THIS is with reference to the article, On positive thinking, published on March 30, by Kiran Nazish.
The writer seems to advocate the idea that people should always think in a positive way but the fact remains that if you consider the positive aspects of a thing to the exclusion of its negative aspects, it will probably lead you to disastrous consequences.
Here is an example to support my contention: The US president has also been speaking to the world about the positive aspects of the war on Iraq. Mr Bush did not think of the negative aspects of the war. He also did not give a thought to the fact that hundreds of thousands of innocent people would die when US troops would shower thousands of missiles and bombs on Iraq. I would say that as a result of positive thinking, the whole world is now exposed to great dangers. It is, therefore, better to weigh both the positive and negative aspects of a thing in order to arrive at the right conclusion.
SYED AHMED ABBAS ZAIDI, Hyderabad
Looking back at Stalin
THE article Looking back at Stalin, written by Mr Abul Fazal, in the issue of April 6, is devoid of facts and aims at the character assassination of a man who translated the ideals of an egalitarian society into a solid reality.
The former USSR became a formidable power which offered tough resistance to the onslaught of colonial powers. It was unfortunate that a Trojan horse like Gorbachev was placed in the communist camp who managed an early implosion of the socialist state.
The USSR provided a strong hindrance against the preemptive doctrine of capitalistic powers. Had the debacle of this state not been manipulated, the present Anglo-American red-politik practice would have never taken place in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the US could have never dared bestride the world like a colossus.
TAMKIN AHMED ABBASI, Quetta
Where do we stand?
This refers to the interview of Mr I.A. Rehman, published in the Magazine of April 6. The interview concludes with Mr Rehman’s words: “Most of the Muslim countries around the world are either in the grip of despotic rulers, discredited monarchs or mafias that can only fight against their own people and are incapable of posing any challenge to the hegemonistic powers.”
Where our “democratic” government fits in the above categories is anybody’s guess.
NAJMUL HASAN, Karachi
Safety at work
The article, Safety at work, by Hussain Ahmad Siddiqui which appeared on April 20, 2003, brought to light an important issue that is ignored in our country.
So many accidents occur at workplaces and a good number of them even result in serious injuries and deaths, but not much is done to improve the safety conditions at workplaces. What is more shameful is the fact that a worker may not just become injured but, in many cases, may not get paid for the days that he stayed away from work while recovering. Some may even loose their job if the injury results in a disability.
First Aid facilities are also poor, if not absent, at workplaces which can come handy in dealing with many emergencies that become serious due to lack of timely aid and treatment.
The safety standards, particularly of factories, should be raised and laws properly imposed, with strict monitoring to make sure that employers are abiding with them. Workers’ unions can also play an active role in this matter.
