Editor,
“Letters to the editor” are usually interesting read. One of those published in The Shillong Times of March 22 is just as interesting — “Freedom of religion is a right.” It’s about a recent event in the life of the Seventh-day Adventist Church at Laitumkhrah. The writer sent his “open letter” so that all and sundry may read and know, but with the instruction to the paper that his name (assuming to be a male) be kept hidden. What a contrast! The writer alone knows the reason for this desired anonymity. We can only guess, but your guess is as good as mine. He “hit” and then ran for cover! Is this writer a member of the mentioned church? I have no idea. But he must be around when the singing was going on, or the one being sung to might have done the reporting to this writer.
Did the church leader/pastor instruct those special visitors or singers to single out such people and shame them for their “sin” by singing “songs of repentance and forgiveness” in front of their homes ? Then the writer inserts this question: “Should church leaders allow such an exercise?” The question implies that the leaders of this church were fully aware of such an exercise and gave their tacit approval to its use.
Furthermore, the writer also equates prolonged non-church attendance with sin. But where did this unbiblical, unchristian teaching about this so-called sin come from? Certainly not from the SDA church; nor from any other church, for crying out loud. Is this writer guilty of putting words into the church’s mouth to make it look bad or even to shame the church? Does this writer know those “visitors” or singers by name and face (at least one or two of them) so we can promptly verify with them the truth or falsehood of his allegations against them? Could it be that this “sin” of non-church attendance is an invention of the writer himself who turned it into an “ear” by which to lift the SDA church — his church? Two wrongs do not make a right!
Yes, freedom of religion is a right, but shaming someone in the name of religion is not a right. It is harassment. The question is: Did those singers really do that? Was that their intention for visiting and singing to those members?
Certainly, there is no thin line between peace and trespassing. The latter is not even a distant cousin of the former. They are opposites. If the one that had been visited with such songs felt harassed, a more Christian or lovable thing to do would be to approach the church pastor and lodge a protest or an objection for such an unchristian tactic of naming and shaming. But then such a method is far and away from being a “religious advocacy.” You have to be out of your mind to adopt this method for spreading your religion. Not only is it not smart, but it is also stupid and dumb.
Yours etc.,
Boxer Kharbteng,
Via email
How apathetic is our Govt!
Editor,
It was with dismay that I read that the news report, “Assembly snubs bill on welfare of kids with disability,” (ST March 11,2022). It is now 12 days and not a single mention has been made in your paper since then of this matter. It seems that only Bah George B. Lyngdoh has read and understood that India too is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The People with Disabilities Act (PWD) was enacted by the Government of India in 2016 after ratifying the UNCRPD in 2007 and the Mental Health Care Act came in 2017. Does Meghalaya fall out of the purview of these legislations is a question we must ask of our legislators. Does it need another PIL to move the government to recognise that there are laws that protect the disabled?
Congratulations to Bah George who needs the full support of the care-givers of those with disabilities. Perhaps our legislators need to refresh their knowledge on disability and to accept that the disabled are not children of a lesser God.
The trigger for today’s letter is your headline that “Teachers hit streets.” Are these the public servants we put in their seats that teachers have to take this step to seek redressal? Do the disabled too have to take this step? I ask all those affected by disability to please step forward and support Bah George B. Lyngdoh when he reintroduces this Bill, as I feel he must.
Yours etc.,
Dr. Sandi Syiem,
SANKER, Shillong-8
India battles pollution
Editor,
In spite of all advancements in different sectors, India continues to be in pathetic state in air pollution levels. India ranks 5th in the top five most polluted countries in the world. For the fourth consecutive year, Delhi continues to be the most polluted capital in the world. According to the world Air Quality Report 2021, 35 of the 50 cities with the worst air quality are in India. As a matter of fact, none of the cities in India meets the prescribed World Health Organization air quality standards.
India must take a leaf out of China’s book and tackle air pollution problem. Despite being the most populated country in the world, China has made progress in controlling air pollution. In contrast, tackling air pollution continues to be an insurmountable problem in India. Traffic exhaust, factory emissions, smoke from stubble burning, construction dust ,solid fuel use-all these contribute to high air pollution.
Notwithstanding the fact that there are anti-pollutions laws in India, they are not strictly enforced. When cities succeed in controlling air pollution to some extent, pollution in rural areas continues unabated. Without proper coordination between city and rural areas, pollution cannot be tackled. Urbanites find it difficult to convince farmers to use less polluting practices. Similarly, rural people cannot convince urban people to drive less. Considering the ill effects of high air pollution, the government needs to take drastic measures to control it. We need to shift to renewable sources of energy. Given that air pollution causes diseases and deaths and adversely affects normal life, stringent measures need to be taken to combat it.
Yours etc.,
Venu GS,
Via email