It’s a classic scenario — is the world big enough for the both of us?
Is it logical to assume that smokers and non-smokers can peacefully share the earth that we all equally inhabit?
At the end of the day, we are talking about banning something that is legal. To remove it from bars and restaurants is one thing—most smokers will give those areas up willingly.
Tight-knit areas, especially when involving food, just aren’t the places that smoking can be done without harm to those around.
But, if you ask a smoker if he or she would be willing to give up their air space that they enjoy on the way to class, outside of the library and student center— well, that’s another story.
The main complaints one could assume a non-smoker might have in regard to someone smoking on campus, would be second-hand smoke, a lack of fresh air and maybe just an attempt to keep the school environment a smoke-free place in general.
But where is the willingness to compromise and where is the logical train of thought?
We are literally discussing infringing on the rights of equal Americans, just because of an opinion and a dislike. If a person does not smoke and he or she sees someone that is smoking, how about choosing not to go near them?
People have the option of whether they inhale smoke or not.
Smokers have given up their bars and their restaurants, so what in return gives others who choose not to smoke the right to take control of their public space?
Students come to college for the freedom. They come for the open-mindedness of professors and administrators, not the narrow-track thinking that most experienced from those in power throughout high school.
Every non-smoker can act like they will be walking down campus and inhaling 50 clouds of smoke at a time, instantly getting a cancerous tumor in their lungs, but that is clearly not the case. It’s a complete dramatization.
Walk down campus for a week and tell me how much smoke a person inhales—really inhales—maybe one or two puffs. To allow fellow brothers and sisters to have their rights, everyone has to make a common sacrifice.
This is a world big enough to share.
—By a nonsmoker.
Lucas Flood
Lucas Flood can be contacted at lucas.flood@ksc.keene.edu