Reply #25: THANK YOU!! [View All]

I wish I could recommend individual posts because yours sure would get one.

I have said for YEARS, ever since my non-smoking friend died of lung cancer at 28, that we blame far too many illnesses on smoking and haven't done enough research into our DNA to determine why some people who smoke for years never get cancer and others who've never smoked do. I'm willing to bet that smoking may trigger something in the DNA, but if you don't have the "cancer gene," smoking might give you emphysema, but not cancer.

I'm not sure that second-hand smoke is great for anyone and I make hubby smoke outside (we have a great deck out back and a nice covered porch on the side - it's pleasant to go out, really) since we have two small children, but I don't think being exposed to it for an hour out eating is going to be the death of ANYONE. Pollution is far worse outside than a smoker across a banquet room.

And, if anyone cares, OBESITY has replaced SMOKING as the No. 1 cause of early death in this country.

Let's tax people who eat fatty foods or people who drive gas guzzlers. They do far more damage to our health care system and air quality than a smoker.