Welcome to our weekly column in which a topic of interest, piece of news, relevant opinion, or general request for feedback is presented. We’ll offer the topic du jour and accompanying question, and you have the opportunity to respond with your thoughts.
Simply fill out the form below. A collection of each week’s responses will appear in the following week’s column. To view responses on our previous topics click here.
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This week’s Feedback Friday topic is:
No, the World is Not Your Ashtray
Note to many cigarette smokers…I’m tired of it. Citizens are tired of it. And by “it” you probably already know what I’m about to write. No, the world is not your ashtray. So, please stop flicking your butts into the world—an afterthought that if you gave two more seconds of consideration, might save property damage, or a life.
This week, a wildfire burned through several acres along River Road in Crownsville, which came roaringly close to adjacent properties. More than forty firefighters were able to extinguish the flames in a half-day’s work that put one in the hospital (and was released). This section of the Severn River waterfront now serves as a charred reminder of what one stupid act can cause.
Though firefighters are hesitant to say exactly what caused the fire, one can surmise a likely culprit. In discussing the incident with a neighbor, we both said the same thing, “Probably a cigarette.”
Coincidentally, the U.S. National Weather Service issued a special weather statement for our region this week. There has been “an elevated fire danger…across Maryland and Eastern West Virginia panhandle…Residents and visitors are urged to exercise caution if handling open flames or equipment that creates sparks.” You know that includes cancer sticks.
Hey, laugh at me if you want about this one, but officials have pinned several local infamous fires directly to cigarettes…probably most notably the one that wiped out Sailor’s Oyster Bar in downtown Annapolis, almost one year ago. Hopefully, they build back the popular restaurant…and some folks have learned a valuable, if costly, lesson.
I may be flaming the issue with some hyperbole, but I’m equally disgusted by the vast amounts of butts that build up alongside roadways, especially at traffic lights, and end up in the ecosystem—the woods, the rivers, the…everywhere.
I didn’t give two cares in the world either when I smoked for several years, from my late-teens through 20s. But then, I stopped…all of it. I’m not here to preach about your right to smoke, though. Rather, I’m just reminding folks that the world is not your ashtray.
Can anything be done about this problem? Anyone have ideas?
Please share your thoughts by filling out this form. Today’s responses—and all future Feedback Friday responses—will be published in our Monday newsletters after the weekend. AND, several responses from recent topics will appear in our upcoming print magazines!
