Wow... This is a great outpouring of support! Now I REALLY know why I'm on this board.
I knew I was in the right, especially because I truly went out of my way to stay from from all the humans.
As I said, I know the topic has been exhausted, but I really, really, appreciate everyone's input.
Even still, I'll probably think twice before bringing another cigar to the park.... Or maybe I won't.
To me humanity is not examplified by some people attempting to force their beliefs/values onto society as a whole. That is what these anti-tobacco zealots are doing every day.
You were acting in the right in all regards. You were going WELL above and beyond what I feel considerate would have been in the situation. Your consideration for them, however, was completely negated by their lack of consideration for you. You have a right (it still is a right) to enjoy your cigar in a socially responsible manner in a public setting. Just because they disagree with your actions does not make your actions wrong, but in their minds
you are wrong because simply because they disagree with you. That is the type of enemey cigar smokers are up against.
I urge you not to hesitate to light up in the park as you did. I would say that you even went too far in your attempt to bend over backwards to appease them, and yet they were still not satisified.
To impose certain restrictions - be it against smoking, drinking, whatever - within one's private domain (car, home, place of business, etc) on behavior one disagrees with is completely understandable. However, it is wrong from both a moral and societal standpoint to attempt to impose those restrictions on the public, and in a public setting even more so!!
