I have listened to and read a lot about secondhand smoke -- how it kills so many people.
A few days ago, I read a letter in The Forum about smoking by Tom Gardner (a smoker) and he said he thinks the antismoking lobby is going too far, way too far. I think he is right.
I'm not a smoker, never have been, and whatever I hear about smoking I ignore, as it does not bother me. I was born in 1915 and as an infant, I was on my dad's lap every chance he had to come in the house on the farm -- me on his lap and his smoke in his mouth. I was breathing secondhand smoke then and still do. When I was 18 years old, I enlisted in the Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1934 up until 1937 I was among smokers -- about 215 men from age 18 to 25. About 80 percent of the boys smoked.
After that, I worked one job for 35 years and about 60 percent of the people smoked. In my own home, I have been breathing secondhand smoke for the last 40 years.
About a month ago, I had my annual checkup and my doctor tells me I'm in very good shape for an 88-year-old.
ADVERTISEMENT
A.E. Graf
Jamestown, N.D.
