Up in Smoke

I am writing in reference to Susan Rice and Christopher Quint’s letter regarding smoke-free international flights (Aug. 25). I am, by the way, a nonsmoker.

I’m truly puzzled that they would leave the pristine environs of their own home, especially when they might encounter horrors like people who smoke. What could possibly be more perilous than five minutes spent standing next to a nicotine addict on an international flight?

I can picture the two of them walking into the average smoke-filled establishment in, say, France or Spain, and spreading their delightfully tolerant ambience throughout the place--contributing plenty, I’m sure, to the splendid reputation American tourists enjoy throughout Europe. And I suspect that the gracious flight attendants they confronted while demanding to use the first-class restrooms were actually thinking, “Thank God few passengers are as boorish as these two!”

PAT BOROW

Los Angeles