Hi -
Just thought I'd recount an anecdote to make that
point. At the Green Party nominating convention in
Bemidji earlier in June, the opening of the nominating
convention was marked by the ritual of smoking tobacco
from a pipe. The ceremony, which was conducted by
folks from one of the local indian nations was really
quite moving, and it created quite a plume of
secondhand smoke. It also made me want a cigarette
(just kidding - sheesh!).
Before you all get up in arms let me make the
following preempts:
1) Yes, I know that the smoking of cigarettes in bars
is not a religious ceremony.
2) No, I am not arguing that this is a reason to
reject a smoking ban.
But at least a little drafting advice is in order -
you really ought to make an exception for the smoking
of tobacco as part of a religious ceremony part of any
ordinance banning smoking from indoor places. What
happened in Bemidji would be illegal under all current
proposals.
Oh yeah, and the consumption of tobacco definitely
predates Phillip Morris and "big tobacco." Seriously,
I recommend a big dose of "Cigarettes are Sublime" -
just a fantastic book.
Aaron Klemz
North Longfellow
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Read only the mail you want - Yahoo! Mail SpamGuard.
http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail
REMINDERS:
1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
before continuing it on the list.
2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.
For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract
________________________________
Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
