I’m sure every generation has made that evaluation for whatever current events affected them….. Here’s my 2 cents worth on current events in the cigar world today:
From new cigar laws, to internet cigar community takeovers, to manufacturer buyouts, to strange and unusual manufacturer behaviors/bannings/collaborations…..
WTH IS GOING ON????
I know the economy is in an upheaval….with stocks plummeting and the rise and recent fall of gas prices…but geeez, Cigars too? Sure the cigar industry is connected to the economy….heck isn’t everything? But it seems as though the whole world is losing any semblance of sanity. The one place that always seemed removed from that chaos was cigars…a place to relax and escape the collective insanity. But it seems as though the insanity is beginning to leak in to our sanctuary.
The smoking ban is so freaking strange in itself. I understand the basic principle, I’ve always tried to be a polite smoker…but I know there are those who weren’t, which certainly didn’t help our situation. I understand that the non-smoking public doesn’t want to dine in a plume of smoke….hell I never cared to eat with smoke blowing in my face. I understand the potentially offensive smell of any smoke to a non-smoker. That being said, why would any self-respecting non-smoker, walk into a CIGAR BAR AND NOT EXPECT TO SMELL SMOKE????? You can’t legislate stupidity, but c’mon folks…..this is going beyond stupid! Has the general public IQ dropped? Has everyone lost all common sense? Don’t you want to just walk up to someone and say “Here’s your sign!”….
Davidoff buys Camacho….that perplexes me. Is Davidoff needing some of Camacho’s pump? Camacho has had some really excellent releases and sticks are consistently moving off the shelves. Davidoff? They have their exclusive customers that buy the spendy Davidoff sticks just simply because “spendy is trendy” when you have it to waste. Any other Davidoff purchases are usually “special occasion” smokes or by people who have more money than brains….and the brain matter = $1.98.
Why a not-so-large cigar manufacturer would piss off one of the largest cigar forums to the point of being banned is waaayyyy beyond my comprehension. One has to assume greed or desperation in such an action. When one takes a look at what forum with which they’ve a new collaboration…..it certainly doesn’t make their situation any more positive!!!!
One of the most perplexing things of recent events has to be the purchase of the big name cigar communities by Jon Caputo. No disrespect intended…but speaking from the cigar smoker’s aspect, who the hell is Jon Caputo????? What would could he possibly have to gain by trying to force these folks into a huge space on the ‘net? He claims to be a long time cigar aficionado….but is he? If in fact this is true, what makes him think he has the right to manipulate fellow cigar smokers in such a fashion. If his intent is truly benevolent….one might have expected a democratic offering? Or perhaps, like all the others who have put in the painstaking long hours to develop and nurture communities, he might have started his own and put out the invitation. Resembling our current political system….waggle a few dollar bills in a few unsuspecting faces and watch them tag along like Hansel and Gretel. Long time faithful members are jumping ship from communities they, in large part, helped establish. A bit abrupt, perhaps? Nothing, on the outside, has really changed yet on any of them other than the announcement. Many are staying on for that reason…and to see what might be coming. Those who have jumped, I feel sure, have done so due largely to feelings of betrayal and, perhaps, the concept of being herded like sheep into an arena in which they had no choice.
It brings to mind the segment from the movie Independence Day, where some are skeptical of any good that could come by a visit from an alien ship; some are undecided what to think, and those who are partying on the Empire State Building to welcome the arrival……and fellow fans of the movie know how THAT ended up!
The scenario,to me, resembles the general public’s views on smoking. There are those that see how people are allowing their rights to be invaded by government under the guise of “public health”. There are those that really don’t have an opinion either way…they’re not pounding the pavement in protest of smoke, they’re not protesting the laws against it, and they are not really seeing any real implication that pertains to them either way. Then you have the Anti-smokers. They are partying with every win in the political arena that bans smoking from any place one might exist…privately or otherwise…..not seeing the broader picture of what is at stake. Today they want smoking laws. What about tomorrow when someone doesn’t want people to own pets because they defecate outside where one might step. What about when they ban music because the volume affects ones peace and quiet or the lyrics mention flowers to be heard by people with allergies…….
I recently read an article by musician, Joe Jackson. http://www.joejackson.com/smoking.htm
I found this article inspiring, enlightening, and perhaps a bit scarey.
I suggest every smoker read this article. I’d suggest that every non-smoker read it too…and if you have the opportunity to encourage one to read it, do so! it is already a couple of years old…so you know that things are much worse now then even then!
I don’t know where this old world is heading….and I’m not sure what we can do to affect the destination. Cigar Rights of America appear to be making an attempt. Will their effort be enough? Even if everyone who would read this would run to sign up as members (the numbers more in question than the action), how much will it help?
The key, in my humble opinion, is not to look at smoking rights. It is a much larger picture and in order for any action to take affect, it needs to be taken on for a much greater purpose: Everyone’s rights!
He lit his and a wonderful smoke wafted over to my side of the car and the short trip home became a bit too long because I really wanted to light mine up…but not while driving. We broke out a few beers and sat out on the patio again with these peculiarly unidentified cigars. The burn was flawless and the flavor was consistent…very similar to H. Upmann. The ash was a nice light gray and held in place until tapped. A very pleasant cigar for the small price we paid…even if they weren’t “Fuente”.
