Jackassalope

So Here It Is (Smoking Kills)

My wife tried to fire me up yesterday by adding a comment on one of my blog entries regarding smoking. She knows that I’m not a fan and was hoping for rant.

“Did you also know that second-hand smoke carries far more carcinogens (cancer causing agents) than mainstream smoke (that which is inhaled by the smoker) and 30% of lung cancers are caused by secondhand smoke? If that doesn't fire you up, you're not the "Lucas Burt" I know and love. ;)”

So here it is:

I can’t stand smoking because it kills people. Yes, people die from drinking alcohol – both directly and indirectly. Yes, people can die from skydiving. Yes, I know people can die from just about anything. But the fact of the matter is that my grandmother died from lung cancer that was directly related to smoking, and she is not alone in that statistical category. I also know that people die from lung cancer that is in no way related to smoking. I don’t care. I’m not talking about there being a chance of getting cancer. I’m talking about there being a high probability of getting cancer.

You can also kill the people around you. Again, I know that drunk people kill others all of the time. But second hand smoke is deadly, and the people who suffer the most are those closest to you, i.e., your family, friends, and pets. So you can smoke around me as long as you don’t mind that I spike your coffee with arsenic every morning.

Smoking reeks. And I’m not talking about letting a fart out in an elevator kind of stink. I’m talking about getting in your clothes, your car, and everyone around you knows that smoke kind of stink. I bought my house over a year ago, and you can still smell the odor of smoke in certain rooms if I keep the door closed for any period of time. It’s ridiculous and still pisses me off when I come home at night.

I hate it when people smoke around me in public. I don’t walk up to strangers and fart in their face. I don’t do it because it’s gross. Now I know that some people wear too much perfume, which can also be unpleasant, but at least they are trying to smell good.

Yes, I know people get addicted and it’s hard to quit. People also get addicted to gambling, alcohol, meth, and heroine. That doesn’t make it any less of a problem. Sometimes you just have to buck up, and do the right thing; no matter how hard it might be.

Finally, I can’t stand the fact that if I go someplace for the evening where people smoke, I have a sore throat and am congestion the next day. This sucks. The bottom line is that smoking not only kills people, it’s also just gross.

Is this enough to your point my dear, or do you want more?