Hi everyone. I’ve been observing this debate from the sidelines avoiding the temptation to jump in with an opinion. But I would like to add my two cents and I apologize in advance if I should offend any of my good friends here.

Many people are making an issue of smokers’ rights and the freedom to smoke. As a journalist I have spent my life defending freedom so I am sensitive to the freedom to smoke. When I was a kid the most respected TV journalist was Edward R. Murrow. He smoked himself to death. I worked at ABC News for almost 25 years with Peter Jennings. He smoked himself to death.

I learned long ago that freedom of the press applies to those who own the press, not those who write for the press. I think we can apply the same principle to smokers. The right to smoke somewhere depends on who owns the place where you want to smoke. Regent owns its ships so Regent gets to decide whether and where you can smoke on its ships.

For better or worse, Regent made a business decision to severely restrict smoking. Smokers have the freedom to accept it or find another line. Perhaps it did get a better deal on its insurance, but that really doesn’t matter. Frankly, it surprised me that Regent took an action that would alienate 10-20% of its customers, the ones who smoke. But I’m sure they took it knowing full well that some smokers would abandon ship and Regent was willing to accept the consequences.

We all have to look at where this thing is going. Momentum has been moving toward further restricting smoking. I doubt Regent would have taken this action if it didn’t feel its competitors would be forced to soon.

As for those who favor smoking cabins, I just don’t see how that could ever be a realistic solution. It would still leave too many problems that would defeat the purpose of banning smoking in cabins and on balconies.

Getting back to smokers rights, some have pointed out that smoking is legal and those who smoke shouldn’t be persecuted for it. I live in Virginia, a state that has a long history associated with tobacco. Given tobacco’s roots in our country it would be very hard to ban it here.

But think for a minute if the cigarette had been invented today, with what we now know about smoking. If someone announced his invention today and said I have this product that when used as directed will greatly increase your risk of lung cancer, likely lead to your early death, and harm your children and loved ones around you when you smoke; would anyone in his right mind allow this product to be sold today.

As someone who has never smoked, I just cannot see how anyone could say they enjoy smoking. But I also realize quitting can be the hardest thing a smoker has ever done in his or her life.

People complained when smoking was banned on planes, but smokers still fly. Then came restaurants, but smokers still eat. Now they’re starting to ban smoking in bars, but I haven’t seen any bars go out of business. Casinos will be next, not necessarily for the health of the customers, but for the health of the workers.

The reality is the situation for those who smoke is not going to get any better. It will only get worse. It is a matter of freedom. The freedom of others to breathe clean air supersedes the freedom to smoke wherever you want. Thanks. Tom.