| Smoking As a Part of Culture | | | | tobacco. It fills their life with some |
| | | | meaning, provides relaxation in difficult |
| 12th June 2006 | | | | times, and brings two people together when |
| | | | they might have stayed away. |
| Author: tima ashar | | | | |
| | | | How and when smoking tobacco began is not the |
| Smoking has a long tradition and history in | | | | subject matter here, but the natural product |
| all major countries. It is not just a | | | | seems to have been long known to native |
| personal habit. It is a part of our culture. | | | | users. As its use spread to other countries, |
| No matter what laws are made and how many | | | | new ways of processing and preparing the |
| campaigns launched against it, smoking | | | | product were invented, culminating in the |
| tobacco is today a very essential ingredient | | | | modern, sleek version - the cigarette. At |
| in the lives of many. | | | | once handy and easily procurable from small |
| | | | kiosks the world over, it stands as a symbol |
| As a cultural trait, smoking is very well | | | | of the modern man and the modern world. |
| known in literature, movies, and music. The | | | | |
| smoke-filled cafes and public houses are the | | | | The ill effects of smoking or chewing tobacco |
| first impressions noted down by travelers and | | | | are well known. These are the rallying points |
| writers in countries where smoking is | | | | of the laws and the campaigns that back them |
| popular. The movies too have added their | | | | up. It is indeed our responsibility to take |
| touch of glamour and romance to this habit, | | | | care of our health and to know the adverse |
| whether it is the scenario as described | | | | effects. The very young too need to be kept |
| above, or the gentleman smoker with his | | | | away from easy enticements. The final |
| girlfriend and a cigar in one hand. | | | | decision is ultimately in our hands. If life |
| | | | is to be lived with full meaning, than this |
| There are countries where the younger | | | | decision must be left to the individual users |
| generation has taken heavily to smoking | | | | - how they wish to live. |