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Comments: Disrespectful smokers
Is it true that 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
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em>Is it true that 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 F1 race car driver, speeding 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. (By Titus Jonathan)
Your comments: As I have family living Lampung, I regularly visit the province. Driving through the city, you can conclude there are many commercials owned by cigarette companies.
Even popular music bands are hooked by money to play on behalf of cigarette firms. The cigarette commercials state clearly that cigarette smoking kills, causes cancer and impotency.
But the smokers, predominantly men, seem very much convinced that they are more men with paper (there is hardly any tobacco in a cigarette) filled with stinking, addictive tar and nicotine in their mouths. Maybe their wives could speak out more.
Peter van Dijk
BSD City, Banten
I have another real story. I am a bus user (public minivan). One day, a man with a cigarette stepped into the bus. About one or two minutes later, the driver's assistant said viciously to the man, "Put out your cigarette or you can get out."
Then the man put out his cigarette. I am so surprised to hear that, amazing! I think the driver assistant only has a low education, but he is better than those who have a high education.
Gallzisa
Jakarta
Maybe Indonesians have heard what has happened in other countries, like the US, where smokers politely obey regulations designating non-smoking areas, in the mistaken belief that their rights are also be respected by having designated smoking zones.
The anti-smoking brigade are fanatics and will keep demanding more and more, until smokers are forced out of everywhere and then they'll complain about people smoking outside! So, as much as I do sympathize with those who dislike smoke and cannot find respite, I have to encourage the smokers in Indonesia not to cede any ground to the wolves in sheep's clothing whose aim is far from peaceful coexistence.
Sorochim
Jakarta
Muslim leader issues anti-terror fatwa, March 9, p. 8
The leader of a global Muslim movement has issued a fatwa, or religious edict, that he calls an absolute condemnation of terrorism. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, a former Pakistani lawmaker, says the 600-page fatwa bans suicide bombing without any excuses, any pretexts, or exceptions. Tahir-ul-Qadri has issued similar, shorter decrees, but Tuesday's event in London is being hosted by the Quilliam Foundation, a government-funded, anti-extremism think tank.
Your comments: Islam needs leadership that reflects the real picture of Islam with the guidance of the Koran and Hadiths. All Muslims need to read this fatwa and pass it on to others as much as possible.
M. Mumtaz
Lohore, Pakistan
Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has authored a book of 600 pages on the issue in light of the Koran, sunna and Islamic history proving the fact that all kinds of terrorism are un-Islamic and haram.
Tahir-ul-Qadri comes from the same region where today's extremists or terrorists are most probably based: Afghanistan, Pakistan etc. And this is what makes Qadri's voice and fatwa very significant. Let's hope the youth of Pakistan, Afghanistan and other Muslims nations will listen to this voice impartially and stop joining, supporting, or helping any kind of terrorism.
Raza
Austria
