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It looks like we are going to get a smoking ban in the District. Let me start by saying that, as a smoker, I actually don’t particularly care about the effects of the smoking ban. I smoke outside of my work and my home, so going outside of a bar isn’t that big of a deal for me. I have even been in bars that were too smoky for my taste.

As a waiter, I can say that the smoking ban has little to do with worker safety. If people actually cared about waiters and waitresses they would tip better — and not view the term “server” along such feudal lines. Also, the people who have not been going to restaurants and bars — but promise that they will return after the ban is enacted — are not boycotting these establishments because of the health risks to bartenders and servers.

So let us just do away with the workplace safety issue. This ban will be enacted for one reason: because non-smokers hate smokers.

I am not quite sure where this hatred developed. Non-smokers seem to think that smokers are trying to kill them. We really aren’t. I know that the effects of second-hand smoke are real and serious. But at least those who smoke don’t want to harm those who don’t. I’m not sure you can say the same for ban advocates.