Lighting up the cigarette, inhaling the smoke, feeling the nicotine infiltrating through the blood and increasing the heartbeat… this practice is a ritual for a huge number of people throughout the world in order to start their day.
This blog is not to discuss the detriment of smoking, nor to encourage people to smoke less. This topic has already been so over consumed. Plus, I am a casual smoker myself, and I do enjoy this ritual from time to time, especially after a heavy meal or while having a drink. To be honest with you I am smoking right now, and this is what initiated me to write this blog.
Another thing that kicked me off to write this blog as well is that I read in an article today that Syria has banned smoking in public places.
Syria, really?
Well I know that Dubai is one of the pioneers that banned smoking in public places in the Arab world. But this kind of regulation, you expect it from Dubai. This city is so wannabe. I’m sure that she thinks that in a previous world, or on a previous planet it used to be a European city, and now she’s trying to do her best to hide the Arab identity and shadow it with the heights of her skyscrapers.
But I was a bit surprised and somehow jealous that Syria was ahead of Lebanon in this smart initiative. While we are still battling to form a decent government, and still couldn’t make our mind whether Gebran Bassil should be a minister of telecommunication or not, countries that we used to contempt are starting to outdo us.
Yes, I think this is a clever idea. It doesn’t make people quit smoking whatsoever, but it surely decreases the number of cigarettes consumed and make the atmosphere much more pleasant and healthier, especially for the non smokers.
Do you see any day soon that this law will be implemented in Lebanon? What do you think?
I think that us Lebanese often underestimate Syria. Yes we hate them for many obvious reasons, but the country itself (besides its politics) isn't THAT bad. And the proof is that they passed this very smart law.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that this law will ever see the day in Lebanon. First we have to appoint a government, then we have to deal with Hezbollah, then we have to get all religions to get along, then we need to provide employment for all these young graduate before they leave the country, then we need to have 24h electricity, then we need a decent public transport system and THEN maybe we could think about eventually talking about the cigarette issue.
"First we have to appoint a government, then we have to deal with Hezbollah, then we have to get all religions to get along, then we need to provide employment for all these young graduate before they leave the country, then we need to have 24h electricity, then we need a decent public transport system and THEN maybe we could think about eventually talking about the cigarette issue."
ReplyDeleteALWAYS excuses in Lebanon. That's why nothing ever gets done.