Posted on 01/10/2003 7:41:00 PM PST by Max McGarrity
Secondhand smoke "might make your hair smell," but it's not a proven health risk, Bears-coach-turned-restaurant-owner Mike Ditka said Thursday, leading the charge against a proposed restaurant smoking ban in Chicago.
With a cigar in one hand and a drink in the other, Ditka said his steelworker father was living proof that it's baloney for medical experts to claim that exposing a restaurant employee to an eight-hour shift's worth of secondhand smoke is the equivalent of smoking a half a pack of cigarettes.
"My dad smoked four packs of Luckies from the time he was 12 until the time he was 60. He lived to 80. He died of hardening of the arteries. He didn't die from what smoking caused. He worked in the steel mill where every morning, you woke up and there was half an inch of soot on the cars," Ditka said.
"People who have survived in industrial areas of our country late into their 80s and 90s have inhaled more smoke than all the smoking in the world can give you. I find it hard to believe that people try to shove the secondhand smoke theory down your throat because I don't believe it. I don't believe it even hurts you. It might make your hair smell a little bit, but that's about it."
Ditka said he has nothing against Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th), the City Council's leading anti-smoking crusader. He simply believes the restaurant business would "suffer tremendously" if Burke and Health Committee Chairman Ed Smith (28th) persuaded their colleagues to ban smoking in restaurants and bars.
"These people who are popping off and throwing their weight around better open up their eyes and understand that you've got freedoms in America. If you don't want to come in this restaurant, don't come in. If you don't want to go where people smoke, don't go. They run the City Council. Let the people down here run the restaurants," Da Coach said.
Reminded that smoking has been banned for years in California restaurants and bars, Ditka said: "That's fruits and nuts. That's what they are. A lot of liberals. . .. All the do-gooders in the world. The people in California who abolished smoking are the same people who want to legalize marijuana. Come on. Give me a break."
At a Health Committee meeting earlier this week, restaurant owners attempted to slow the anti-smoking steamroller.
They warned that a Chicago-only restaurant smoking ban would send customers fleeing to the suburbs and prompt conventions to move elsewhere. They argued the ban would create an enforcement nightmare, with confrontations between tip-seeking servers and their customers.
Mayor Daley sympathized, called for more City Council hearings on the controversy and backed away from his earlier endorsement of a restaurant smoking ban.
On Thursday, restaurant employees held a news conference at Ditka's Restaurant, 100 E. Chestnut, to reiterate those arguments and pile on a few more.
"This city is rich in character--full of taverns, neighborhood joints, steakhouses and family restaurants. A smoking ban would completely expunge that character. It would absolutely reduce this city to another generic, dime-a-dozen, two-bit town," said Glenn Garlisch, a waiter at the Chicago Chop House, 60 W. Ontario.
Now, they come up with this persuasive, scientific proof. If Ditka says it's OK, that is as close to proof as these idiots are going to get.
He runs a public place and if I am in it, I don't want to be forced to suffer the by-product of some other customer's personal weakness or stupidity. Whether that customer is playing a radio at max volume, burning strong incense, burning tire chunks or burning tobacco, he does not have the right to take my freedom.
The smoke nazis refuse to recognize how annoying their addiction is and their name calling isn't going to change that. They claim that since they got there first, they can burn what they want. That's facist thinking. But, they have an authority like Ditka backing them and they know how important that is.
As you drive around Chicago, please be kind to the little groups of people huddled outside buildings, off to the side. That is the smokers' ghetto, where poor people, too weak to over come their terrible addiction, go to smoke and talk about the fine support they're getting from Ditka. Freeze your a** off, you stupid smoker!
if you believe it is dangerous, dont go there- dont pass laws telling him he has to do what YOU believe
Hahahhaahaaa, Ditka not only kicks ass, he makes sense!
Sorry for your loss. I too had severe allergies and was in and out of the hospital for several years between ages of 2-5. After my father died my mom married a smoker who insisted on smoking around me. My allergies cleared and I haven't suffered from them since. I'm 49 now and don't smoke, I know second hand is benign. Your cousin's cancer was caused by something other than second hand smoke,
There it is! Let smokers have their place; let nonsmokers have theirs. It seems to me, from what I see in the market where I live, that the free market will accommodate both segments.
Admittedly, this doesn't help 10-year-olds with bronchitis every winter. It would be responsible if their parents recognized their responsiblities.
He runs a public place and if I am in it, I don't want to be forced to suffer the by-product of some other customer's personal weakness or stupidity. Whether that customer is playing a radio at max volume, burning strong incense, burning tire chunks or burning tobacco, he does not have the right to take my freedom.
He does NOT run a "public place," he runs a PRIVATE BUSINESS! Your freedom is not to enter. If you do enter, it's Ditka's "air," not yours.
The smoke nazis refuse to recognize how annoying their addiction is and their name calling isn't going to change that.
Smoke is not nearly as annoying or offensive and you and your kind, at least to normal people. And YOUR name calling isn't going to change that.
Freeze your a** off, you stupid smoker!
You're such a shining example of your kind. Bet you failed your IQ test.
Hell I'd vote for him! Ditka in 2008!!!! Can you imagine a debate between him and Hitlery????
Truth to tell, both are of equal value. Doubleplusgood.
The above is internally inconsistent - that is, you contradict your own reasoning.
Did I miss something?
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