Editor,
the
Forum;
Not
to
put
too
fine
a
point
on
it,
but
the
City
of
Dacula
has
prohibited
smoking
in
public
places,
with
certain
exceptions,
since
August
1998.
Glad
the
other
areas
are
catching
up.
--
Jimmy
Wilbanks,
mayor
of
Dacula
11/25:
Feels
banning
smoking
is
not
government's
job
Editor,
the
Forum:
While
everything
in
your
article
about
banning
smoking
is
possibly
true
(November
21),
I
think
there
are
much
larger
questions
at
hand
in
regard
to
Gwinnett's
proposed
smoking
ban.
Do
we
really
want
government
dictating
these
type
of
issues?
Shouldn't
the
laws
of
supply
and
demand
dictate
what
property
owners
offer
their
patrons?
I
personally
believe
the
latter.
Strong
arguments
can
be
made
either
way
but,
it
occurs
to
me
that
smokers
and
non-smokers
alike
could
easily
speak
with
their
pocket
books,
patronizing
entities
that
provide
an
atmosphere
conducive
to
the
desires
of
the
public
they
serve.
We
are
not
forced
to
enter
any
facility
we
find
offensive
now
so
why
should
government
even
be
involved?
I
think
it
may
be
because
many
people
don't
have
the
fortitude
to
stand
by
their
convictions,
so
they
turn
to
government
to
enforce
bans
on
things
that
they
may
personally
find
offensive
or
politically
incorrect.
I
can't
help
but
wonder
if
those
calling
for
a
smoking
ban
today
won't
be
calling
for
bans
on
such
things
as
religious
freedoms
tomorrow.
Where
does
it
stop?
When
do
we
as
a
nation
once
again
place
a
higher
value
on
our
freedom
of
choice
rather
than
turning
to
government
to
impose
our
will?
When
do
we
again
place
a
higher
value
on
others
right
to
choose?
You
have
mentioned
that
the
majority
of
the
public
is
non-smoking.
I
commend
that
majority
but
am
seriously
concerned
that
we
are
fast
becoming
a
nation
of
majority
rule,
majority
imposing
their
will
over
the
minorities.
I
find
this
disconcerting
when
I
reflect
back
just
a
few
short
years
ago
and
realize
that
had
it
been
this
way
then,
Blacks,Women,
Latinos
and
yes
even
people
of
some
religious
affiliations
would
have
no
rights
today,
that
decisions
affecting
all
of
us
would
be
being
made
by
Caucasian
males.
Many
people
will
think
I'm
over
the
top
on
this
issue
but
it
seems
to
me
that
if
a
business
has
a
demand,
it
will
meet
that
demand
or
face
the
loss
of
revenues.
I
have
no
problem
with
a
business
offering
a
smoke
free
environment
but
honestly
believe
that
business
should
have
the
right
to
offer
smoking
environments
as
well
and
let
the
public
speak
with
their
money.
If
the
demand
for
smoke
free
environments
is
there
business
will
meet
that
need
without
the
intervention
of
government.
A
simple
solution
would
be
to
allow
business
owners
to
be
either
a
smoke
free
business
or
a
totally
smoking
business
and
stop
trying
to
split
hairs
by
offering
both
in
buildings
that
really
don't
have
the
ventilation
needed
to
actually
remove
smoke
before
it
penetrates
invisible
barriers
currently
offered
in
most
establishments.
That
being
said,
I
have
no
issues
with
Government
imposing
such
a
ban
in
truly
public
areas,
properties
being
owned
by
the
public.
I
do
take
issue
when
privately
owned
property
is
considered
to
be
public
domain.
--
Jim
Dumond,
Buford
11/25:
Shiloh
coach
Roberrt
Matthews'
character
is
showing
Editor,
the
Forum:
The
sports
pages
sometimes
don't
do
justice
to
the
good
things
that
are
exhibited
there.
Will
Hammock
of
the
Gwinnett
Daily
Post
recently
wrote
about
the
somewhat
surprising
accomplishments
of
Robert
Matthews,
the
25
year
old
head
football
coach
at
Shiloh
High
School.
I
say
surprising
only
to
repeat
what
he
has
said
in
the
article.
To
those
of
us
who
have
known
this
extraordinary
young
man
for
many
years--not
so!
Robert
has,
since
his
youth,
exhibited
the
finest
character
and
leadership
possible.
He
played
football
at
Duluth
High,
and
as
a
walk-on
at
the
University
of
Georgia,
not
as
a
superstar,
but
always
with
enthusiasm
and
character.
Good
people
can
become
good
coaches
and
I
for
one
am
glad
that
Robert
gets
the
publicity
that
he
deserves.
One
coach
pointed
out
that
leadership
is
not
a
matter
of
age,
but
of
maturity
and
character--which
Robert
has
in
abundance.
Look
for
even
greater
things
from
him
and
his
program
and
don't
be
suprised
if
he
turns
out
more
"young"
men
like
himself!
--
Charles
Summerour,
Duluth
PS-
Robert
is
married
to
Laura
Henderson
Matthews,
a
former
golfer
at
UGA
and
now
an
assistant
golf
coach
there.
Robert
and
Laura
are
great
role
models
and
leaders
of
young
people!--CS
