If Lebanon Can Do it, Why Not Luxembourg?

I don’t know if we should be insulted or flattered.

A sign posted around Luxembourg has recently gained attention in Lebanon for its rather controversial and seemingly back-handed reference to our smoking ban policy, reading “If Lebanon can enforce a smoking ban, why not Luxembourg?” On one hand, it’s nice to hear that Lebanon is being used as a model for smoking ban policies in Europe, of all places. On the other hand, it kind of sounds like the poster is saying something along the lines of “If this third world country can do it, surely we advanced Europeans can too!”

So I think I’m more insulted on this one. It’s great that we’re being used as an example, but then again, we’re being used as an example. Of third worldness.