The Cigarette Smoking man was Mulder's father?

I've been getting more readers it seems and that makes me happy. Soooo, this time I'm actually going to agree with an opinion column in todays Collegian. It talks about smoking rights in public. Well, I'll just let you read it:

Reducing rights of smokers limits freedom for everyone

I can't take it anymore. All I'm looking for is a little relax-time to read The Daily Collegian, but every time I open the letters section I get nauseous ("Smokers violate basic rights given to all citizens in public," Feb. 21).

It makes me sick to hear another health nut whine about second-hand smoke in bars. You're not going to get lung cancer from a little smoke now and then. I think it is time for bar owners and smoking patrons in New York and other places to take back their rights to allow smoking if they wish.

The next thing will be cigarette smoke detectors in our homes to fine us for "our health's sake." If you have a problem with me smoking in a bar, let me know. I'll be sure to blow a nice cloud in your pretentious face.

Jeff O'Malley
graduate - aerospace engineering



I tend to agree with Jeff here. I am a conservative, as I'm sure you've all guessed by now. And in being a conservative there are a few things I like to see. One of them, is smaller government. There are some things I disagree with Jeff about and I'll get those out of the way first. Second-hand smoke causes cancer. Period. It is not good for you and does not benefit you in anyway. Also, If a bar owner in New York decides to ban smoking in his establishment, the Government, you and everyone else should keep their damn noses out of it. It is none of your business. You don't like it? Don't come back, go to a different bar where they allow smoking. HOWEVER, I do NOT agree with a county, state or federal law stating that an establishment should have to be smoke-free. That's ridiculus. I have to look up a little more about New York and Florida with their smoking bans because I'm not too sure where their legislature is coming from. Nonetheless, the people shall prevail against their government. As codename 'V' says, "People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people." I think this is a great example of where this should come into play. If you don't want laws passed prohibiting smoking in a bar or restaurant then write your representative. But if a bar owner takes it upon him/herself to ban smoking then that is their freedom. Jeff, though, at the end of his rant decides to be an asshole, saying, "If you have a problem with me smoking in a bar, let me know. I'll be sure to blow a nice cloud in your pretentious face.". That's just childish. There is a mutual respect that all people, to live together, must maintain. If Jeff did that to me in a bar, he'd have a high velocity Yuengling bottle to deal with. Seriously....WTF.

Personally, I hate smoking. I quit two years ago and ever since, cigarette smoke bothers the fucking hell out of me. I still go to bars but I try my hardest to stay away from the smokers. When me and my friends go out back in Pittsburgh, I bother the hell out of them about smoking and it's paid off. Most of them just strictly chew now, which I quit about a year ago, and wish I still did it because chew is God's gift to mankind. CSM is a badass.