To whom it may concern,

I grew up in the 50s & 60s. My father smoked, as well as most of my immediate family and friends. Teachers patrolled the schoolyard cigarette in hand, politicians answered questions on T.V. fag in mouth, entertainers appeared on the Ed Sullivan show smoking, Johnny Carson had his ever present smoldering ash-tray. Two of Canada's most respected personalities on Front Page Challenge, Fred Davis & Betty Kennedy, hocked DuMaurier cigarettes.

I viewed doctors on American TV endorsing certain brands i.e. 'NINE OUT TEN DOCTORS CHOOSE CHESTERFIELDS'. Sports had heavy cigarette advertising. Is it any wonder that I viewed smoking as a right of passage. The only negative thing said about smoking was it "will stunt your growth".

Today it is politically incorrect to appear in the media smoking and children are told of the evils of the habit. I do not deny that indulging is bad for me, but I am hooked on a habit that has been described as more addicting than heroin.

Just recently, I happened to be sitting in a restaurant enjoying a cup of coffee and a cigarette with my newspaper when a young lady came in with her ten year old son and sat in the non-smoking area. The young lad noticed me enjoying my habit and declared for all to hear "THAT MAN IS SMOKING. HE'S STUPID ISN'T HE?" Her reply, "YES HE IS." I was incensed and embarrassed. That smart mouth and his mother grew up in a more enlightened time yet show no compassion. I felt like modern day leper.

Victimhood is very much in vogue in Canada these days, so maybe I should sue the government when all the dollars come in from those ridiculous lawsuits against tobacco companies. Thanks for letting me have my rant.

Bobby Riddell
Edmonton

Dear Bobby:

Thank you for contacting FORCES Canada. We can well appreciate how you feel. With your permission, we like to submit your message to the FORUM section of FORCES International . We'll understand if you choose to remain anonymous; it's a sad reflection on the 'freedom' in our Country when most people who are published in the Forum section prefer that in fear of reprisal on this issue.

Presuming you were seated in the smoking section, an appropriate response to that insulting woman would have been:

"And you madam are ignorant. This is a LEGAL product that I'm enjoying, and this is the smoking section. Be sure you put your gas masks on before you get back on the street with all the traffic - the busses are especially dangerous."

"I felt like modern day leper." That's exactly how the anti-smoking fanatics want you to feel. They think this psychological battering will induce you to quit, preferably with the aid of nicotine patches, pills, and/or a smoking counsellor. Any of the latter methods will put money in their pockets and contribute to the growth of the anti-smoking industry, so well capitalized at taxpayer expense. As far as preventing youth from smoking with the current 'education' campaign is concerned, you might be interested in reading the latest posting on FORCES Canada. (Government Exposé) You can confidently expect that 10 year old to rebel when he reaches puberty.

Being an adult, (and resident of this planet!) you are definitely aware of the purported health risks; the risk/pleasure factor balance is your decision to make. People who PERSONALLY decide to quit smoking, without the ridiculous pressures being brought to bear these days, ARE able to successfully do so. They've been doing it for decades without the 'help' of the aforementioned assistance. Those who've had some natural change in their personal lifestyle (new absorbing interest, resolution of difficulties) have reported simply forgetting to smoke. Some 'addiction'. When the time is right for you, not a special interest lobby group, if you sincerely wish to quit there'll be less difficulty than you're led to believe.

"That smart mouth and his mother grew up in a more enlightened time....." Well Bobby, I beg to differ. They've grown up in a time where personal choice is practically non existent, and every government/lobby group with an eye on the dollar would have you believe "that you're unable to wipe your own ass without government assistance" (to quote Subversive Liberty: Pierre Lemieux ). It keeps their mortgages paid.

Keep smoking if you feel like it - enjoy it, you're not alone. It's a pleasure a lot of us don't intend to forego.

Best regards,
Pat Hagen (Ms.)

FORCES Canada

Pat,

Thank-you for the quick response. In a time when the people who fought for our freedoms are standing outside of hospitals with their i.v. racks having a smoke in minus 20 weather, it would be cowardly of me to be afraid to have my name published. GO ahead.

Regards...Bobby Riddell
Edmonton, Alberta