Recently, while traveling in the Middle East, I ran across what I consider to be something that has been all but forgotten here in California--civility toward smokers. That is: a fair and reasonable consideration of the rights of both smokers and nonsmokers.
In a hotel restaurant, on the table, were very thoughtful little message cards stating whether the area was for smokers or nonsmokers, along with a brief statement: "The concept and symbol of the 'courtesy of choice' reflect the centuries-old philosophy that acknowledges differences while allowing them to exist together in harmony . . . [and] accommodates the preferences of individuals by offering both smoking and nonsmoking areas in the spirit of conviviality and mutual respect."
