OPINION

Smoker's rights

Re: "Milan says no to all outdoor smoking in Italy's toughest ban" (BP, Jan 1).

Italy's Milan ban on smoking in public spaces, that is, state-owned areas to which all citizens should enjoy equal access, is just. Thailand and other nations should copy that policy to ban smoking on streets, parks, public hospitals, government offices, and so on.

In contrast, consenting adults have a right to engage in behaviour that is harmful to themselves and consenting others on private property, such as homes, restaurants, pubs, clubs, and the like.

In those places, the owner's right to determine what guests may and may not do to themselves and others who consent to enter under the stated terms should be respected. There is no just reason why a restaurant, pub, or club should not adopt a smoking-allowed policy. Those who do not want the toxic stink as they eat or socialise will sensibly take their custom to non-smoking venues, as is their right.

I suspect the normal operation of supply and demand will make the great majority of private venues non-smoking, with smoking venues being a well-supported niche market, like those for film photography and vinyl music. Similarly, the state should not be dictating how people dress, or not, on privately owned property; again, owners have the right to set dress codes, also speech codes, for their premises.

Vegan vow

Re: "Man admits killing, eating dog", (BP, Nov 16).

Since I'm often asked why I'm a vegan I'd like to give three experiences in my life that led to my current diet.

First, as a boy I loved my dog who was literally my best friend. But then I asked myself if it would be wrong to eat my dog how can it be right to eat a pig who is more intelligent than a dog and more affectionate than a cat.

Experience 2: When I was a little boy my father took me deep sea fishing and I remember the captain of the boat helping me reel in a sand shark.

The captain then used plyers to pull out the shark's tooth and then hit it over the head with a baseball bat.

I then watched the shark slowly suffocate to death. I was nine years old at the time and I still can't forgive myself for what happened.

Finally, when in my thirties I saw a truck load of pigs crammed together on the way to the slaughterhouse, I said to myself: "I will never again eat meat." It hurts me when people write lies about me and even threaten my life. So was fighting for the animals worth all this abuse? Would I do it again? You damn well better believe it!

Censorship row

Re: "By any other name", (PostBag, Dec 29) & "Censorship paradox", (PostBag, Dec 27).

It seems as if Songdej Praditsmanont wants to have his cake and eat it too.

He chastises another person for criticising him in his letter; yet, as Peter Jeffrey noted in Dec 27's letter, Songdej wants this publication to continue publishing letters from people on a variety of topics without censor! It would seem Songdej wants to read letters from a variety of individuals only if no one makes derogatory statements about him.

Party poll picks

Re: "PP chief tops list of PM picks", (BP, Dec 30).

The headline is challengeable since the number preferring the People's Party chief over the current PM is a mere 1.05% of the sampling. The difference can be regarded as insignificant and "too close to call".

However, the revelation under "party popularity"' were eye-popping in that the People's Party commanded 37% of the sample while Pheu Thai only 27%.

It is even pleasing for PP when you consider it was thrashed twice by the Constitutional Court, and the party's former chief, Pita Limjaroenrat, a vivacious and natural-born politician, put on ice.

The headline had it run in the papers could have read as "PP surprisingly tops PT by wide margin".

The fate of having the PP as a government would need only 14% while the incumbent PT with 27% would need 24%.

The prospects of another PT-led government after two years may not look as rosy as many in PT expected, even with all the handouts.

The weakening of the Bhumjaithai Party, commanding only 6.45%, does not help.

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