Avoiding social media cultivates confidence
Children have to face a lot of challenges, especially if they are active on social media (‘Dangerous social media challenges play on children’s minds’, Gulf News, August 22). My two children are aged 17 and 12, and they don’t hold accounts on any of the social media channels except for WhatsApp. Yet they do hear about such challenges in school among classmates. The first thing they do is share the information at home. As parents, we have to be friendly with our children and allow them freedom of expression. They should know that they will not be reprimanded for anything that they speak about. So it is an open discussion where all their doubts are cleared and so they are confident and refuse to accept any such challenges. As parents, I feel that we must teach our children to say ‘no’ with confidence wherever necessary.
From Ms Naina Nair
UAE
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Amazing and confusing art history
I always get confused looking at the amazing painting, the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci (‘Today in history: The Mona Lisa stolen from the Louvre in Paris’, Gulf News, August 23). When you look at her mouth she is not smiling, but when you look at her eyes the smile is great and even tends to transfer the smile to your own face. Looking from her eyes to her mouth again, you can see there actually is a smile.
From Ms Bright Biddy
Dubai
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Americans lost in elections
Though the US constitution says no one under the age of 35 is eligible to be the commander-in-chief, a fake independent candidate nicknamed “Deez Nuts”, who is a 15-year-old boy from Iowa, US is gaining ground in front of Presidential runners Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton in US Presidential polls. Deez Nuts has garnered attention in a short time as if he had been on the political radar for years. Now the present graph shows that 40 per cent chose Trump, 38 per cent Clinton and nine per cent Nuts, while 12 per cent are not sure. Americans are keeping their fingers crossed.
From Mr Sunny Joseph Mala
Kerala, India
India’s voting laws unfair?
The Gulf News story about the Indian court saying that voters have a right to abstain from voting was interesting (‘Court says voters have right to abstain’, Gulf News, August 22). If the government insists on compulsory voting in all elections, they should also amend a new law saying people have the right to throw the government if they fail to deliver on promises and instead lead with corruption and so many other things. I do agree that every citizen should vote for good governance. Will it happen in India?
From Mr K. Ragavan
Bengaluru, India
Corruption affects athletes
No doubt that from Athens Olympics silver medallist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore to the Beijing Olympics gold medallist Abhinav Bhindra, these stars inspire several other athletes in India. Though there have been many individuals excelling since then, the pity is our national sport, hockey, is at its limit. Though we have already qualified for the Rio Olympics, the preparation to regain our lost glory and winning the gold is dismal. The actions of Hockey India (HI) are questionable and the irony is even the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is silent at all the alleged wrongdoings in HI. Definitely, an overhaul of HI is the need of the hour. So is the case with some other sports events, too. The individual performances of boxer Mary Kom, tennis player Sania Mirza and badminton player Saina Nehwal has definitely added value to sports organisations. We only hope that wrongdoings don’t become a stumbling block for their future achievements.
From Mr N. Mahadevan
Mylapore, India
European life not so easy
I believe that the migrants travelling from Karachi, Pakistan to the island of Kos in Greece are just as misguided as those who desire to cross over to Northern Europe (‘The rocky road from Karachi to Kos’, Gulf News, August 22). Some make it their life dream and some don’t. But this road is not as easy to live as it might sound.
From Mr Noor Ahmad
UAE
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Barbarism won’t bring luck and wealth
It is extremely sad to learn that body parts of children suffering from albinism are used in black magic rituals and sorcery (‘I still don’t know what they did with my arm’, Gulf News, August 22). These innocent children do not deserve to be treated in such a horrific manner. They are born with a rare condition and they should be accepted for who they are. But, forcefully chopping off their body parts is absolutely inhumane and barbaric. What luck and wealth can these poor, helpless children provide to others?
From Ms Fatima Suhail
Sharjah
Facebook comment
Cruelty has no limits
Oh my, does this show us that cruelty truly has no bounds? Children are blessings from God. That of course includes albino children.
From Mr Nilofer Taher
UAE
Facebook comment
These are foolish practices!
The article states that albino children hold “ingredients in witch doctors’ potions said to give the user wealth and good luck”. I can’t believe that and these people need a brain! How can they do something to foolish? How can they cut arms of innocent people?
From Ms Carolina Bastidas
UAE
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Put an end to superstitions
Until superstitions on exorcisms are put to rest, these tragic cases will continue (‘Hunt on for ‘exorcist’ over women’s deaths’, Gulf News, August 22). Superstition thrives in the absence of education and knowledge. Any gap in understanding is filled with something. I pray that knowledge and understanding will continue to increase to protect people from these paranoias that get power only from what customers are willing to give.
From Mr Giles Heaton
Dubai
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An admirable acheievement
People need not comment negatively about the man who singlehandedly, by hammer and chiesel, made a road within the mountains to reduce the travel distance by 40 kilometres (‘Movie about India’s ‘Mountain Man’ hits screens’, Gulf News, August 22). We salute him.
From Mr Banwari Shivdayal Maheshwari
UAE
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Ripping apart history
It is sad to see the destruction and demolition of historic monuments and artefacts (‘Daesh destroys ancient monastery in Syria’, Gulf News, August 22). We have been fortunate to see most of these places before the civil war in Syria. It feels like having witnessed history which no longer exists.
From Ms Nadya Imtiaz Al Deen
UAE
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