WHiTBY MF PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY! 10, 1989, PAGE 6 This is a column written in defense of aniokers. You know who they are: poor souls, carrying the beast of addiction 24 hours a dlay, no rest, picked on, riciculed, yes, even frowned upon by their- fellow persons. They are caught in a society which can discuss the need to provide new, dlean needles to those addicted to bard druge and talk seriously about liminating drug crime by providing free, legal drugs. Yet what do smokers get? Restrictions. And taxes. 1 know, 1 know. I've been guilty, too. I, too, have picked on poor haplesa smokers. When they're weakest. Kick em when they're down. No more. Prom now one~ nothing but good words for smokers. Let's cal1 it one of Swanie's losing crusades. Il's only fair. 1, too, was once a smoker. This, back in the early days of the anti-smoking batties, when cheeky students would wear buttons reading 'GASP.' Hey, if they didn't like suioke, they could always go outside, couldn't they? And in those days, of course, they did. But that's in the past. The college at which I teach has recently started a smoking policy. You would think that non-sniokers would be happy with such a victory, eh? Fat chance. They prowl the halls watching for smokers, hoping wo catch them in restricted areas. r've even done it myseif. But no more. Somewhere along the lime, the sport bas gone, out of it and my natural inclination ta support the underdog has taken over. Watch the smokers fight back, dragging ash trays out of trash cans, removing smoking policy reniinders from walls. Smokers excel at this gerilla war. Smoking not allowed in the building? Then weIll step outside. 0f course, today it's a little cold and nasty, we1l just stand inside and hold our cigaret WITH OUR FEET UP by Bill Swan 1ndefense of smckers butts outside. But that's awkward, no one's watching, we'1l just stand here by the door. Smoking not allowed in the corridor? What's that, smokingallowed inside this small office? Well, this part of the corridor is immediately adacent to the small office where smoking is allowed, se Ilil just light up here. After ail, it's only a matter of four feet difference. And no one is looking. Smoking not allowed here? Well, classes are finished for the year, and we're staff so thates okay, eh? This defiance by degrees will keep tobacco coinpanies in business for generations. To appreciate the resourcefulness te today's smoker, you have te realize the extent te which they have been harassed in past years. An example: There we are, see, in the corridors between classes. Several people stand in lime for a drink at the fountain. The person ahead of me takes a puif on a founrtinsndothnhols smlodianproh e t unthe santem o wa Sheten rpao the butt i then fountan of the action now, but in those days, remnember, I was righteous. "You're not really," 1 say in sarcastie tones, "going to leave that butt in lhe fountain are you?" only nc, pom plysthe syoglagy buttfro m te fontaon, cks iomtlyint the ab sh t rmtten only a few obscenities as she does se. Is that restraint or what? Scenes of this kind are still being performed today. But now, in most cases, the vigilantes have the law on their side. "Clean that butt outta the urinal or l1il caIl the Cops.' '%ou gotta catch me first." Today you find me a keen observer of the passing scene, documenting the xnyriad ways smokers have of fighting back, thwartinY the will of the majority. You will, of course, aise find a small sign at eye level on iny front door. It says.' Thank you for not smoking.' Then, just to rub in the guilt, in small letters beneath: 'The Cancer Society!' Don't let the sign fool you. It's just there to see how reseurceful you are. If you go to the kitchen, for instance, and rummage around and I happen Wo corne up behind you and you ask, 'Where are the ash trays?' Ill hand you the washed-out jam jar. haîf-jeat comments, and somne residents will thiAnk they really mean it. But like most vigilantes, we're chicken. Just blow smoke in our faces even once and watch us focl We may make threats, but we won't aet. And if youre an irreplaceable relative we'll likely evnivte you back. Legi[on executive named Whitby Branch 112 of the John Sullian andJaneaeY Royal Canadian Legion installed .pergeant-at-armws s Joe Tobin. their new officers and executive on Mayin. as president for Theft at another y ear, by acclamation, is Margaret Kennelly. Electe& as first vicppresident, restaL iuant was Henry Perry; second 'vice, president, Mie Pcknell; third' More than $3,500 worth of vice president, Denis (Miles) cash, liquor and compact discs Delaney; treasurer,, Jim Hillyard; were stolen from Pat and Matio's secretary, Joan Couithard; at 1111 Dundas St. E. on the Padre, Rev. Robert Mansfield. weekend. Executive members who will Police report the restaurant chair committees are Carel Van. was entered early on Saturday, Hoof, John Yates, ROY Sim, May 6, when a hole was cut in a George Frost, Donald Kennelly, glass door. 'j~~~ &kfZfrorsN C. MOTHER'S DAY SPECLAJS! Choosefrom our selection ofi CARNATION Month for the Durham Year' Ron Johnson and chapter mem- Region chapter of the Multiple Sciero- ber Ann Syme. MS, which most often sis Society was launched recently ini strikes those between ages 20 and 40, Whitby by (from left) Whitby cainpaigfl distorts and blocks nerve impulses chairmran Bob Rutherford, Durham controlling speech, sight and coordina- campaigfl chairmain Terry Kelly, tion. Mayor Bob Attersley, MS 'Person of the Free Press photo SiIk flower arrangements, wreaths & hats Hanglng baskets apýd s11]l plants Pickering ýHomne and. Design. Centre 401 and Brock Road, Pickerng & 428-8784 LOSE UP TO 20 LBS. IN 4 WEEKS ONLY ~89 Weight CounseIling Centre provides individual counselIing by professional nurses/ nutritionists NO GIMMICKS NO HIDDEN COSTS For f urt her i nformatio n cati: Oshawa 728-7656 Whitby 430-6352 krJtUIt I 8iLi~or-n ;i; Ih~ COUNSELLING~ 1 1 a Ponunilleb tivtillaulqu