Palmer Events Center
Ban Exactly Like Right-Wing Paternalistic Crap
RECEIVED Thu., May 12, 2005
Dear Editor,
Michael Hankin's letter in “Postmarks” [May 6] read eerily like the paternalistic crap that the religious right has been feeding the country with regard to gays and lesbians. "They are sick people who need help"? “They are trapped in a desperate compulsion"? Is this man a ghostwriter for Pat Robertson?
The Austin anti-smoking group pushed through an ordinance banning the use of a legal substance. They sucked up to the tactics of the fundamentalists and are trying to remake all of society in their own image. Rather than trampling on the personal freedoms of citizens and the rights of business owners to determine how they will run their businesses, Hankin and others like him should focus on making tobacco illegal. Now,
I'd sign on for that objective.
Incidentally, I wonder if all of the cretins who applaud the "No Smoking" announcements at concerts are going to voluntarily stop smoking weed during the same concerts? "No smoking" means "No Smoking ... anything.” Oh, I expect the hypocrites to light up anyway.
Michael Hankin's letter in “Postmarks” [May 6] read eerily like the paternalistic crap that the religious right has been feeding the country with regard to gays and lesbians. "They are sick people who need help"? “They are trapped in a desperate compulsion"? Is this man a ghostwriter for Pat Robertson?
The Austin anti-smoking group pushed through an ordinance banning the use of a legal substance. They sucked up to the tactics of the fundamentalists and are trying to remake all of society in their own image. Rather than trampling on the personal freedoms of citizens and the rights of business owners to determine how they will run their businesses, Hankin and others like him should focus on making tobacco illegal. Now,
I'd sign on for that objective.
Incidentally, I wonder if all of the cretins who applaud the "No Smoking" announcements at concerts are going to voluntarily stop smoking weed during the same concerts? "No smoking" means "No Smoking ... anything.” Oh, I expect the hypocrites to light up anyway.
Robert Sisk
