Learn by Listening Level 2

[00:00.30]Do People Have the Right to Smoke in Public?|[00:05.39] My father used to smoke.|[00:06.95] He got very ill.|[00:10.49] The doctor told him that he had to quit smoking.|[00:14.78] My father tried for a long time to quit.|[00:19.07] It was very difficult for him.|[00:22.49] Smoking is an addiction.|[00:25.73] After many months, my father finally gave up smoking,|[00:30.33] but he still craved a cigarette once in a while.|[00:34.50] He says that quitting smoking is the hardest thing|[00:38.17] that he has ever done.|[00:40.35] When my father did smoke, he smoked everywhere.|[00:45.39] He smoked in restaurants, stores and many public buildings.|[00:50.99] Now, you are not allowed to smoke in a lot of public places.|[00:56.46] When my father smoked, the rules were not so strict.|[01:01.69] People could smoke just about anywhere.|[01:06.16] It really wasn't fair to the people who didn't smoke.|[01:11.02] Their clothes always smelled like smoke,|[01:13.57] and they breathed in second-hand smoke.|[01:17.36] Some people think that second-hand smoke|[01:19.98] is actually worse for you than if you smoke yourself.|[01:24.45] People would smoke in their houses,|[01:26.32] and very young children would inhale the smoke|[01:28.56] that was in the air.|[01:31.36] Some people still smoke in their houses,|[01:33.47] and their children breathe in the smoke.|[01:36.90] Some restaurants have areas for smokers and nonsmokers,|[01:39.76] but usually the smoke drifts from one area to the other.|[01:44.86] There are some businesses|[01:46.79] that have banned smoking altogether.|[01:50.21] Personally, I think that smoking in public places|[01:53.44] should be completely banned.|[01:56.74] I don't think that I should have to breathe|[01:59.10] in another person's smoke if I choose not to smoke myself.|[02:03.71] It wouldn't be fair for a nonsmoker to get lung cancer|[02:06.82] because they had to be in a place|[02:09.55] where smokers were allowed to light up.|[02:12.79] I know that smoking is a powerful addiction|[02:16.02] and that it is very difficult to quit,|[02:18.64] but smokers should restrict their smoking to places|[02:21.44] where there is nobody else around.|[02:25.04] Lung cancer is an awful disease.|[02:28.59] Nobody should have to suffer with lung cancer.|[02:33.13] People should be educated about the dangers of smoking.|[02:37.80] Smoking should be banned in public places,|[02:40.66] but eventually I would like to believe|[02:43.21] that fewer people will smoke.|[02:46.44] It would be nice to live in a smoke free environment.