Smokers

Dear Editor: I got a kick out of Dan Chantre labeling smokers “bad people.” I think it’s attitudes like this that’s causing so much hate in the world. (“Hospital Smokers,” Letters to the Editor, 9/11/14)

I’ve smoked for over 40 years, and I’m tired of hearing about it. Anyone who started smoking since the 60s on have heard all about it.

It seems nowadays that everything causes cancer, not just smoking. However, if you’re a smoker, whatever ails you is caused by smoking, per the doctor, and most non smokers.

I had heart surgery in July. Everyone I know thought it was due to my smoking. It was not. It was caused by a faulty valve that I’ve known about for 38 years. Taken x-rays in the hospital, the doctor told me my lungs looked fine.

A buddy of mine, who has also smoked for over 40 years, was praised (after chest x-rays) because the doctor thought he’d never smoked. When told the truth, the doctor didn’t know what to say.

I’m not condoning smoking, and tell the youngsters that due to people like Mr. Chantre, they don’t want to start. But as of now, it’s still legal. If and when they do make it illegal, all the people crying about smokers now will really cry when they have to make up paying all the taxes we “bad people” are paying now for cigarettes.

I know they say the taxes are to cover medical expenses caused due to smoking, but I have a hard time believing that any health problem a smoker has is caused by their smoking.

Everyone is so worried about their rights. For you to get 100% of your rights, I lose some of mine. Why is it OK for a young child to approach an adult and ask them “Why do you smoke”, but it’s not OK for the child to ask an obese person “Why are you fat”? If people would just be more willing to Compromise, this world would be much better off.

Grouping people into one label, because you don’t like them or what they’re doing, to me seems like a prejudice.

Jim Cuddy

Downey

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Published: Sept. 18, 2014 - Volume 13 - Issue 23