THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 1995 TAG: 9509220196
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
Where there's smoke . . .
I cannot help but wonder if any of the basic tenets upon which I was raised still survive in this fast-paced modern world of television and sensation-oriented newspapers such as yours.
I am responding to the recent column, wherein John Pruitt spoke out strongly against smokers at exits. Is Mr. Pruitt even remotely aware that smokers are human beings? Does he realize that almost all smokers in these times are not happy that they smoke? Smokers realize that, according to what they read, their lives are to be shortened by their sinful habit and that they are not welcome almost anywhere. Smokers are ordinary people like you and me.
I do not smoke myself, but I will defend to the death the right of others who want to do so. They can no longer smoke in most public places. The poor souls are currently allowed to go outside to smoke, but it is more than obvious that that ``privilege'' is soon to be revoked, also, if non-smokers have their way.
The point is this: If you do not like cigarette smoke and do not want to smell it, it appears to me that you are having your way. Whatever happened to common courtesy, human kindness and tolerance in our society? Where most non-smokers are concerned, it would appear that those basic tenets upon which I was raised, and still strongly believe in, have all but disappeared.
As a non-smoking person who tries to accept my fellow man with his/her shortcomings, I find this anti-smoking vehemence extremely distressing. It so happens that I work as a volunteer at a local hospital and I often see sick people who are smokers being helped by family and friends out the front door of the hospital, with all their medical accoutrements attached, so that they can have a cigarette.
It boggles my mind that John Pruitt has not an ounce of human kindness in his soul such that he can go out the front door of a hospital and pass these poor folks without complaining about some imaginary smoke he thinks he can smell as he passes them. Does this man ever go past a fireplace? Does he ever go by an outdoor fire? Burning leaves? A factory? The amount of smoke from two or three cigarettes cannot possibly reach his nostrils outside the front door of a hospital or outside any other place; and if it should possibly pass his nostrils why in the world can he not just keep moving and it will be gone in less than three seconds.
Sammy Daniels
Cape View Avenue
Norfolk
In area golf news there is a lot of talk about Sleepy Hole Golf Course. People are interested in knowing about the staff, the condition of the course and its future.
Well, from a lover of the game, Sleepy Hole is a great golf course and right now it's in the best condition of all the area's courses - tee to green. The greens superintendent has done a tremendous job. Golf courses of this caliber range in cost from $40 to $100 per round.
The people involved with operating the course are proud of their accomplishments and are welcoming the golfers in first class hospitality. They cater the foursome or very large golf outings.
There are a lot of new changes all around the layout of the course and more to come later this year and next year.
Hopefully they will have the return of the LPGA and there's talk about a Nike tour event.
The local golfers can have no complaint about the style and service awaiting them at Sleepy Hole - a Golf Digest award winner and the area's most popular layout and design course. So head on out and experience the challenge of Sleepy Hole Golf Course at its best.
Lin Baker
Mount Vernon Avenue
Portsmouth by CNB