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July 8, 2004
Influencing minds
It is commendable that the writer took the initiative to write about a sensitive topic (TR July 1). I truly agree with what he has to say. It’s high time that these topics should be discussed openly because the way the media is portraying everything is simply atrocious. Some of the things we see on TV do not reflect our culture and religion. As far as extramarital affairs are concerned, I would like to say that marriage is considered a bond, which is very sacred and it’s disgusting to see that people do not value this bond anymore. It is a sad fact that our youth is completely under the media’s influence these days. Their views regarding love and marriage are very immature. These views should be changed, otherwise it will continue to increase the number of divorces which are on the rise.
SARA RIZVI
Karachi
Writing on the wall
It is sad but true that the most popular and successful US presidents of the last half-century have been men who remained seemingly unconcerned and untroubled by the complexities of the issues facing the world, oversimplifying them and tending to view them strictly in terms of black and white, unmindful of the grey areas that lurked there.(The Review, July 1 - 7)
Starting with Eisenhower who spent most of his two terms as president on the golf course, down to the present incumbent who according to Michael Moore’s film, Fahrenheit 9/11, remained on vacation for the better part of the first eight months of his presidency until the events of 9/11 forced him to get on the job, it is mainly the Republican occupants of the White House who — like the way every schoolboy likes his fried eggs — always kept their sunny side up no matter how grim the reality on the ground.
Reagan was the prime exponent of this brand of electioneering and governing. He liked to exude optimism, and engineered events to present himself as the saviour.
Nixon was the lone Republican who did not fit this mould. He paid dearly for daring to be different, and became the only president forced to resign during the past five decades. Clinton on the other hand survived impeachment, not least because of his infectious grin and look of injured innocence.
As far as Bush is concerned, his victory has always been controversial. Al Gore may in fact have been the winner were it not for the rigging in Florida where Bush’s brother Jeb is governor. Finally, you can fool all of the people only some of the time. The older Bush was not re-elected despite his Iraq victory because the real issue was “the economy, stupid.” The younger Bush too appears to have misread the writing on the wall, and may go down in history as the first one-term president of this century.
ASAD SIDDIQI
Lahore
In response
This letter is in response to Mr. Syed Arsalan Riyasat’s “Love is in the air”. I being a young person, myself, contradict his opinion that our elders should allow young people to meet each other, and if they don’t they’ll meet in cafes, parks, restaurants, net cafes etc. It is not a matter of lack of education and the narrow mindedness of our society. There is a need of making clear in the minds of our youth what is wrong and what is right, and when this is done the change in the thinking of people, especially young people dating someone of the opposite sex, will be noticed. If a person is not checked when he has done something wrong, there are more chances of that act being reputed.
And as far as the greediness of women is concerned, this factor can be observed equally in men.
AYESHA TAHIR
Rawalpindi
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