faced and gasping by the time I get to fresh air.
In the article, one smoker questioned the validity of tests on the danger of secondhand smoke. If getting it straight from the cigarette is detrimental, breathing it in the air would be as well. I don't need to see my lungs to know it affects me. I get a headache very quickly from secondhand smoke.
Smoking is a choice, as is not smoking. If you want to light up, consider being a significant distance from others, downwind. The smoke and offensive odor travels far. Don't think that asking if your smoke is bothering someone will get an honest answer; most won't, out of fear of offending, respond affirmatively. If the other isn't smoking, assume they are a nonsmoker. They choose not to smoke and don't want that right taken away from them!
- Irmgart Mitchell, Moorpark
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