Can we avoid the season’s inevitable cold and flu?
As the winter solstice approaches, people are getting sick. The current change in climate is truly challenging our immunity. Many people are vulnerable to flu and fever. Hospitals become more crowded this time of year than ever before. It is becoming impossible to see someone without a handkerchief. When the season is progressing and putting us in our beds sick, why haven’t we figured out how to fix that?
I feel people should be aware by now about the types of diseases that prevail in this season and keep medications handy. It is not the first time that this place is undergoing climatic changes. I believe that it is pointless to visit a physician for regular coughs and cold and filling ourselves with medicine. Rather, opting for healthy eating habits at the very beginning of the season can help increase our immunity and welcome the new season with cheer and health.
From Ms Parvathi Sreeraj
Dubai
Don’t blame a lifeless phone
It’s 21st century and technology has reached its apex. New inventions, ideas and innovations are made every day and they have become an important part of our lives. One of these life changing devices is the smartphone. Smartphones have certainly helped us to bond with each other. At the push of a button we are able to keep in touch with friends and family, even though they might be seas and continents away. With video chatting, we are able to not miss a single moment of a family gathering. We feel a part of the occasion even though we may not be physically there. Grandparents may not be physically present to watch their grandchildren grow, but no problem, they can see them at least in pictures and recollect memories later on. So this shows how smartphones are an important element in keeping us together however far or near we are, right?
Would it really be correct to then say that smartphones are the culprits behind ruining our family bonds and taking away our emotional happiness? I beg to differ. Even though they may be called smartphones, they cannot possibly sense when it is the right time to switch off. It’s ‘us’ who continue to be hooked on to the phone, unmindful of the company of others. The only person to be blamed for this is ourselves. After all we are the owners of the smartphones, so let’s not end up making them our owners and later blaming them. Take it or leave it, but the fact of the matter is that smartphones are here to stay and they cannot be totally eliminated from our lives.
From Ms Madiha Ahamed Riaz
Sharjah
Children’s mental health
Schools are a place where a child spends most of their conscious time during the day and hence the expectation is that these entities also take into account the mental condition of children based on their age. Fear of humiliation to not be able to sit for board exams along with peers, ability to lose long-time friends in the coming academic year or having to change schools can all be causes for children’s minds to go astray and become depressed due to stress.
School authorities and teachers need to understand that the overall shaping of the child’s character and ability to cope with situations is actually the combined responsibility of the school along with the parents and not only the child. Putting pressure on a child to perform well when he/she might be dealing with other issues does not help with the final outcome intended in making sure the success of the child is ensured.
Schools make it a point to note down all contact details of the parents during the admission process and hence my humble request is to use them above and beyond than only to send reminders for fee delays. Some education systems don’t use the students as a way for communication with the parent and the faculty directly contacts the parents when they need to discuss as a team to deal with the child’s situation and help put in remedial plans to ensure appropriate measures are taken without jeopardising the mental or physical status of the child.
Raising a child is teamwork and not limited to the parents alone. Schools, teachers, coaches and friends have a major stake in it.
From Mr Sibu Siddique
UAE
Respect my privacy, please!
Living in this age of smartphones and the ability to circulate pictures and information in a matter of milliseconds has given rise to a new form of student punishment wherein the teacher or head takes a picture of the troublemaker(s) and instantly sends it to all the concerned supervisors or section heads. Personally, being a student myself, I find this form of punishment as a violation of privacy of a student and this takes place on a daily basis in my school even for petty offences like going to a lower floor or forgetting to bring an art book. I am annoyed by the fact that the concerned heads and teachers have a justification as well. But in my opinion, no matter whatever the wrongdoing, I don’t think anybody has a right to take a student’s picture and circulate it like that. A student has a right to privacy, too. Just because someone is in a position of authority, does not give him/her any right to violate privacy.
From Ms Lakshmi Rajagopal
UAE
Good rhetoric, bad policy
The President of France Francois Hollande was not prudent enough when he characterised the Paris attack as an ‘act of war’ (‘War zone’ in suburbs as police stage assault’, Gulf News, November 19). This was a simple terrorist act that should be looked upon as such. He was elevating the despicable terrorist act and making it bigger. Hollande should have been wise enough to see the difference between pure terrorism and a war which is the hated prerogative of the big powers.
From Mr Thomas Matthew Parackel
Kerala, India
Deadly attack shut the city
I would like to voice my thoughts about the Paris attacks that we know were part of a mass attack. It has been one of the most deadly attacks since the 2004 Madrid bombings. Many people around the world have been grieving as their close friends and family were injured or have died. The deadliest attack was at the Bataclan Theatre, where the attackers took hostages with them. Because of these attacks, most of the flights travelling to France have been cancelled and many tourists’ spots such as Disneyland Paris, the Eiffel Tower and a couple others were closed for some days.
From Ms Carol Varghese
UAE
It’s personal for humanity
The attackers might carry their passports because they want to be recognised. Why else would someone do this to begin with? It has nothing to do with the Syrian people, I agree. It has everything to do with radicalised individuals.
I think that it’s personal for all of humanity, not just for Muslims. I understand Muslims are always the first to be blamed and I wish that weren’t the case. I fight hard for people I know to see all Muslims as something far greater than what the media portrays, but we need to be fighting over the victims of this crime, instead of fighting over what country the terrorists came from. Terrorists come from all over the world.
From Ms Patricia Cooksey
UAE
Facebook comment
Looking into all factors
It is really a sad incident and no one can justify it. If there was a Syrian passport in possession, that must be taken into account, but there could be many other factors that need to be taken into consideration.
From Mr Xino Dawersokai
Sharjah
Facebook comment
Believe it or not
Why shouldn’t terrorists carry a passport? After carrying out a shooting on a highway, they might have intended to go straight to the airport and leave for another destination. I mean, they may believe that they can take out the entire French police and fly out of the country undetected.
From Mr Syed Shams
UAE
Facebook comment
The ripple effect
It’s really sad that innocent people are always the ones who suffer. Such acts have a great impact on public opinion. France was really adamant in changing the political scenario in the Middle East. Now, we feel the ripples in Paris.
From Mr Shanzay Goraya
UAE
Facebook comment
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