The editor:
I’d like to respond to a couple of articles in the newspaper and make a couple of personal observations. I visited my local doctor the other day, which happens to be part of the St. Claire Medical dynasty, and I noticed a sign declaring, “We are proud to announce that this facility has become smoke-free.” I think St. Claire should not be proud but should be ashamed and embarrassed by the prejudicial way it is treating some of its clients. The town of Morehead shares in their guilt with the laws regarding smoking it passed in recent months. (I haven’t eaten downtown since they passed the law.)
Apparently society isn’t satisfied unless the rights of some segment of it can be insulted, demonized and discriminated against. This discriminatory mentality can be easily understood by changing the words “smoke-free” to “whites only.” The sad part of it is that these decisions are based on fear and ignorance, not medical fact, because it has never been proven that second-hand smoke is harmful to anybody. While it may be an annoying odor to some and can admittedly affect an asthmatic person these are the only proven negative aspects of second-hand smoke.
This only proves the idea that George Orwell tried to get across in his book, “1984”. If you repeat something often enough, people will begin to believe it to be true even if it is not the truth. I see by another article in the paper that they are even teaching this nonsense in the elementary schools but I guess this shouldn’t come as a surprise because they teach evolution as scientific fact and it has never gone beyond the theoretical stage either. I also can’t believe that someone wrote a letter about people smoking outside a school and was concerned about the effects of outdoor second-hand smoke. This is absolute nonsense. Outdoor second-hand smoke has zero affect on non¬smokers beyond the momentary annoyance of passing through the cloud.
If our local institutions are allowed to get away with these type of actions in the name of the “public good” other freedoms will be next. I can see the new announcement now... “All fat people will not be allowed to drive their cars to this medical facility. For your own good we believe you should walk here!” One sign you won’t see is... “due to all the traffic fatalities, all automobiles will no longer be allowed in our parking spaces,” which to me would make more sense then taking away the freedoms our soldiers are dying for.
It’s time our medical facilities realize that prevention is not their business, treatment is. Prevention should be at the discretion of the patient. If they ask for preventive help, fine, but it shouldn’t be legislated. When I go to the doctor, I don’t want him telling me all kinds of things not to do, I want him to say, “Here, this will fix you up!” No matter how hard the medical field tries, it will not stop death from occurring. It is a basic principal of life. People will always die, if not from smoking, diabetes, heart attacks or auto accidents then from something else. Social Security would go bankrupt far sooner if no one died. Death isn’t the enemy, it’s just the second act of life.
Ronald Shephard
Morehead
Letters to the Editor
Second-hand smoke not a concern
- Letters to the Editor
-
-
Elliott County outreach changes
On Wednesday, Feb. 1, the Elliott County Christian Community Center became an incorporated service organization. Christian Social Services congratulates the leaders in Elliott County for their enthusiasm, compassion and dedication to the people of Elliott County.
-
Bring better movies to Morehead
Don’t you love a good movie? We certainly do BUT for me that does not include “R” rated films. Of the seven movies advertised in the 1/20/12 issue of the News, five were rated “R.”
-
Abortion advocate change of mind
As the new year begins, it is quite common to see printed in a newspaper or magazine a list of the names of prominent citizens who passed away in the preceding year. I recently came across such a list, and the name of one individual in particular caught my attention: Dr. Bernard Nathanson.
-
Large sign is unsightly
While driving to Morehead today, I was dismayed to see that Cracker Barrel has erected one of their typical ultra-high “signs on a stick.” I somehow thought that Morehead’s sign ordinance would protect our community from this unsightliness and that the sign would be the same height as those of surrounding businesses.
-
Political cartoon was off the mark
I don’t know how the political cartoons you publish are chosen, but I take exception to the one in the Dec. 27, 2011 issue of the paper. The cartoonist obviously does not agree with Time magazine’s choice of The Protester as Person of the Year.
-
Business owners say thanks
We would like to take this opportunity to thank The Morehead News and Noelle Hunter for the lovely article about the loss of our small business, Clay Makin’s.
-
Contest helps learn about energy use
As the New Year approaches, many of us are thinking of ways to save money. One way to do that is to reduce your energy usage. This will save you money and save resources.
-
Thanks for supporting speech team
The Rowan County Middle School Speech Team members and coaches would like to extend a heartfelt “THANK YOU” to Mr. Tom James, Kentucky Bank Branch Manager and father of 8th Grade speech team member Haley James and all the staff of Kentucky Bank for their recent generous and most appreciated financial gift to the speech team.
-
Thanks for Haldeman Christmas program
The Haldeman Community Center board members would like to say “Thank You” to all who attended and supported our Christmas Program. We all enjoyed the play “The True Gift,” the man in the red suit and all the wonderful snacks.
-
Storybook Christmas appreciates support
On behalf of the Storybook Christmas Committee, I would like to thank the community for generous support of our project again this year. Storybook Christmas is an annual project of the Adult Basic Education and Literacy (ABEL) Council and the MSU Adult Learning Center.
- More Letters to the Editor Headlines
-
Elliott County outreach changes
