Is the smoking toddler Ardi Rizal the victim of child abuse, or just ignorance?
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M$13 Answers
It wasn't until 2009 that a formal health law was passed in Indonesia that says smoking is addictive.
Tobacco is a huge industry in Indonesia and the idea of losing billions due to restrictions placed on advertising, sales or public bans is not setting well with them. By creating barriers, the tobacco industry in Indonesia is stalling any progress as much as possible.
Back to the original question, is allowing children to smoke child abuse? Well, yes. In our minds it is certainly child abuse. The attached video shows what has happened to a woman here in the United States that displayed the same type of behavior. I know here in the United States the attitude towards cigarette smoking. I honestly know people who would admit to an illegal drug habit before they'd light up in front of someone who wasn't a fellow smoker. People are ashamed of smoking here. And so, in my mind, this woman in the U.S is far more guilty of child abuse than the family in Indonesia. Sandra Vanery is well aware of the addiction, health problems and laws on tobacco use. She knew she was not only endangering her child's life, but that the child could be placed in protective services and taken from her care. She also knew that legally, she was breaking a law and could go to jail. The family in Indonesia is not nearly as educated on the subject.
Think of it in this way, if you see a child running about like little heathens throughout a car you're passing going 70mph on the interstate you're likely to be appalled. After all, we know seat belts prevent many deaths and it's a law, right? Well, think about to when you were a child, how important were seat belts then? If you're very young, ask your parents how many times they wore seat belts. Then ask if the car their parents had even came equipped with seat belts installed! What changed? Did parents intend harm upon their kids or love them less in the past? No. It was a matter or education and research that was properly distributed so that parents found out that while a baby feels safest riding in its mother's arms, a car seat is the way to go.
Smoking is no different. Below are photos of vintage ads. Some were aimed directly at children. What could be wrong with smoking if Santa is delivering the cigarettes? Look at how large scale the advertising for smoking was - even Ronald Reagan and doctors approved smoking.
Compare the anti smoking campaign in this country today to the pro smoking advertisements of not so long ago. It's amazing how the attitude changed towards smoking. If Indonesia had access to the same ads and campaigns that we have things would be much different in most homes.
By comparing the attitudes between the United States and that of Indonesia on smoking and you'll see why it's a much bigger deal here.
As insane as it is to us and as harmful as it is, it really does have to be put into perspective. Considering that the less educated village people of Indonesia rarely carry tissues or cover their mouth when sneezing or coughing. Mind you, this isn't with ill-intent. They simply do not understand how contagious illnesses are spread. As always, education is truly the key.
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M$
So,Child abuse,YES.
Ignorance,YES
These parents need to be shot. Who in their right mind offers an 18 month old a cigg.I can not believe someone would do that. That was when they first gave the kid a drag.
I understand that this toddler smokes 2 packs a day and when the ciggs are taken away he will throw temper tantrums.
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M$
Agree.
That is just so sad.
Here is more about this disturbing story
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1281538/Smoking-year-old-Ardi-Rizal-40-cigarettes-day.html
Take GABA 800 mg. a day, Glutamine and Tyrosine. Also Lobelia and an herbal sleep combo with Hops/Skullcap/Valerian. You have to supplement the brain chemistry for 3-4 months until the brain’s natural production is jump-started again. Smoking shuts it down, that’s why the withdrawal from the drug is so painful.
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Also, who really knows what the circumstances of the video actually are. People see something on TV and rush to the blogs. I like how this critic put it:
"There's no proof of how old he is; no proof of whether he actually smokes cigarettes or if he was just goaded into doing so for this video; no proof of how many he smokes; and no proof that this is anything other than a video made to garner attention for an upcoming Indonesian reality show."
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M$
A big deal is made out of all smoking. Pregnant mothers who smoke have anti-smoking information before them daily. Adults who are not pregnant do as well. The same rings true for drugs and alcohol. I disagree that no one has the courage to speak up.
I think the proof is the video. If you watch this child it's very clear to see that this isn't the first smoke this kid has had. Smoke rings? Chain smoking? Twirling a cigarette like a baton? This takes a bit of practice.
Also, according to the news report, child services have stepped in and placed the toddler in rehab for his nicotine addiction.
It may be impossible to tell from the video what age the child is, but he is most certainly too young to make a decision about smoking. Unfortunately, the education of the issue is not as available to Indonesia and his parents likely do not understand either.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37358195/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/
As far as why this is ignorance, i would say its obvious that the attention its receiving is going to keep the child smoking, or at least keep americas attention. I read a follow up article this morning claiming the child is going to rehab, ultimatly this child is a victim of american media explotation over child abuse or ignorance.
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M$
Also i would say rspears01 really summed it up with comparing american and indonesian culture, the video of the american mom being sent to jail for letting a two year old smoke really makes it clear why we think these things are outrageous in america.
The media is brilliant at sensationalizing issues - whether it's war, sex or child abuse -- we (the public) gobble it down like a hearty meal. It's unfortunate, but it sells and that's why they print/show what they (the media) prints/shows.
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M$You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$I didn't have to use a site. I'm a smoker (for 33 years) and a mom of a 26 year old and a 19 year old. I also have common sense.
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M$
I like your source!
Smokers can be intelligent enough to keep their kids away from a lit cigarette. Of course, when I was a kid my parents didn't do that. They smoked in the house, they smoked outside, they smoked in the car and they smoked when we were sat on their laps. If we had earaches, they blew smoke inside your ear as a remedy. Ironically, that didn't work. Maybe because cigarette smoke was causing them to begin with? lol It was abuse in a sense, but in another sense it wasn't because it was ignorance.
They really didn't know it was harmful. In fact, my grandmother was told to not quit smoking while she was pregnant because it would be too stressful on her. Talk about times changing!
I agree that this child is being harmed. It's certainly two-fold - ignorance and actual physical harm due to the ignorance. Who knows what other "abuses" go on due to a lack of information, education and sometimes just good ol' common sense, as you said.
Lots of places have strange beliefs that are ignorant to educated people. For instance, in Southern Africa it is a very common belief that the cure for AIDS is to simply have sex with a virgin. This probably plays some part in the sexual violence towards children in Africa. Statistics show that five children are raped every hour. Southern Africa ranks #1 in sexually assault of Children.
Although nowhere near as disturbing, but closer to home, many Americans believe that registering to vote places you into the draft system.
Some older people here in the US are still very superstitious - I've heard that if your child becomes ill, sell them. Wait long enough to fool the spirits who are coming to take them in death and then buy them back. lol
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M$
Excellent site, keep up the good work. I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say I’m glad I found your blog.
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Thanks
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M$personal experience.
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M$You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$No Toddler can go and purchase Cigar on his own. So obviously there is some level of abuse involved in it.
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M$
It just seems wrong to me.
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