Ruby Blue

* Mike walks onto stage with a soapbox under his left arm. When he gets to centre stage, he sets the soapbox down and steps on to it. He clears his throat*

What the heck ever happened to personal accountability?

This past week in Toronto, actor Sean Penn lit a cigarette up during a press conference. The press conference was held in a Toronto hotel, the hotel is a public space, Toronto has a smoking ban in public places: ipso facto, Sean Penn broke the law. Now frankly, this isn't about smoking, in my opinion. This is about accountability. Various politicans have come out saying that Penn should be fined (the fine is $350, which I'm sure is less than Penn makes in royalties from Spicolli impressionators), but according to an article on canoe.ca, it is the hotel who faces a fine for "allowing" Penn to smoke.

Huh?

I could see the hotel being fined if the bellhops held him down while the manager stuck a lit cigarette in his mouth, but I'm pretty sure Penn bought the cigarettes he smoked, lit the cigarette he smoked and enhaled the cigarette he smoked. He alone is responsible for breaking the smoking ban. And he alone should be fined.

*Mike steps down from soap and exits stage left*