Years ago, I used to smoke. I know, I know--please spare me the lectures because I've heard them all. It was a foul and nasty habit and it certainly shaved some years off my life. While you may disdain it with impunity, at the time I smoked I really took pleasure in it. So there.
I quit a while back because I made a promise. My father died of lung cancer and I promised him I would quit. At the time that reason was more important to me than for my own health reasons. Older, wiser and all that shit--it doesn't matter. I quit, regardless.
In those old days when I did smoke I lived in California. It was alarming to hear of local laws being passed that prohibited where one could smoke. First it was in restaurants, then in cafes, train stations, public buildings, common areas and then the horror of all horrors, in bars. Then some particular fanatical local body decided people could not smoke on the street and in some proposed case, in their own homes. What the fuck? Is this Nazi Germany? I remember at the time saying to Fang, "Well, if the California gestapo is telling us what we can and can not do in our own homes, it's time for us to move to France."
By the time we moved to New York we were non-smokers. It was a smoking city then, yet it was only a matter of time before the same ban that had been imposed in California would be slapped on New York. Soon enough, it's rolled out nationwide.
I have to agree that alot of common interior areas should be nonsmoking. Restaurants should be nonsmoking. Bars should be nonsmoking. It's not fair to jeopardize the health of someone who chooses not to smoke. Still, I contend it's bullshit to penalize someone for smoking a cigarette in the outside air on a wide open street. You might as well penalize the buses and trucks who pollute the air with their diesel exhaust as well as people who wear too much perfume on elevators.
Today, the final straw, There was an item in the New York Times that reported a smoking ban had gone into effect today in bars, restaurants and cafes in, of all places, France. It's really now a nonsmokers world if this can actually happen in France.
Mon fucking Dieu.
7 comments:
Believe it or not, sweet lil 'ole me used to smoke, too. Of course it was when I was in college. I started dating this guy who hated the fact that I smoked and took all the fun out of it. Cigarettes just kind of faded out of my life with little drama.
It really is an unbelieveably stupid thing to do to your body, so I'm glad I quit. And, on a side note, I wound up marrying that guy and he's still trying to control the things he thinks are bad for me! (Grrr!)
They are still smoking like chimneys
in Italy.
Really? I actually heard that they'd stopped allowing smoking in cafés in France il y a longtemps. It must be something new that went into effect today. I'm seriously surprised they aren't rioting in the streets. Any reason for a manifestation.
I love to smoke, but only do it on the rare occasion now, like if I'm drinking or dying of a broken heart. I haven't actually wanted to smoke since this summer, though.
And not to be pedantic, but it would actually be "Défenser de fumer" or Défensez de fumer." I would explain why but that's too boring...
:-)
Yes, rioting in the streets would be appropriate this time around, but I guess the French are too tired from the strikes. I just don't understand my own kind sometimes!... sigh
C&W you say it best, mon fucking dieu!
Alas, I used to smoke also, and I truly enjoyed it. I quit a while ago and haven't had the least desire for a cigarette. I agree with you CW, I can't stand the way things are going. Why not ban farting or burping? We all know that airplanes create a lot of pollution and it's probably the biggest reason for the ozone depletion. Any way I could bitch all night about the stupidity of some of the laws passed but this is your blog.
Wow, in France? Frogs love their ciggies. I cannot imagine!!!
If I still smoked, then I'd move to Italy. There ya go.
And feel free to correct my abuse of French, Julie. All girls need a quality editor. xox
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