Government March on Second Hand Smoke….Uh oh!!

Far be it from me to ever say that smoking and second hand smoke are not health hazards.  Of course they are---big time!!   Need to get my opinion about that fact completely understood before I move on.  But, as I read the Patch article on a county/school program that is encouraging a ban on in-home smoking and smoking around children, I am for some inexplicable reason drawn back to my trip to Cuba in early 1960 (my husband was originally from Havana, Cuba).  I know, I know, you would immediately say – come on Lorna, what the heck are you getting at?

Ok---honey child,  here is what I am getting at.  Education vs Government intrusion into the lives of its citizens, step, by step, by step.  An intrusion that begins on what may be deemed as a lofty scale, but steadily building into something less lofty. Where to eat, how to eat, where to drink, how to drink, where to shop, how to shop, what to report and what not to report.  Blurs the vision, honestly!

With you permisson - a side bar…..While in Cuba, a trip specifically made to meet my husband’s family before the infamous “curtain” came down, I was immediately struck by how quickly the new Cuban “government” organized a “neighborhood watch” if you will-not exactly the type of neighborhood watches we have here in the States.  There was a “block captain” for each block area to whom citizens were encouraged to complain about most anything- but especially any talk/activities they felt might be anti-government/anti-revolutionary– and the “block Captain” had the direct ear of a higher authority (call it trickle down authoritarianism).  One of my  points is that children were encouraged to participate – even at school to report anything they might hear in their homes or communities that might be considered anti-revolutionary, and believe me, they meant anything at all…they did not have to worry their pretty little heads -  the Block Captain and superiors would decide what was important. 

I was a 19-year- old at the time – from Baltimore, Maryland (born and raised) and completely uneducated about world affairs, but even being so unprepared, a deep, very uncomfortable sagging feeling definitely struck me.  Of course, when I returned to the States by ship and docked in Key West I literally kissed the ground and my patriotic opinion of our wonderful country and our wonderful people became nestled solidly in my soul and my vision in that regard has continued to be a bit sharper since then.

And so, I refer to the article in the Arbutus Patch regarding “……a number of county elected and school officials who attended a news conference to kick off the Smoke-free Cars and Homes Campaign.  As part of the campaign, county health department employees will distribute materials throughout the county at various events and ask people to voluntarily pledge to not smoke around children in their cars and homes….” And there you go….Sounds good, so why does the trip to Cuba immediately came to mind.  Mmmmmmm….It of course is not the asking to not smoke –an honorable request, no doubt about it.   It is the “voluntary pledge” that stops me in my tracks.  “Pledge” = Oath.  Uh oh!!!  Where do we sign??  Who keeps track?? I know you just think I am out in left field, don’t you?

It immediately gave me great pause, however.  Not that I am against cessation of smoking, continued education regarding the harmful affects is so important…, but my thoughts went to ‘little Johnnie or Mary letting their teacher know that Mommy and Daddy are still smoking in the home, in the car’……  Of course, in the meantime  it has already been put on the table by Mr. Hairston that “…..students exposed to second-hand smoke are missing more days of school, tend to have more behavioral issues and are more likely to have poor academic performance…” Just curious about the specific research study prompting his declaration and official written research results thereof.   

There will no doubt be very astute children who will then blame their lack of paying attention, making any effort to learn, skipping school, behavioral problems, being rude to their teachers, parents, etc. on that “nasty second hand smoke” that Mommy, Daddy and the world are exposing them to…   

And so, friends and neighbors - yes, my tiny little brain immediately moved back to those several weeks in Cuba when I became “enlightened” about hands on government intrusion and how it can evolve- ever so slowly, creeping into the lives of citizens in so many ways.

Could I be over reacting?  I hope so.  But, I still  have the overwhelming desire to yell….“Run Forrest, Run!!!”  The Control Folks are gaining on us!  Yes, I know, once again I do go on and on.  Please understand that this is just the perception of a retired worker bee, honey child!  :)