After reading just a few paragraphs of Kerry Thomas’ article “PC has a persecuted minority” in the Oct. 1 edition of this publication, I found myself with my mouth open, in a state of total shock. I was in shock because I could not believe the words printed on the page.

Mr. Thomas was comparing smoking cigarettes to the consumption of candy bars and other fattening foods. While fatty foods are incredibly bad for your health, they are only bad for YOUR health, not the people sitting next to you, or walking past you. I don’t know about you, but I don’t recall ever gaining weight from my roommate eating a Snickers bar. However, I do recall being forced to breathe in the poisonous smoke from cigarettes.

If someone wants to poison their body by smoking, be my guest, as long as you don’t poison my body too.

I also fail to see how smokers are persecuted. I don’t see anything in the Constitution referring to the rights of smokers. Are smokers different than every other citizen of this nation?

Last time I checked, every non-smoking citizen has no problem whatsoever with not being able to smoke wherever they please. I believe this could be considered persecution were it not for the inescapable fact that smoking causes cancer in people who don’t smoke, but breathe in the unfiltered smoke from the cigarettes of inconsiderate smokers.

In my opinion it is a travesty that cigarettes are even legal considering the incredible amount of harm which they inflict upon unwilling citizens.

Mr. Thomas talks about his struggle with cancer, making it seem like something horrible. Then why would one smoke, when you put every person who breathes in the second hand smoke at risk of developing this terrible disease.

I am well aware that there are many smokers who make many contributions to our nation, however there are many non-smokers who make contributions too.

I am sure there are murderers that did some good things in their lives too … well I guess inconsiderate smokers could be considered one in the same, except for the fact that they kill indiscriminantly.

Maybe this is why smokers are “persecuted”: because of their total lack of regard for the lives of those around them.