Issues: ‘The land of disrespectful smokers’

Chewing tobacco: Protesters from the Central Java’s Indonesian Tobacco Farmers Association stuffed tobacco in their mouths during a protest against the draft of a regulation that will include tobacco as an addictive substance in front of the House of Representatives building in Senayan, Central Jakarta on March 1. JP/Wendra Ajistyatama

March 3, p. 8  

Is it true Indonesians are courteous and respect etiquette when in public? A friend of mine shared her story of riding in a public minivan to her office one morning. As usual, the driver thought he was in a Formula One race, careening through heavy traffic.
At one stop, a man climbed on and promptly squeezed himself into the already packed minivan.
A minute later, he lit up a cigarette. Eyes half-closed, he then blew smoke straight into everyone else’s face. Most of the passengers that morning were young women going to work, including my friend.
These young ladies had, of course, spritzed on their finest perfume before leaving home, only to have it drowned in the stench of tobacco. None of the passengers complained, but their frowning faces said it all.
The man kept puffing away. Finally my friend ran out of patience. “Pak, could you put out your cigarette, please?”
The man looked a bit surprised, smirked, then replied: “Why?” “Because this is a public minivan, Pak,” my friend answered. “Oh, yeah? You’re right, mbak, this is public, so if you don’t want to smoke, get your own car,” he replied, still blowing smoke. (By Titus Jonathan)

Your comments:
This is how insecure men try to establish their dominance over
other people.
Gringo Reng
The United States

It’s not just smokers, so you can’t stereotype that way. I’ve been on crowded elevators multiple times, and when it’s time to get off, people who are waiting for the elevator
try to get in right away without giving anyone a chance to exit first. That has happened at malls, office buildings, etc.
I’ve given up my seat for the elderly or to those who need it more than me, and there are many Indonesians who don’t. This country has to adopt proper manners and etiquette. Every chance I have, I offer my help to someone and Indonesians always look surprised. Good day to you all!
Cinz
Jakarta

This is a sad-but-true fact that can be witnessed in this city every day. I once took my family to a franchise (not fast food) restaurant at Sarinah on Jl. M.H. Thamrin for dinner.
The restaurant has two parts, outdoor and indoor and we sat at what we thought was the non-smoking section because it was air-conditioned. Not long after we sat down and placed our order, another family (parents and two daughters) were seated next to us. While waiting for our food, my wife and I were amazed to see the father and the mother of the family each light up a cigarette, next to their daughters (who were about eight and five).
And, of course, the smoke they produced came to our table too. I tried to politely ask them to put their cigarettes out (or at least do something to keep the smoke from coming to our table, if they could), but they responded by telling us to move to another table, which we ended up doing (after a few quite unpleasant exchanges), because otherwise it would have become physical.
This is not the only “fight” my wife and I have had with smokers, but I can say that most of the time it was with those who appeared to be educated and not poor smokers. I’d say that family education plays the greatest role in this matter. Children who are not told to respect others will grow up to be adults who have no respect toward others.
Mukti
Jakarta

The main problem with Indonesia is poor character-building education. At the same time, they are developing our awareness to take care of our health by adopting a healthy lifestyle, exercising and planting more trees.
Smokers have chosen to endanger and shorten their own life, sperm (and eggs) and that of their children. Nobody and no president can ever blame smokers for shortening our lifespan in this lovely earth. We can only pray for the smokers: Please stop smoking for the sake of those you love.
Henri Lois
Jakarta