[NEohioPAL]Smoking Ban in Public

[bobbywms1 at excite.com]

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Mr. Brown, From my perspective as a member of the Cleveland theater community for almost two decades as well as a former health care professional, I find the comparison of the smoking ban in public places, to attempts to censor language and nudity onstage almost laughable. Language and nudity do not constitute a public health hazard, while the dangers of smoking and second-hand smoke are well documented. I wonder, would any of the directors mentioned in your article ask an actor to take a loaded gun on stage? Or stage a fight with sharpened/pointed swords or knives? Of course not. According to the Center for Disease Control smoking related illnesses killed 10 times more Americans than guns in 2006. Not only is the ban now the law, it is also the will of the people, many of whom patronize our theaters. I've been involved in numerous productions where lines were cut/edited or situations adapted because of length, time, or whatever need the director felt had to be met. Why is 
this different? Change is an inevitable part of life. Our challenge as artists is to embrace the changes and to adapt.Compared to the welfare of actors and audiences, what should our priority be? After all...it is just a play.  Very truly yours, Robert J. Williams

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<BR>Mr. Brown,<br> <br>From my perspective as a member of the Cleveland theater community for almost two decades as well as a former health care professional, I find the comparison of the smoking ban in public places, to attempts to censor language and nudity onstage almost laughable. Language and nudity do not constitute a public health hazard, while the dangers of smoking and second-hand smoke are well documented. I wonder, would any of the directors mentioned in your article ask an actor to take a loaded gun on stage? Or stage a fight with sharpened/pointed swords or knives? Of course not. According to the Center for Disease Control smoking related illnesses killed 10 times more Americans than guns in 2006. Not only is the ban now the law, it is also the will of the people, many of whom patronize our theaters. I've been involved in numerous productions where lines were cut/edited or situations adapted because of length, time, or whatever need the director felt had to be 
met. Why is this different? Change is an inevitable part of life. Our challenge as artists is to embrace the changes and to adapt.Compared to the welfare of actors and audiences, what should our priority be? After all...it is just a play. <br> <br>Very truly yours,<br> <br>Robert J. Williams<BR><BR><BR><br></font></td></tr></table><p><hr><font size=2 face=geneva><b>Join Excite! - <a href=http://www.excite.com target=_blank>http://www.excite.com</a></b><br>The most personalized portal on the Web!</font>

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