Editor,
A time tested adage which says: ‘History repeats itself’ is not just a clichéd view but a veritable fact proven by the latest unceasing waves of refugee influx in tens of thousands from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and even from our neighboring Bangladesh into the rich Western European Countries. These insurmountable waves, which have assumed the dynamics of a Tsunami surging into Europe is well beyond one’s imagination and has caught everybody by surprise. Against this backdrop, the historians can well recall that nearly 500 years ago when the Turks had threatened to conquer Europe with their brute force of deadly arsenal, thereby de-Christianizing the whole of Europe, the great Pope Pius V perceived that the impending threat was a real one. To check the Turks’ power and cruelty, this Pope had called upon the Catholic European nations to unite and stem the advance of the frenzied Turks. Hence, on October 7th 1571, the Christian army under the leadership of Don John of Austria engaged the Turks in a fierce naval battle upon the waters of Lepanto off the mainland South Europe and after three hours of furious fighting the Turks were completely routed, thus ending their long standing domination of Eastern Mediterranean. Hence what the Ottoman Empire had failed to accomplish through an armed conquest, now precisely 444 years later, Europe is being overwhelmed by silent invasion through the massive and unremitting inflow of refuges who lead the children and women at the fore-front in order to sear global conscience. Coincidentally, to add insult to injury to this embattled continent, Saudi Arabia has offered to build 200 mosques across Europe for the migrants reaching there. Conversely, it is no less bewildering that all the affluent Middle East Arabs countries have virtually kept their doors firmly shut to their fellow Muslim asylum seekers. This perhaps indicates that there is a covert motive on the part of some Muslim countries to avenge the defeat suffered by the Turks at the hands of European Christians more than 400 years ago. Hence, the erection of a strong razor wire border fence by Hungary to keep at bay the unending encroachment of refugees into its country ought to serve as a wakeup call for entire Europe. This ongoing unsavory experience suffered by Europe is also perhaps due to divine exertion for its declining and degrading sense of morality where same sex marriage is widespread and legalized even in a conservative Catholic country like Ireland. Moreover, hardly a few decades ago Christian preachers and priests used to come from Europe to enlighten us about the qualitative essence of Christianity but now the reverse has occurred and religious men from the socalled third world have to fill the vacuum. It is also an irony of fact that while the saintly Pope Pius V had painstakingly organized a Christian expedition to defeat the Turks in 1571 the incumbent Pope Francis has instead urged every Catholic family to take in one or two families of these refugees. To do so without properly screening their bona-fide entity may have detrimental consequences. This papal enunciation may not go down well with many discerning Roman Catholic families, not excluding me.
Yours etc.,
Jerome Diengdoh,
Shillong-2
Cleanliness issue again!
Editor,
I wish to convey my thanks and appreciation to Ms Ampareen Lyngdoh (Minister) and the Urban Affairs Department for having heard my voice through this medium and space. I saw this in the News capsules -“Urban Affairs Department to conduct special cleaning drive on the stretch of the road from PGT/Shillong Commerce College up to B.K. Bajoria School on October 2 from 7:30 am. In this connection the said road has been declared as ‘No Entry’ from 7:30 am till the end of the cleaning drive.” Such swift action has given much credence to the Public Opinion in this State which otherwise would have fallen on deaf ears. I want to thank The Shillong Times for publishing our letters in the interests of the public at large.
Yours etc.,
R N Rymbai,
Shillong-8.
Netaji files!
Editor,
It is a stupendous decision to declassify the Netaji Bose files in West Bengal by the Chief Minister. I am actively involved in this movement with others like Chandra Kumar Bose , Anuj Dhar etc. Now the question is how long will the Central Government wait to declassify the 150 odd files ! The excuse that foreign relations would be hampered is not tenable. Truths should be unveiled. The so called paid historians have distorted the facts and our children are misguided. A country can never prosper with distorted history ! Why were some of the files destroyed ? Who are people responsible for such crimes ? All the classified files are our national documents. I hope Prime Minister Modi immediately opens the files for the NATION as he has invited the family members and other leaders for a discussion in this context.
Yours etc.,
Anjan Kr Das
Shillong -6