Letters to the Editor for 4-20-11

New no smoking policy at BRMC is totally unfair

To the Editor:

This letter is in regards to the new no-smoking policy at Baptist Regional Medical Center. No smoking of anybody in the hospital, outside the hospital, not on the grounds at all, not even in your own vehicle while it is on the grounds. And I can’t find out just exactly where these rules come from. Maybe BRMC President and CEO John Henson can shed us some light on it.
Whoever made these rules has no regards for anyone other than themselves. What about he doctors and nurses who smoke? What about the psych patients? BRMC is the closest psych center that we have. These patients have enough problems without somebody adding to it by taking their smoking away. I, for one, am totally fed up with other people trying to run my life. I know that non smokers deserve clean air, but for God’s sake at least let us smokers have the other side of the road. I have medical reasons to visit BRMC, but if this ban goes into effect on May 2 like it is supposed to, I will not go back there. Yeah, I’ll go to Jellico where at least they have regard for both smokers and non smokers alike. So now we’re going to have our psych patients out in the public domain when sometimes they need to be admitted. Does anybody care anymore about anybody else? And if I need surgery, I sure don’t want a doctor cutting on me when all he can think of is how bad he needs a cigarette! Do you!
People, I’ll tell you — we get stupider every day. I know non-smokers have rights, but I have rights too. I’ve already been pushed outside, across the road to a little building (in the winter time) to have a cigarette. Ain’t my rights been infringed on enough? Where is the line at?
Tell me exactly, what do you, Mr. Henson, plan to do about our psych patients? Are you going to shut down the psych unit altogether or are you going to write on the door — FOR NON SMOKERS ONLY! You know what — just because I smoke don’t make me less than a human being … or does it? I’m tired of being discriminated against. There are laws against discrimination, ain’t there?
I can see me now — out at BRMC in my wheelchair needing a cigarette. I’m going to be rolling myself down to the bottom of the hill in winter time to have my cigarette! Ain’t it a pretty sight? How about you, non-smokers scooting over and let me have a piece of space, OK?
Mr. Henson and the board members, please don’t do this to your employees. These people need their jobs and they’re already pushed outside. We are indeed discriminated against and exactly what percent of psych patients are non-tobacco users? I believe this is a very bad call, and I’m asking you to please think  before you act on this issue.

Jacqueline Fields
Williamsburg

Public invited to attend special Easter service

To the Editor:

I’m writing to inform and invite the Corbin Community to an Easter Sunrise Service this Sunday at 7:00 a.m. It is sponsored by the Corbin Ministerial Association and the City of Corbin and will be held in the parking lot at the Arena! We will be outside with chairs provided by the Arena staff and anticipate having a terrific service of worship for the whole community of believers in the Corbin area. In case of bad weather we will be inside. Bro. Tim Lowe is our speaker and we will have some great music to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ! We anticipate the service lasting about 45 minutes. Anyone and everyone is invited! For more information, please call 528-6840.

Tim Thompson
President of the Corbin Ministerial Association

Churches to hold unity sunrise service Sunday

To the Editor:

Many are excited about celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ this Sunday. Every Sunday is an opportunity to remember the Love of God through the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ.
However, we look forward to this time of year when we celebrate the power of God over sin and death through the remembrance of Jesus rising from the dead. As a part of the celebration numerous congregations and fellowship groups will be gathering for Sunrise Services across the county as well as the nation and the entire earth.
If you are looking for a Sunrise Service to attend in commemoration of Jesus’ resurrection then we invite you to an area service led by Woodbine Christian, West Corbin Christian, Steele’s Chapel and Seventeenth Street Christian Churches.
We invite you to celebrate together in a Unity Sunrise Service at 7:00 AM at the Corbin Recreation Center next to the Redhounds Football field.
You can call 528-4795 for more information.

Ivan Spencer, Sr. Minister
Seventeenth Street Christian Church