Image via reflectionsOf.me

The cigarette is more harmful, but not because of cancer, second hand smoke, etc. Cigarettes, cigars, snuff, chew, etc. all feed an addiction to nicotine. The tar repeatedly inhaled from burnt leaves often causes cancer, but nicotine causes something much worse: subtly corrosive narcissism (SCN). This socially acceptable, hard-to-track personality disorder is what gives us the notion that we can use the land, waterways, air—or even each other—as a toilet, and that someone else can deal with it tomorrow.

Because of the above, this last Fall I backed off a 5-cigar-a-day habit to a single petite corona, once a month. Why even bother with a cigar once a month? I don't want to become any more self-righteous than I already am. Plus, my inadequate health insurance does not consider me a smoker if I have one cigar a month.