At this very moment, there are bureaucrats sitting in cubicles drawing up new lists of rules and regulations about our nation's beaches and coastal waterways. One of the regulations in some areas is a ban on smoking anywhere near the beach. This is wrong. These type of bans are unconstitutional and should be stopped before the smoker has nowhere near the beach to enjoy a smoke. Since smoking is not unlawful, and since smokers usually pay tobacco taxes, there should be an area where smokers are able to smoke. Let us keep in mind that each of us, smokers or not, have very personal civil rights about the space around our faces and we must reach a mutual agreement on the presence of smoke. However, we must remain sensible about the bans that are posted.
The color photographs in this feature are by David Craig Wylie, one of California's best coastal photographers. I have known David for nearly five years now, though we have only met on the internet and share some of the same preferences in photography. I do not believe Dave is a smoker. I am a smoker and I am one who values my freedom as a treasure. David feels much the same as I do about liberty and freedom.
THE FIRST TIME I SAW THE PACIFIC OCEAN,
IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT...
I have never been the same. Since that summer day in 1959, my mind has been full of the kind of freedom gulls must feel as they soar, swoop, dip, dive and finally find a perfect place to relax for awhile. Freedom of the beach. Let us hang onto that freedom like we do our treasures. Let us not let those who make such rules and regulations ruin it for us and our offspring.
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