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GATLINBURG -- Ira Lapides said a hunger strike was not on his high school list of things to accomplish in his life, but the issue of smokers' rights is too important to ignore.

Lapides, who owns the Gatlin-Burlier Tobacconist in Gatlinburg, has been on a hunger strike since Nov. 11.

"Right now I feel less well than I did yesterday," he said Tuesday. "I was fine this morning, but around 11 a.m. my body crashed and my energy was drained."

Lapides is taking a series of vitamins, amino acids and electrolytes, as well as drinking juices and liquid laxatives to prevent ulcerations in his lower intestines.

"I guess I'm taking in about 300 calories or less a day," he said. "That's less than what Holocaust victims were allowed. They were allowed around 600 calories a day."

Lapides, who holds a doctorate in economics, is also slowing down his metabolism by relaxing and meditating.

"I'm also utilizing some of the things I learned from the Chinese," he said. "I am meditating and slowing down my activities. I would say in seven to 10 days, I will be pretty worn out." Lapides' hunger strike is a result of several failed attempts to reach the national level to discuss the smoker's side of the tobacco issue. Lapides contends he is being shut out by the national electronic media.

"This is much greater than just the right to smoke," he said. "This is about the right to free speech. I guess (the national media) is afraid that I will be the spark that will set 50,000 people on fire to stand up for their rights."

Lapides said it is not his goal to be the speaker for the second-class citizen -- the smoker. He simply wants to tell his side of the story.

"I may end up being the first man in the United States to die specifically because he was not allowed to speak," he said.

However, Lapides does not recommend that others attempt a hunger strike to POST what they want.

"I don't recommend this method," said the 48-year-old former University of Tennessee economics professor. "If you're not ready to bear the pain of a hunger strike and are not educated and experienced enough to handle it -- don't."

Lapides plans to stay on his hunger strike until he is given an opportunity to speak by any of the national talk shows, news magazine shows or the Cable News Networks

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