London park

I'm glad London Mayor, Boris Johnson has shown some common sense in rejecting a smoking ban in public parks (for the time being at least). It does make me wonder why our fathers fought for a free country when so much modern-day freedom is being eroded in the name of health and safety and political correctness.

We all know that smoking is bad for the health, as are a lot of other things. But it also has benefits in the form of stress relief and social relaxation, and is said to help protect against Parkinson's Disease. I am not recommending smoking, but just saying that people should be allowed to make their own choices.

Some folk die from smoking, but a greater number probably die from car accidents and traffic pollution, and we don't ban cars. (Or perhaps we should?) They also die from self-inflicted mountain-climbing and ski-ing accidents. And how many unknowns die from the harmful psychiatric medications that are forced on them by the medical profession and community services?

The argument that smokers are damaging other people's health just doesn't wash out here in the open. The anti-smokers' health is more likely being damaged by exhaust fumes and the constant roar of traffic, plus the unrelieved stress in their hypocritical lives.

As for the supposed bad influence on children.... Aren't they more at risk from seeing the binge-drinkers and glue-sniffers on the awful estates they have to live on? Are they not more harmed by a benefits culture that encourages fatherless kids, or a government that allows unnatural marriages?

Banning smoking is not going to make smokers give up smoking. It will simply drive them under cover or reduce their visits to the parks. And then their health may be diminished by not enjoying these wonderful flower beds.

That being said: I did NOT smoke whilst walking through this park, but I would like to think I have the right to do so should I wish. Long live our free country!

Vladimir Bukovsky:
" I watch very carefully how political correctness spreads and becomes an oppressive ideology, not to mention the fact that they forbid smoking almost everywhere now."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Bukovsky

Liberal Oxfordshire to ban smoking EVERYWHERE out of doors!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fju0mEkUz5s