THE GREAT DIVIDE

Relative to Jack Smith’s article “The Great Divide” (March 25), I’m quite sure that when I get to the Pearly Gates, St. Peter will certainly ask “smoking or nonsmoking,” for that seems to be the question that one hears most frequently today.

I plan to answer “smoking,” if you please. I don’t wish to be with the others who arrive there because of breathing the toxic fumes on the freeways, heart attacks from jogging or too strenuous exercise, eating themselves to death or killing themselves while driving drunk. I’d rather be with all the folks who smoked for their own enjoyment, knowing full well what the consequences might possibly be.

SKIPPY O’CONNELL, West Hills