Remember last month when Iran took 15 British sailors and marines hostage? One of the hostages was a woman, and I just now came across the uncompromising, clarion call for liberty, peace and rational morality in the public statement made at the time by a female member of the British cabinet, Patricia Hewitt:
“It was deplorable that the woman hostage should be shown [on Iranian television] smoking. This sends completely the wrong message to our young people.”
Who knew that the war on terrorism was to make the world safe for nonsmokers?
“Iran, we plead with you. Please save the West, from second-hand smoke and global warming. Nuke us if you must, but save us from ourselves.” Ms. Hewitt, on the other hand,cannot smoke because she has her foot in her mouth, permanently.
Belated reporting thanks to First Things, June/July 2007, page 66.
