Thank You For Smoking

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/07/01/imo-view-thank-you-smoking.html

On May 31st this year, minutes before I walked in the train station compound, I held my breath knowing that clouds of smokes slithering ferociously to find innocent preys. The strong odor of reeking tobacco smoke immediately assaulted my nostrils, forcing me gasping for every bit of fresh and unadulterated air that was unfortunately non-existent. My bad luck that on this World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), I was knocked-out mercilessly by the second-hand smoke. Thank you for smoking indeed!


Despite the fact that smoking in public areas and offices is prohibited, whiffs of the foul smoke seems always keep following me around. Spiraling thick cigarette smoke still ruthlessly invade airspace in most public places; in restaurants, cafes, buses, malls, terminals, on the street or at work.

Inconsiderate and irresponsible smokers seem more than happy littering around these public spaces just to consummate their urge for the addictive substance. This is totally annoying, irritating and infuriating.

I feel like being strangled every single day, to be exposed constantly in the hazardous substance. It’s really frustrating. I feel helpless as if a dying fish craving desperately for water. The regulation is not effectively enforced. It is like a toothless tiger roaming around street.

Aside from that, many researches have confirmed the obvious grave hazards of passive smoke, environmental tobacco smoke, secondhand smoke — call it what you will. Henceforth, we know, for umpteen reasons that we should not smoke.

Sadly, statistics speaks otherwise. It shows that smoking prevalence in Indonesia rise steadily over the years. Indonesia men rank as the world’s top smokers, with two out of three lighting up. And about 3% of women smoke in the country.

Thanks to the spin doctors of tobacco industries. They have managed to ensure its livelihood through their ads and popular campaigns. They have been portrayed over the years in media to describe smoking; draped with advertising slogans and seductive images; as super cool, modern, and fashionable. Billboard and television advertising of tobacco in this nation remains widespread, as is sponsorship of sports and pop music events.

To make matter worse, the tax over cigarette is mild. Compared to other countries, it is still deemed too low. As a result, the price of the addictive cigarette is by far still affordable. People regardless of their age, social strata can still carelessly consume it. Cigarette affordability partly leads to the addiction as more and more turn to the toxic substance as escape. Indonesia is indeed paradise for tobacco industries.


This is not to say that I am condoning smoking cigarettes. As a matter of fact, I have some friends who are heavy smokers. I respect their choice as I believe they already know the consequences of smoking; lung cancer, stained teeth to the point hard to rub them off, foul breath, an astray-like smell, and well perhaps more money burnt.


Luckily, they always take extra precautions to ensure that they don’t offend the non-smoking population. They are respectful in exercising their rights to inhale the toxic fumes.


What I detest is the inconsiderate and unethical smokers who are imposing their addiction on others. If those persons must indulge in smoking, they should do it in designated indoor and outdoor areas where it will not annoy and/or sicken others.


Okay, you smoke. I get it. It is your THING to do. You have every right to to blow your life away in smokes. It’s your personal death warrant. I know smoking is addicting and dealing with it takes time. But at least be considerate of others and be respectful.

It’s highly unethical to smoke inside a lift, puffing the whiffs around like a moving train; be it a President, a CEO, a Director or a cleaner. Smoking in canteen or restaurant that bears no sign of SMOKING AREA is just alarmingly rudeness. Nothing is worse than chewing down on some yummylicious food only to get a mouthful of second-hand tar.

I understand that some people just have to smoke after they finish eating but be respectful for the non-smokers.

Freedom doesn’t mean destruction. Yep, your rights should not cordon others to exercise theirs. If you want to die sooner, don’t drag anyone along. It is as simple as that. After all, it’s not going to kill you to show utmost courtesy and respect, making a point not to smoke near non-smokers for example J

So, once again thank you for smoking! You really make my day full of struggles and jittery.

The Way Women Think

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/06/17/imo-view-i-wear-jilbab-i-am-not-oppressed.html

Just because I am wearing a jilbab (headscarf), it doesn’t mean that I am oppressed, submissive, brainwashed and restrained. I always take pride in my brain and independence. I don’t just obey. I think and have full reign of my own freewill. I’m a woman and a Muslim. I don’t need to brandish my freedom all over my body and reveal it for public to see.


For that reason, I find it mind boggling to watch three Femen activists staging a topless protest in Tunisia in support of Amina Sboui who was jailed after posing topless on her social media. Bystanders rushed to these girls to cover them only to be roughly denied. It’s outrageously maddening. While their cause is noble, their tactic is counter-productive and offending more.

We all know that many women are still regularly being oppressed and subjugated under patriarchal laws in a cloak of religion and culture be it in the West or East, even in the farthest tip of the Africa continent. They are excluded from the mainstream, and considered as second class citizens. They are perceived as property, thus outstripped of their rights and freedom.

It is not the religion to blame. It is the sick minds of those who use it as cover, twisting and interpreting verses to serve their own interests. Religion is used to justify their act to denigrate women. It is worsened by the culture that glorifies patriarchal way of thinking.

I strongly oppose such misleading conception against women. But to do it in a way that is derogatory to somebody’s religious beliefs is not right. How on earth bare-breasted protest in front of mosques and diplomatic buildings can gain women freedom and liberty? They way I see it, such tactics only mirror the tactics used by patriarchal laws to suppress women.

Thus far, Femen protest undermines the fact that the Middle East women have genuine demands of gender equality because the patriarchy is so ingrained in their society. They seem ignorant that nudity will never be acceptable as a means to fight their cause as it is considered as a slap in the face of their dignity as a woman.

They can’t just storm in their neighbors’ doors and say “Look this is the way to gain your freedom and liberty. This is how you do it!”

Moreover, I find it ludicrous that many feminists still believe that no Muslim woman could ever choose to wear the veil of her own free will. If a woman walks down the street in a mini skirt and someone calls her a slut, these feminists will be quick to object. But if a Muslim woman walks down in a veil then many feminists are happy to concede that the veil is patronizing and demeaning, as a religious institution forcing a woman to wear one.

Therefore, getting naked is absolutely way out of line. Instead of attempting to use reasoned debate, they are opting for shock factor - they are doing it to draw attention to greater scandals. They would do better to keep their clothes on and engage in an intelligent way of demonstrating and debating.

I strongly reject the idea that a woman's body is used to reach any objective. Using a woman's naked body to change policy is simply bad for women. This only reinforces the image that objectifies women.

As a woman who genuinely believes in gender equality, I want others to appreciate my mind, the way I speak, the way I behave and to respect the way I am trying to gain my rights.

Exposing the woman's body will get these women nowhere but bigger problems. Thus, the counterproductive tactics will result only in more serious injustices towards women.

Battle Against Corruption

An Austrian writer, Karl Kraus, once said that corruption is worse than prostitution. The latter might endanger the morals of an individual while the former the entire country.


There’s no qualm that the statement is indisputably true. Corruption poses threat that arguably causes as much harm to human lives as weapons of mass destruction. Corruption decays and destroys a country.

The fact that more graft cases continue to come to light only shows that the lure of easy money is really hard to resist. We reel in utter disgust to watch more and more crooked politicians, officials and business alike caught in action of such crime.

We still have the bitter taste of bile in our throat when we learnt the case of Gayus Tambunan, a former tax official jailed for corruption, a few years back. He is as slimy and slippery as an eel, as cunning as a fox; bribing his way out of jails dozens of times. Money buys almost all, including law enforcers.

The case has gripped the nation. It has opened a window on government corruption, and damaged the president's reputation as an anti-graft reformer. He’s just a tiny dot in the tip of the iceberg apparently. More and more officials were found guilty of corrupt practices.

While the case still feels afresh in our memory, we were again rocked by a corruption scandal allegedly committed by one of the directorate general of taxation’s officers, who has been dubbed “the next Gayus” in 2012. We screamed at the top of our voice; “Oh Dear Lord, it happens again!”

Then, recently we are stunned for the dozens time when a few weeks ago, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested two tax officials, for allegedly accepting bribes from a steel company. What a terrible long exhausting drama to watch! We have just enough, yet we feel powerless to stop the drama.

We instantly feel our pulse pounding in our brain, our face droop in dismay and utter disgust. The bitter taste of frustration rose! It seems that to put an end to corruption is like the task of Sisyphus.

Corruption is steadily ruining our nation. It remains deep-rooted within political parties, the parliament, the government institutions, the courts and the police force. These white collar criminals betray the good people, pocketing the profits and treating us like sheep. We’re too exhausting of hearing empty promises from them.

Along with crooked businessmen, they steal billions of rupiahs of public money, depriving national and local governments of resources to provide proper health care, sanitation, education and other vital services. They are like parasites that suck the life of their hosts steadily. They deceive every honest people who work so hard to pay their taxes for the sake of the public welfare.

To combat such a pervasive scourge, even with concerted efforts, prove to be so hard. Despite the bigger role played by the KPK, the civil society and the media in the fight against corruption, the epidemic remains thriving.

The annual corruption index has consistently ranked Indonesia among the most corrupt countries. The latest index released by the Transparency International in December 2012 put Indonesia in the group of 56 countries where corruption remains deep-rooted.

Thus far, the law against corruption has not significantly deterred people from committing the crime. The corruption courts were often allegedly being far too lenient with graft convicts.

No maximum sentence has ever been handed down, not to mention generous remissions reserved for these convicts. Most of these criminals are still able to enjoy luxurious life even in jail, and make use of their illegal amassed wealth in carefree. The heaviest sentence ever imposed on a politician convicted of corruption sentenced was given to suspended Golkar Party lawmaker for 15 years’ imprisonment for his role in the Koran procurement scandal.

For that reason, punishment for corruption crime should bear deterrent aspect to incur fraudsters’ fear of the legal consequences of their acts. If the penalty is severe such as outstripping them of their illegal wealth and with maximum sentence of up to 30 years in prison, people will think thrice even more before committing the crime.

In addition, to win the battle against corruption, more strategic and rigorous measures are compulsory. This action is to identify and address the underlying causes of the crime in order to examine the weaknesses in key institutions and government policies and practices.

These efforts should focus on the broader context of governance and accountability. Only then can we see the many other shapes and forms corruption can take and address this epidemic.

The civil society, NGO and media should constantly monitor and scrutinize these efforts, and file a report for any discrepancies. The active participation of the public and media has proved to be effective in putting pressures for the government in its fight against corrupt practices. Enough is enough.

And at the end of the day, the political will of policymakers holds the key in the fight against graft and its allies.