Addicted nation

Addicted nation

Thank you for the excellent quality of newspaper which has
been delivered to my door these past seven years I've lived here
in Jakarta. Thank you for taking the risk to make the tough
decision sometimes to keep us honestly informed. Maybe your June
1 front page article on RI condemns smoking cautiously was just
such a moment of truth. I was very surprised to read of the
unabashed sell-out of Indonesians' health, announced by, of all
people, the supposed minister of health. Your report that Sujudi
informed you on world "no smoking" day that: "the government has
no intention of introducing any regulations, let alone
legislation, restricting smokers because of the importance of the
local cigarette industry in the economy".

In so doing, doesn't Minister Sujudi also announce
indirectly before God, the WHO, and everybody, the importance
placed by this administration upon the health and lives of the
country's people?

What does it profit the government if it gains US$1 billion in
yearly excise taxes, but loses the health and lives of thousands
of its citizens? What's a life worth? What value do Indonesians
place upon their own health? Are they willing to trade it for the
temporary pleasure of cigarette smoking? Health is an even more
important factor in our pursuit of happiness. Some essentials of
happiness are: family, job, food, religion, friends, and
recreation. But the extent to which all of these can be enjoyed
is conditioned by our health. Are we willing to sacrifice the
permanent on the altar of the immediate?

Therefore, if the health and true happiness of the people (and
the two are in a sense one) is the top priority of this New Order
government, shouldn't it be wise enough and brave enough to make
the tough decisions required, not only for sustained economic
growth, but also the improvement in health conditions? Mortality
rates can also be an indication of success. Will increased heart
disease and lung cancer be a legacy of this administration, in
addition to its many successes? Many men and women and children
may not seriously consider their need to quit smoking until their
leaders show unequivocally that cigarettes are dangerous and
deadly.

Pak Sujudi need not worry that cigarette factories will be
closed anytime soon if he should encourage the populace to
observe one little "no smoking day" with rest of the world. He
says: "we have to move cautiously." Oh, do we now? Does that mean
they "have" to, or they "choose" to? Why? Is that what is best
for the people, or somebody's pocket? Should the minister of
health enlist the help of all government officials from the
President on down, would it really be possible to change the
habits of an addicted nation within a decade or two? I know
something of how hard it is to quit or "kick the habit", because
I saw what my father went through to "get the monkey off his
back", as he used to say. But I'm so glad he found the strength
to do it, because if not, he might not still be with us and
enjoying life. I'd sure rather have my father with me, and his
good example of quitting, than that the $1 billion Pak Sujudi is
so worried about losing.

DAN ADAMS

Jakarta