The Smoking French Man - 01/15/2007
French smoking ban marks cultural change. When my family came to France in 1984, France was smoking ... that is, French people were generally smokers. Apparently, in the 50s three out of four French men smoked. Women smoked much less. Then with time, smoking among French women increased. Some 65,000 French people die of some kind of smoking-related desease. As missionaries in France, we had to put up with a lot of smoke. Because of our hospitality ministry, we had to come to a decision as to whether to allow our guests to smoke. We decided that, for the sake of the gospel, we would allow our guests to smoke. We purchased ash trays to make it more convenient. I remember thinking that one of my most challenging tasks was to accept the cigarette smoke in my eyes, which sometimes would give me a headache, in order to share the gospel with someone or to do an evangelistic Bible study a contact or to do a discipleship Bible study with a new convert. I had to learn to look through the smoke rings and see a person who needed the Lord. One of the first steps of growth for our new Believers was whether or not to stop smoking. (Then they had to consider breaking up with or marrying the person with whom they were living.) Eating in restaurants in France was always very nice and yet often a damper was put on our enjoyment of it because so often people around us would be smoking. I remember one of our very first experiences with a smoker was during language school. We went to the doctor with sick little Deliciana, who was just a baby at the time (now she is 22 years old). The doctor smoked as he examined our baby. Needless-to-say, we changed doctors immediately. My kids, to this day, when they smell cigarette smoke, have flashbacks of life in France as a child. In 2003 President Jacques Chirac went on a campaign against smoking. I heard his Ministry of Health say on the radio, "I dream of a France where nobody smokes." I heard that and thought, yeah, right! Like that is ever going to happen. Why don't you be a little more realistic? But slowly, France is being weaned off her addiction to cigarettes. Today, smoking in France much lower, comparable to other Western European countries. In February new bans will be put into effect. French people will be forbiden to smoke in French offices and public offices. By the year 2008, this ban will include all bars, cafes, restaurants, hotels, and casinos! Won't that be amazing?! My question is: will this ban be enforced? I hope so. Facts on Youth Smoking, Health and Performance The Harmful Effects of Smoking
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