Wolfville targets personal freedom
Humans don’t have a choice of parents, countries, race, or situations into which they are they are born. Why is one child born into a wealthy household and the next into poverty? Or into the worst physical abusive situations imaginable, and the next to a warm and loving family? Why is one child's religion ‘Christian Science,’ while another is ‘Catholic?’ Why is there an emphasis on thinking and learning in one home, when in others, children are left to their own devices or ‘raised on the streets?’
We are very lucky to live in a country where we can choose to pursue many things we want.
Some of them ‘good for us’ and some of them ‘bad.’ For example, some people believe that even one drink of alcohol will be seriously detrimental to your health -- and statistics are available for whichever side you are on.
Some people firmly believe that global warming is upon us, and have the statistics to prove it; others believe the earth is going through another cycle or phase, and have the statistics to prove that as well. Some people believe that smoking causes cancer; others believe that if you are going to get cancer, smoking has nothing to do with it, again with supporting statistics for each point of view.
The problem with the smoking issue is that one group of people is trying to impose their beliefs on others to the point of infringing on their rights to choose and to parent.
Banning smoking in cars of people with children is not going to stop smoking in homes by the same people and will be impossible to enforce, unless vehicles -- and next, homes? -- are to be searched upon entry to Wolfville.
It all comes down to personal freedom and parenting—and what Wolfville town council is saying to me personally is that ‘you’re a bad parent/person if you smoke around your children.’
Just as alcohol consumption led to prohibition in the 1920s, smoking now seems to be the definitive definition of a ‘bad person/parent’ to some people. I beg to differ.
Tanya Sponagle
Cambridge
Wolfville targets personal freedom
Paul LeBlancArticle online since November 21st 2007
I agree with the comments by the writer, however, the difference between homes and automobiles is on average 1000 sq feet.
Parents, in general, now a days will either go outside or in their garage/basement to smoke. Away from their children.
Also, in their homes, they have the space for the children be stay away from it.
In the automobile, children have no choice.
I have been a smoker for 34 years, however, when I buy a vehicle, the first thing I do is throw out the ashtray and lighter. If I want to smoke, with or without my children in the vehicle, I pull to the side of the road and stand outside to have one. My children did not ask to be around smoking and at present, they have no say in the matter. So the least I can do, is not subject any non-smokers to my habit. People can still get addicted to smoking even though they do not.
I have seen alot of smokers in my lifetime suffer with pain. Even ex-smokers suffer prior to dying. I think of this and I will not subject my family to this. I have made my bed as a smoker and I should be the only one to pay the piper as I get older.
I think what Wolfville has done should be law throughout the country.