Not harmful to all?

Dear Editor,

An open letter to Mike Hendricks

Mike,

You and I have known each other ever since you moved to McCook; and I am sure that you put a lot of time and effort into your Saturday's column.

I have visited with you at times concerning your articles, expressed in "Mike at Night," in the Gazette, and you know that I do not always disagree with your opinions.

This time, however, I feel compelled to write a response to your article in last Saturday's Gazette concerning smoking.

At first I thought perhaps you were writing in "jest," or perhaps you had fallen off the Budweiser Wagon, but I'm afraid you were in earnest. I, too, am an ex-smoker, having quit nearly 40 years ago, and both my wife and I do have problems with second hand smoke.

However, this is not why I am writing. I am writing because of the following statement that you included in you article; "I know that cigarette smoking is bad for some people. No, not bad for all people."

The medical profession has determined that smoking and secondhand smoke not only are primary causes of lung cancer, but also are associated with many other health problems including cardiovascular and respiratory ailments.

Also, the insurance industry has determined that the life expectancy of smokers is several years less than that for non-smokers.

In light of this information, how can you suggest to the young people who read your articles, that smoking may not be harmful to them?

Stan Garretson

McCook