EDITOR:

As a former smoker I find a correlation between quitting this habit and abandoning other harmful habits. Oddly, one of the most difficult things for me to get over was the fact of not smoking itself. For 16 years I was openly known as a “smoker” and fell into the category of folks who could be identified as having the same “addiction.” You hang around similar folk for support.

At age 16 it was easy to sneak smokes from your folks. In college, my mother would send me cartons of cigarettes, it was rude to refuse a request for a smoke knowing the one asking may be going through a nicotine “Jones” and you could be next.

Sitting in a tree stand with a dozen “field stripped” butts below I noticed a buck trying to sneak up behind me… I waited for a shot, instead I got a loud snort as the buck stuck his nose in my butt-pile. Good bye smokes. Time to reevaluate and make a tough decision – easy choice, killer to implement.

Everyone at camp smoked so they were the beneficiaries of the rest of the pack (kept the lighter). The peer pressure seemed inappropriately intense – thought I was doing a good thing. People at work were disappointed I had quit (shows how much they cared for me). I actually felt guilty for not being a smoker anymore. Screw ’em. Never regretted no longer being identified as a “smoker” and in this day and age, I’m in the majority.

The similarity between smoking and politics is simple, you either identify as a Democrat, Republican or an Independent – smoker, vaper or chewer. And you likely depend on similar folks for validation.

Upon graduating from college I was counted as a liberal and Democrat, and people knew it. I even supported Democrat candidates… but have quietly backed conservative Republicans ever since. Oddly years later, while teaching a course in Supervision, I asked the class if they thought I was a “liberal” or “conservative” – over half thought I was a “liberal.”

Current news reports from numerous sources indicate a substantial shift away from the Democrat party to Republican – and this is from those who are willing to admit the change.

I’ve never been impressed with people who “need” to be impressed. I’ve never felt required to disclose my vote to satisfy a person, or group of folks with which I’m associated. While I might silently think “none of your damn business”, I take appropriate action to prevent hard feelings… or fist-fights by disclosing my choices.

I hope you feel no fear when you are in the voting booth, regardless of those who may ask how you voted. There is nothing more sacred in our political system than the privacy of the voting booth.

Remember, you can vote for Republicans and no one needs to know. You can get over being a liberal and feel no guilt. Quit smoking.

Michael A. Glass

Nahma