Editor,
Apropos, the article ” Religion, Homophobia and Ignorance,” by E Dhar (ST Dec 31, 2013) I would agree with many of the points of views put out by the writer about homosexuality. The World Association of Psychiatrists have declared that homosexuality is not a disease but part of the inborn traits of a person of which he has no power to change, which can compare with the other traits a person possesses, like the colour of eyes, hair, finger prints etc, which have been engrained in him or her. Sexuality is a personal matter, and many countries have come to legalize same sex relationships between two consenting adults. One such country is the United Kingdom where such marriages are going to take place from March, 2014, which is a landmark victory for gay rights. To say that the Bible is against homosexuality is to base one’s opinions on the Old Testament. In the Book of Leviticus many primitive laws exist some of which are comparable to the Taliban’s Sharia laws, like the stoning to death of a woman caught in adultery, and prohibition of the shaving and cutting of hair, torture of prisoners of war , and the law which states that individuals with physical defects were not allowed to give holy offerings to God, to name a few. So sticking to such laws in modern society is unthinkable .Statistics prove time and time again that crime rates among homosexuals is the lowest compared with heterosexuals. There are other burning issues, like the daily brutal rapes, murder, female infanticide, women oppression, riots etc which plague India on a daily basis. Many a time the culprits get away Scot-free and most of the perpetrators of such crimes are heterosexuals and not gays. These are burning issues that the nation should worry about. A person’s sexuality is not even an issue since this is a personal matter. Let us not be hypocrites and intolerant, because unlike the Old Testament, the New Testament teaches us tolerance, love , forgiveness and acceptance. It is the person’s inner qualities that matter the most, not his sexuality. India in the spirit of true democracy, should scrap off the outdated colonial 377 IPC which is a symbol of oppression. Let India show its spirit of true democracy and tolerance, and not be guided by blind fanaticism .
Yours etc.,
Shanny Lyngdoh,
Shillong-4
Love overcomes all
Editor,
Apropos the article “Religion, Homophobia and Ignorance” by E Dhar in the issue dated 31-12-2013 of The Shillong Times, may I hereby point out that Christians are under the great commandment of the Lord of Lords and the Prince of Peace Lord Jesus Christ to love their neighbours as themselves and such neighbours essentially include the gay community as well. It is also one of the basic teachings of the Lord that one is not to judge or else he/she shall also be so judged (Matthew 7:1). So the Church, being the body of believers, is surely not at variance with these most fundamental doctrines of Christianity.
Yours etc.,
Subhasis Chakrawarty,
Via email
Key issues never an issue
Editor,
I refer to the news item, “Key issues that await solutions in 2014” (ST 1st January 2014). I find it ironic that each passing year these “key issues” have remained untouched and largely unchanged. We only keep talking about them but neither our Govt nor our hyperactive NGOs, are interested in doing anything about them. Traffic, environment, garbage management, water scarcity in winter, coin shortage and beggar ‘menace’ are nothing new, yet no solution is in sight for any of them. We keep referring to them endlessly but never has an attempt been made to tackle these problems on a war footing. Moreover, classifying beggars and coin shortage as key issues is unwarranted as there are far more important issues that deserve precedence, foremost among them being corruption. Looking at what the Aam Aadmi Party has achieved in Delhi in less than a week since coming to power makes me think that this is the need of the hour in Meghalaya – a Govt. by a party like AAP to reach its potential. Neither Congress, nor BJP and least of all UDP, have it in them to bring positive change in Meghalaya. We need a Government which is visionary and works to a plan, unlike present and past governments. We also need NGOs to be focussed on REAL ISSUES which affect common people instead of misleading citizens with pipe dreams of ILP and creating unrest in the state (which in turn gives the Govt an excuse for not working!).
Yours etc.,
Daisy Kharkongor,
Shillong