It's One Way

 Professor Lo Chung-mau of the university of Hong Kong told the legislative body that one way for smokers to quit lighting up in public places is for everyone to stare at such persons.  If everyone stared, the offender would most likely not "hit back," as he says.  As a pipe smoker, I am sensitive about where I smoke my pipe and believe that as a pipe smoker I care how those around me feel about my pipe.

Pipe smoke, in general, does not emit all the chemicals in the air as do cigarettes.  There are those who are sensitive to any tobacco smoke.  I find cigars especially offensive, so when I smoke a cigar these days it will most likely be smoked at my son's house on the patio by the pool, as I did yesterday.

Smoking is not the path to hell.  Disapproval of others in not the path either.  Public disapproval of most anything one does that goes against the grain is embarrassing at best.  In my thinking the pathway to righteousness begins with acceptance of oneself and tolerance of others.   I can see, however, how smoking in most public places matters.

My wife says I worry about what people think, but that was ingrained in me from a very early age and now I accept it as a part of my own Spirituality.  But that is me.  Whether such public disapproval of smokers would matter to the smoker just depends.  But culturally Hong Kong is different from the US where we celebrate individuality and often will think of heroes aa those who go against the norms. 

I am not sure how big of an issue smoking is in Hong Kong, but I do know thatt both Hong Kong and China have very strict anti-smoking laws.  Maybe in Hong Kong, smoking has been a much bigger problem than it has been in the US in recent years.

 I've always believed that as a pipe smoker, there should be more allowances and tolerance for pipes, simply because pipe tobacco is pure tobacco without all the additives and carcinigens of cigarette tobacco.  This morning it is my Sherlock Holmes pipe with a bowl of Early Morning Pipe.  I thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave