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17356's blog: "Smoking at CofC"

created on 01/18/2007  |  http://fubar.com/smoking-at-cofc/b45837
I’ve heard the argument a hundred times from all of my smoking friends: “It’s my right to smoke! Who are you to tell me where I can smoke?” My answer is always the same: “Who am I? I’m just the guy trying to breathe while suffocating in this smoke infested room. Furthermore, smoking is not a right; it’s a privilege. Breathing is a right!” The idea that my right trumps your privilege is a primary reason that I believe smoking should not be permitted in any area of any building at the College of Charleston. Another reason is that indoor smoking defies the notion of the public good. A closer examination of each reason is needed to support my position. The public good is a notion that simply means that laws are passed and rules are administered so that the general public benefits and is protected by these laws and rules. For example, College of Charleston buildings have a few things in them that are for the public good. All the facilities have restrooms which are in place to allow people get rid themselves of waste. If the restrooms were not in place, people may be inclined to get rid of their waste in the street, which could eventually cause spreading of disease. Public smoking in College of Charleston facilities on the other hand serves no public good, but in fact defies the notion by endangering the public good. If allowed to smoke indoors, smokers would fill the area with low levels of toxic poisons as would be affirmed by a room full of coughing people. Past studies have shown that second hand smoke is as dangerous and may even be more dangerous in some cases. Smokers should not be allowed to defy the public good by smoking indoors. Along with the notion of public good, there is the idea of individual rights. Many smokers have taken this position to say their rights are being impeded if not allowed to smoke indoors. My answer is that smoking is not a right. A right is something that cannot be taken away from you. Breathing is a right. For example, if a smoker gets arrested and is put in a holding room, he does not have the right to cigarettes but he does have the right to breathable oxygen in the room. Thus it can be safely assumed that my right to breathe trumps your right to smoke when the two conflict with one another. Allowing smoking indoors would greatly inhibit everyone’s right to breath, and therefore should not be allowed. What smokers have to understand is that when they smoke they are not in a bubble where it only affects them. It affects us all! Indoor smoking at the College of Charleston should remain prohibited because it defies the public good by endangering everyone and because of the idea that my right to breathe supersedes your privilege to smoke.
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