I think there exists already an ordinance prohibiting smoking in public places. The problem is that this is not properly implemented. And most probably because the law inforcers are oftentimes the lawbreakers! Besides, the government did not manifests its support for anti-smoking campaigns nor took the initiative to tap the health and the education sectors to spread public awareness on the dangers brought by smoking.
By applying the don't see, don't hear, don't know sort of attitude, the government just continue its annual collection of hundreds of millions of pesos on tax revenue while at the same time trying to perform its' safe role on "NOT TO UPSET" the cigarette manufacturing industry. But what is most incomprehensib
le is the government failure to see that a cigarette damage is not only on the health of the person BUT it's hazard went to the extent of lost of lives and properties because of cigarette butts thrown negligently by irresponsible smokers that created inferno that shuttered the lives of many!
But we must consider that alcohol killed more (DUI,) and despite of this reality there is no law prohibiting someone to consume alcohol. Why hit the cigarette and spare the ugly reality of alcohol abuse?
Also we must admit that thousands of people are employed by cigarette industry and putting a pressure on their business will jeopardize the employment in the sector.
Whatever be the argument, there should be an ethical way to respect the non-smokers, as they are in-fact the real victims. I remember dining in the restaurant and the person next to our table took the absolute liberty to light a cigarette while we're in the middle of our meal. He had been politely asked to put out his cigarette, and he obliged. Question of approach? Maybe! But I think we should armed ourselves with tact and inviolable arguments, and an ample dose of smile
to go with our words would surely help!
July 30, 2010, 05:07:05 PM
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