The plight of a teacher
Being a teacher in Dubai for more than one decade has taught me many lessons and it continues in its own routine way with each academic year that passes. It’s a noble, respectful and honourable profession.
I really feel baffled when I see the new faces in the class as well as in staff rooms with each passing year. You may wonder why I am thinking like this, but is teaching losing its human touch as it goes on applying technology both intensively and extensively? Is it becoming more mechanical? Are students on a race for getting good marks or grades? Are they forced to think of it as a training for career building? Are they cultivating the habit of reading? Are they aware of the true values of education? These are some of the vacation assignments to be considered by teachers, students and parents. Wishing everyone a peaceful and happy summer. Ramadan Kareem to all.
From Mr Ajith Kumar T.V.
Dubai
Seeking spiritual purification
The message of peace, togetherness and sacrifice always resonates with me. It serves as a reminder that we cannot take our gifts for granted and we should express our gratitude to God every now and then. Sounds like thanksgiving, doesn’t it?
Well, a little to the East, and also in the US, our Muslim friends are into the holy month of Ramadan.
Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, is a time for spiritual purification achieved through fasting from dawn to dusk and offering prayers to God. Ramadan Kareem to the Muslim community!
From Mr Samaoen Osman
Cape Town, South Africa
Politicising a good thing
There is no need for any controversy with India’s Vice President’s office for not inviting Vice President Hamid Ansari for International Yoga Day (‘Row over Ansari escalates’, Gulf News, June 23). There is no need to mix religion or politics into this International Yoga Day, was on June 21 after being selected by the United Nations. More than 100 nations celebrated this day. According to protocol stated in the article, the Indian President and Vice President are above the Prime Minister and, here, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief guest and it was not proper to invite the Vice President for this function. Ansari and his office should have participated in this event and should have set an example instead of criticising. Now the Congress Party doesn’t have any issues, therefore they are trying to politicise everything that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government does. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body, and we should practice this in our daily life.
From Mr Eappen Elias
Dubai
Bangladesh is a strong team
Indian cricket team captain MS Dhoni is the best, but he shouldn’t offer to quit when he loses against Bangladesh (‘MS Dhoni offers to quit after India lose to Bangladesh’, Gulf News, June 23). Do you think that Bangladesh is a weak team? Wake up! They were strong. Bangladesh is not a weak team anymore. So Dhoni should not offer to quit thinking that he lost against a weak team.
From Ms Shinoy Ansari
UAE
Facebook comment
Who should really quit
It is really unfortunate that after the cricket series loss to Bangladesh, a lot of unnecessary hue and cry has been created in India. It is quite possible for any champion team to succumb and that doesn’t mean that the captain is inefficient and should be chopped immediately. No team can continue to win throughout the year. Take the example of the West Indies team of 1970 to 1990, who were the kings of cricket for more than two decades! Where are they now? I feel this was one of the off days for the team, who collectively failed to deliver.
Hence, I feel that Dhoni should not be made the scapegoat. Incidentally, all our senior players were so jaded after their hectic tour in Australia and the IPL season and needed some rest to recuperate.
But, the International Cricket Council (ICC) board members and selectors forced them to tour Bangladesh and the result is there to see! Hence, it is these officials who should quit first.
From Mr N. Mahadevan
Velachery, India
Dhoni is the best
I am a Bangladeshi, but I think MS Dhoni is the best captain on the Indian cricket team.
From Mr Mohammad Faysal
Al Ain
Facebook comment
All part of the game
Dhoni is not only good, but he is also a very good captain of the Indian cricket team. Winning or losing, it’s all part of the game.
From Mr Nadeem Khan
Aurangabad, India
Facebook comment
He has failed us
Dhoni is a liability now, since I haven’t seen any contributions on his part. As for his captaincy, we have young players sitting on the bench who have proven their talent in the Indian Premiere League (IPL), whereas Dhoni has completely failed us.
From Mr C. Mikhail Fernandes
Dubai
Facebook comment
Help refugees in the crossfire!
If there are so many millionaires, then why not use that money to help the Syrians who don’t have food to eat (‘Bahrain has second-highest millionaire density in the world’, Gulf News, June 22)? Recently, Turkish millionaires have decided to give money to help the Syrians in Turkey and for accommodations as there are more than 23,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey who have fled from Northern Syria.
From Mr Zeauddin Khan
UAE
Facebook comment
Start at home
Why do you think that those people should help them, Zeauddin Khan? Why don’t you help them? Just give a month of your salary. First do, then desire.
From Mr Vivek Pandey
Dubai
Facebook comment
It’s their right!
If you have money, then give it away, but don’t tell others what to do with their own money. People have the right to spend it the way they want to.
From Ms Fatima Al Khalifa
UAE
Facebook comment
Self reflection is healthy
There are days when you just want to leave everything behind and start fresh. You get tired of following the same robotic life and routine, and at some point, you start questioning your real worth and existence. People around you may be happy doing the same thing for years and years until they become unresponsive or immune to this sensation, but what if you are not like them? What if you want more on your plate? What if you start questioning whether you were ever understood? What if your frustration has no way out? All these ‘what ifs’ are factors that can drive you insane, but they are also the reasons that lead us to think big thoughts. I wonder where one should begin? Perhaps alone time is the best time people could give themselves to reflect on what’s going on in their lives, or perhaps they are pushed to stop everything else and focus their energy on finding the true meaning of existence. Maybe then, work and life would finally start making some sense. I guess seeking change isn’t so bad after all.
From Ms Sumera Malek
UAE
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