Thanks for explaining why you wrote the song, LH. I understand exactly how you felt about being subjected to other people's smoke in enclosed space. I know how contradictory this must sound coming from a smoker, but the truth is I am also very grateful for the new bylaws prohibiting smoking in public places.

I couldn't count how many times in my life I lit a cigarette when I didn't really want it ... but smoking myself somehow made being in a room full of second-hand smoke a bit less nauseating.


Remember the Grail, for instance? YUK.   :-(


And you're right - when I lit that first cigarette at the ripe old age of 10, it was of course because of "cultural conditioning". Certainly the idea didn't just pop into my head naturally!
Good comparison with military training - that made your point a lot clearer.

On the other hand, though, you will find that wherever there is increased poverty and ignorance there tends to be a higher per capita daily use of tobacco, alcohol, and all other addictive substances...and that was the point being made in the song lyric.

That's true, statistically ... and it's interesting that a whopping 95% of schizophrenics are smokers. According to the on-line research I've been doing, apparently nicotine helps control hallucinations.

Hey LH, Aloha nui loa. I can be overly-sensitive sometimes when it comes to anti-tobacco songs (and other perceived insults). Thank you for saying you don't mean it personally - now I'll quit taking it that way.

daylia

PS remember, harm nothing with hatred. Not even poison ivy! ;-)