Lankans should unite:

It is not even two months since the powerful tsunami struck Sri Lanka, causing death and destruction, but the ceasefire between the Tamil rebels and the government seems to have come to an end with violence escalating in that war-torn country. Even a disastrous tsunami has not been able to unite the two warring sides.

According to the news “Lankan ceasefire under strain due to fresh violence: Truce monitor” published in THT on February 14, unidentified assailants made a grenade attack at a Tamil Tiger office on February 13, killing one person and wounding two. And this attack came just a few days after a top Tiger leader, E Kausalyan, was gunned down along with several other rebels.

This is bad news for the Sri Lankans who are desperate for an end to the civil war and restoration of peace. At a time of crisis like this, it would be better if the Sri Lankans united at least for the sake of those suffering. Both sides should halt their offensive against each other.

Alka Shrestha, Kathmandu

Good write-up:

Pooja Pokhrel’s article “A tsunami everyday for Nepalis” published in THT on Friday was an excellent one. The comparisons she made between the tsunami-hit regions and the present problems facing Nepal are worth contemplating. According to her, Nepal’s suffering is similar to that caused by the tsunami that hit the coastal areas of the Indian Ocean in December. But not many Nepalis are bothered about it. Her solutions are simple but worthwhile. The article is a mirror reflecting the wretchedness of the Nepali people and how support from within the nation is lacking. She says that with a constructive frame of mind we can easily resolve the present crisis, and that we need to unleash all the resources that we have for solving our problems. She should keep writing such fruitful articles in future as well that can be a powerful weapon for any efforts at conflict management. Such articles give more energy and motivation to the people irrespective of their age, sex, status and capacity.

Narendra Mainali, Biratnagar

Don’t punish:

It is a bad idea to be harsh on children, and punishing or scolding them for the smallest mistakes they make does not help. Those parents and teachers who resort to physical punishment should know that this only leaves a psychological scar on the children.

In some cases it can generate suicidal tendencies. My sister, for example, took rat poison several years ago when my elder brother and I used to keep scolding her for everything. Now, instead of shouting at her, we handle her in a different way when she misbehaves. It would be better if the guardians thought of alternative but effective ways of dealing with their children.

Nigita Shrestha, NIST

No copying:

February 14 is Valentine’s Day and is celebrated all over the world, especially in the West. Though it is not wrong to celebrate this day, which is meant for lovers, it would be a bad idea to blindly copy what people in the West do on this day.

While celebrating others’ festivals, the youth should be equally proud of their own culture. For instance, why don’t many of them observe Shiva Ratri with the same zeal like Christmas? Culture constitutes the fabric of society. And for a country like Nepal, whose history of culture and tradition is long and colourful, imitation is not the best way out. Real success lies in not diluting the tradition.

Anil Sharma, via e-mail