Editor,

I feel the K-State Student Senate was in the wrong this past Thursday when they voted in support of the proposed smoking ban on the upcoming November ballot.

While I do agree that smoking and being exposed to secondhand smoke is not healthy, I do not believe it is the business of the Student Senate, the City of Manhattan, the State of Kansas or any other organization to tell private business owners how to operate their business.

Voting for this ban is simply un-American. 

America is the land of the free.

If I so desire, I should be permitted to smoke in a bar or restaurant with the approval of the owner.

Along that same line, nonsmokers are free to choose to do business with nonsmoking establishments.

The freedom of choice, among other things, is what makes this country great.

If health concerns are the main focus of supporting the proposed ban, I would ask that the Student Senate also look into banning the sale or serving of unhealthy, fatty fried foods on the K-State campus.

The No. 1 cause of death in America is heart disease.

Among the many causes of this disease are high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity. 

All these conditions are brought on by eating unhealthy foods. If we’re going to ban things based on health concerns, let’s at least keep it consistent.

Many senators as well as Student Body President Lydia Peele cited that, while unhealthy, a cheeseburger will not affect the health of the person sitting next to where the cheeseburger is being eaten.

While this is true, let’s think about the argument that people who think this way are making:

“I want to be able to go to a bar and drink alcohol to the point of intoxication, damage my liver and make poor decisions because of my intoxicated state. However, for the sake of my health, this must be done in a smoke-free environment.”

This argument holds about as much water as a bottomless bucket.

In closing, smoking is bad for you. Cheeseburgers are bad for you as well. 

If you use too much of either, you are probably going to die as a result. 

However, that is your choice to make, and that is what makes America the best country in the world.

Andrew Glazier
Senior in social science

Comments

2 comments

Basil

Mon Nov 3 2008 11:13

Gosh, Andrew, God Bless America. You moron, as a social science major you should be aware that when actions become negative to society as a whole then it is the business of government to step in and do something about it, ie, drinking and driving, speeding, driving on the wrong side fo the road, beating your spouse and children etc. And by the way I go to bars and do not imbibe to the point of intoxication and liver damage. Your narrow views and stereotyping of behavior seems to be getting in the way of rational thinking. Or maybe its the flag you are waving that is getting in the way of seeing the big picture.

Geoff Doyle

Mon Oct 20 2008 13:51

Eatting fatty foods does not affect the health of others, only that of the person doing the eatting.

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