A joint effort as school begins
On the issue of heavy school bags, we can’t blame the schools or any one in particular (‘Burden of bags weighs schools kids down’, Gulf News, August 22). We can altogether take steps to solve this problem. It is not necessary for children to carry all their books back and forth. From school, they should instruct children to bring only the books that are required for the day. At the same time, parents also have to make sure that their child is carrying only what they need. Clearing the bag daily and sorting it can lighten its weight. If each student’s desk has a drawer with a lock, they can keep books and files in it that aren’t needed regularly. Finding a solution for this is a joint effort between schools and parents. I think with teamwork we can achieve the goal.
From Ms Soumya Sanil
UAE
Weekend review
At my daughter’s school, the children are encouraged to use the school lockers to keep their books. It’s mostly on Thursday afternoons that the bags are too heavy as the children bring back most of their books home for revisions.
From Ms Sibi Joice
UAE
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Bringing all books home
My children carry 25 books to school daily with their eight subjects having a textbook, a notebook and workbook for each course. On top of that they also have their bottle and lunchbox. As a parent, I have a child affected by it.
From Ms Deepa Mathew Sachith
UAE
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Praying for innocent victims
After the recent coup attempt in Turkey, the attack on the wedding is another tragic incident where 50 people were killed (‘50 killed in Turkey wedding attack’, Gulf News, August 22). It was at the hand of Daesh, according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Will he take appropriate action? He has reacted in the past, but we will have to wait and see. I pray for the innocent victims and the grieving family members.
From Mr K. Ragavan
Bengaluru, India
Don’t get too excited
Don’t expect winter before November, seeing as last year, the first cold and windy rain came on November 10 (‘Temperature in UAE to drop gradually’, Gulf News, August 22). Before that, the first cold and windy rain was on October 28 in 2014. So just expect winters around that period. We can all expect sandstorms from September, as usual.
From Mr Afshan Osman
Dubai
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Other years were hotter
It wasn’t really that hot this year compared to the previous summers.
From Ms Alison Dominic Ortega
Abu Dhabi
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Temperature is dropping
I’m outside the city, living in the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, far beyond the airport, and I noticed a drop in temperature a few days ago. We reached around 50 degrees Celsius during Eid Al Fitr. So, yes, for sure it’s been a big difference already. Last week it was very humid.
From Ms Simone Donges-Bdiwi
UAE
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Reap what you sow
It’s a very big shame and if those parents were good to them, why did they face mistreatment (‘Son hires goons to shoo out 90-year-old mother’, Gulf News, August 22)? What their children get from profiting from such rubbish? If you mistreat such innocent parents, then your own children will likely mistreat you.
From Mr Fahim Alam
Sharjah
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Inexcusable
Paradise lies under the feet of a mother. Severe punishment will come to those who abuse their parents, especially at an old age when they are in need of help.
From Ms Leila Kazim
Dubai
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Shameful actions
It is extremely painful to read of elderly parents being ill-treated and ousted by their children and left for dead at a stage when they require support, love, care and attention. There can be nothing worse for a mother than having such ungrateful and selfish children who decided to get rid of her than to provide for her during her difficult phase. I feel terribly sorry for the old woman who had to face cruelty at the hands of her own children. It is so disappointing to see educated people considering their ageing parents as burdens and trying to rid themselves of their responsibilities. However, what these people forget is that tomorrow their children might also treat them the same. These kind of children are a disgrace who become the cause of pain and tears for their parents instead of earning their prayers and good wishes. Shame on such a son who repaid his mother in such a manner for her kindness and unconditional love. The woman would have rather not been a mother than to have children like these. The man must be punished and put behind bars for his shameful deed.
From Ms Fatima Suhail
Sharjah
Facebook comment
Better to have less children
The woman had seven children and all of them refused to give her a shelter! Raising seven children and all of them are useless. Better to have one or two and properly raise them than having seven and never knowing what type of person they will grow up to be!
From Ms Manana Murtiko
UAE
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Supporting each other
This is a bitter truth around the world. Children, mostly quietly with the false promises of returning back, leave their elderly parents in old age homes. This man has taken cruelty with his mother to the next level. The mother who fed him each bite with her own hands, cleaned him, took care of him in the best possible way she could. Such children should be ashamed of themselves and remember that one day they will be treated by their children in the same manner.
Elderly parents become like new born children if they are sick and cannot take care of themselves. It is then the children’s duty to take care of their parents and give them love in the same way as they did.
From Ms Syeda Ahmad
UAE
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Behind closed doors
It’s not an excuse, but what if she was a horrible woman? We are talking about showing respect to the woman who raised you, but what if she was abusive and neglectful? I have such mixed feelings because I can’t imagine throwing out one of my own, but we don’t know what these children had to endure. It’s too easy to judge.
From Mr Khalid Mohammad
UAE
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Keeping us safe
The Dubai police is amazing and due to their efforts that people are able to sleep peacefully at night (‘Report minor accidents at three petrol stations in Dubai soon’, Gulf News, August 22). I just wish it were a little easier dealing with incorrectly charged traffic fines. The system to challenge the fines seems almost non-existent.
From Mr Rakesh Kapoor
Dubai
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Trying to come back
This is really good news for everyone. I was living in Dubai for 20 years, and I really miss the Dubai police. God willing, I will try to come back again. In Dubai they are really good.
From Mr Iqbal Hussain
UAE
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Challenging for isolation?
The Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is challenging not only the law of the homeland, but the credibility of international organisations, such as the United Nations (‘President Duterte threatens to pull Philippines out of UN’, Gulf News, August 21). It is true that the UN is not an independent organisation, not having much power in international affairs other than condemning something occasionally. Duterte’s diplomatic tussle is increasing day-by-day. From Australia to the US to the Catholic church, his circle of provocation is enlarging. By this verbal exercise, the country is creating enemies around it or vociferously fighting for isolation. He is making all kinds of rhetoric on the strength of a massive electoral victory. The country is facing not only the menace of drugs, but many other things that also need urgent attention. The president’s inclination towards China even after the unsuccessful claim over Islands of the South China Sea raises suspicion on his foreign policy. Before challenging others, we should realise where we stand.
From Mr Girish R. Edathitta
UAE
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