Letters to the Editor: Dec. 4, 2021
There’s no weed exception to ‘No smoking’ policies
I have to address the discourtesy of those who take advantage of relaxed "medical" weed. My wife and I went to the Sebastian ClamBake earlier this fall. There were clear "no smoking zone" signs everywhere. This would include emitting a noxious cloud of vaped THC, etc. Many people are allergic to second hand smoke and my wife can go into anaphylactic shock from marijuana smoke.
At a minimum, we were enveloped in clouds of it six times at just the one event, causing her to have immediate reactions.
If you must get stoned for your “issues," remember your rights end at the point they overlap and infringe on someone else's. Maybe it is time for true enforcement of home-only use? Or even start writing these people up for being under the influence when they get in their cars? They can give you a DUI for Nyquil, or an under influence for other much needed medications, why not this?
We have known many stoners over the years. We cannot tell them what to do, and most understand. Given a slight heads up, she stays inside or we take a walk until air clears.
We mentioned that Roger Daltrey of The Who has the same allergy. They post signs at their concerts and in the past few years, actually stopped mid-concert due to someone ignoring the warnings. An acquaintance at the ClamBake actually complained "The Who did not post that on their tickets.” Why the heck should they? They were in an indoor non-smoking venue. If you can't go three hours without weed, go home!
Jeff Hamilton, Sebastian
There's anger in the air these days
Why are we so angry?
The anger in my local society and I guess worldwide was so obvious when I was shopping for my Thanksgiving dinner.
One wonderful man, likely in his 20s, and I were smiling as we shopped for our “Happy Thanksgiving” food. Most everyone else had an angry, rushed look. Even the women. What has happened to us to take the joy out of our lives? Yes, there are awful things happening in our world, but this has always been true. We just haven’t had the media drowning us in tragedy.
This young man gave me some hope. I thought afterward I should have stopped him and complimented him. He lifted my spirits.
I would ask everyone “to light just one little candle” and together, we can “light up” the world.
Mary Oliver, Nettles Island
Climate change ‘cynic’ misuses term
Norman Grant’s Nov. 12 letter ”climate change cynic” got me thinking about how people misuse words to describe their opinions. For example, “cynic,” which Webster’s defines as, one, “a belief all people are motivated by selfishness,” and two, “a person whose outlook is scornful and habitually negative.” So far accurate.
Then there’s “climate change.” As far as I know, Grant is not a climate scientist, and therefore has no real knowledge of the climate situation.
What I take exception to is Grant’s narrow use of the word cynic. A true cynic would question all side of an argument, not just that the “lefties” and their media henchmen are sounding an unfounded alarm. To ridicule the left for its “Green sympathy” is being a one-sided cynic, which is the worst kind of cynic. Where is Grant’s cynicism regarding big oil's claim of innocence in the climate change debate?
A true cynic would ask whose motives they should trust and believe — if anyone’s. Does Grant think big oil’s profit motive and fight to influence energy policies is being done for his benefit? Are Grandmother and Granddad’s fear that no one will be visiting them in Florida when it disappears under water only important to them and not his family? Because if Grant thinks Florida is safe against rising sea levels, instead using the “diminishing of a few Pacific islands” to validate his climate-change opinions, he should look at what has happened to Louisiana’s coast over the past 10 years and then tell those people that the threats of rising sea levels and “climate change is over the line.”
So in my opinion, “climate change cynic” Grant is giving cynics a bad name.
Christopher Christensen, Palm City
What’s progressive about riots and looting?
President Joe Biden has yelled “fire” throughout our country with his anti-white rhetoric, encouraging his followers and media to do the same. In their positions of power their words and lies can have serious consequences, and they need to be held responsible for their language Inciting riots, leading to death and destruction in the country.
Since when is burning down cities and looting businesses progressive? Wouldn't permissive be a better word for them?
Joan Hall, Vero Beach
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Letters to the Editor: Dec. 4, 2021
