‘Morality rhetoric’

From the Newspaper Published April 19, 2013

THIS is apropos of your editorial ‘Morality rhetoric’ (April 12). I am surprised you have disapproved a positive step taken by the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Karachi to close cafes which were providing sheesha smoking facility in the DHA.

Tomorrow if some entrepreneur opens in the DHA a 2.00a.m pub like one can see in the UK, should it also go unnoticed. Who says that smoking of sheesha is risk-free? It is, in fact, a sure recipe for carcinoma. I am shocked to read that “Young people’s morals are their own concern, or at best that of their parents”.

Are you saying that the society at large has no role to play to control noticeable waywardness of our youth?

I searched the adverse effects of sheesha smoking on the Internet which informs us that ‘the misunderstanding about sheesha tobacco is that it must be much less harmful to the human body as compared to smoking cigarettes, since the tobacco is breathed in through water’.

Nevertheless, MayoClinic.com points out that sheesha smoke also includes tar residue, deadly carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds along with other toxic chemical substances.

These types of chemicals may be cancer causing within the body. Sheesha smoking could raise the chance of cancers, especially of the lips, mouth area, tongue, throat as well as lungs.

The large degree of smoke through sheesha might also cause chemical substance discomfort of the lung area, resulting in or deteriorating allergy-induced bronchial asthma.

After this logical medical revelation, should you still insist that the sheesha cafes should be given a free hand to thrive and attract unsuspecting youth of our country? In all fairness, the DHA deserves accolades for a morally correct action.

SAFIR A. SIDDIQUI Islamabad

Newspaper

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Carl

Apr 19, 2013 05:32am

"Are you saying that the society at large has no role to play to control noticeable waywardness of our youth?" Safir, I think the point that the Author in question was trying to make is that you, as a solitary member of society, cannot determine what is "wayward" and what is not. At best, you are a representation of your own biases and opinions - you are not a representation of the opinions of society. While smoking is proven to negatively impact health, one should only put curbs on it so as to disincentivise your "wayward" youth from consuming it; curbs such as an Age restriction or heavy taxes can have the necessary impact. Imposing a blanket ban on it is draconian and will create a black market for its consumption - a far greater evil. Lastly you mention that DHA has taken a morally correct decision, who's beliefs about morality are they taking into consideration - yours? mine? our neighbours? Certainly not mine, as for my neighbours - I don't know them, so I can't tell what they might consider 'objectionable'.

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Waft

Apr 19, 2013 06:22am

I agree that sheesha is a health hazard and should be regulated. I dont understand how it's a moral one. If the writer wants to condemn social interaction between young men and women then he should come out and say that. I am guessing that's implied somewhere in the "noticable waywardness of our youth".

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