Well, it was July 4th yesterday, as most of you are aware I am sure (at least my U.S. readers). That’s right, a celebration of our independence and freedom. However, the independence and freedom we were celebrating yesterday also comes with some responsibility.

I am generally not opposed to freedom, though I also am a believer that if you allow people to be stupid by choice, well, they’ll take advantage of it. I mean, most people have common sense but there are way more people out there that lack it and, quite frankly, probably run from it. That is a discussion for another day…

Anyway, we did something out of the ordinary and didn’t stay close to home. Instead, we went to a big city, with lots of people. I like to people watch and my general sense that people are dumb was confirmed, as usual.

In Washington, pot (weed, marijuana, ganja, whatever you wanna call it) is legal. Not only is it legal, but if you are 21 you can pretty much smoke it openly (though technically it is illegal in public, no one enforces it). As such, people use their freedom (or is it take advantage of their freedom?). Yesterday was no exception.

The sad part is that it was in the open, with lots of people (many of whom by the looks on their faces) who didn’t smoke, AND with children in close proximity. When I say children, I mean from infant to teens. Not just their own kids, but other families’ also. When I say close proximity, I mean within 2 feet all the way up to 30. Needless to say, there were lots of people getting the second-hand smoke and many were not pleased about it.

I am not on board with smoking, anything, but I recognize people will do what they want to do if allowed to. I am sure these people light up often in their own personal space, where it should be kept. BUT, if you have children or there are children around then you should refrain. PERIOD. If you choose to do it to your own body, fine. Secondary smoke is not acceptable, especially if the littlest are exposed and they have no say in the matter at all. Yes, I could have gotten up and moved. I get it. However, I am sure the children of these particular people are subjected to that second-hand smoke on a regular basis, especially since they so boldly and openly smoked right there with hundreds of others who were not smoking.

It makes me sad, really. Thoughtlessness prevails, again. Responsibility fails, again. Freedom isn’t always a good thing and stupid people prove it, again.

**Trigger warning: This post may cause rage. Best solution, common sense. If you have it, then the rage is probably appropriately place. If you don’t have it, then you are probably part of the problem.**