Editor,
It is true that today our newspapers, TV, and social media feeds are filled with bad news every day – murder, rape, drugs, suicide, violence. As adults, even we feel stressed and hopeless after hearing such news again and again. Our hearts are already heavy. And here is the thing… If such news impacts us this deeply, then imagine what it does to a young child. Their innocent minds will, without a doubt, be filled with negativity far too early in life.
Adults and parents in particular must understand that children don’t need daily doses of tragedy. They need inspiration. Instead of reading to them the latest horrible news headlines at home, why not share stories of heroes from myths and legends – warriors who defeat monsters, protect the weak, and save kingdoms? Such tales teach courage, kindness, and hope. And if you think those stories are outdated, just remember how you yourself grew up into a decent human being by listening to the stories your late parents and grandparents told you. Classical literature and old tales usually carry ideals of love, compassion, and friendship; they are always on the side of goodness. And these are the values, I suggest, that help children grow into decent individuals.
Therefore, parents and adults today have a choice to make – either fill your children’s minds with fear, or fill them with light. But, I must say, leave the grim headlines aside. Tell them stories that inspire goodness, so tomorrow they may become heroes in their own way. Later on, they might even ease your old soul, just as the biblical Proverbs 29:17 says: “Discipline your children, and they will give you rest; they will give delight to your heart.”
Yours etc.,
Sunrise Pohtam, M.Th
Via email
Free Minds, End Ethnocentric Political Biases
Editor,
The editorial “Of ethnocentric Biases” (ST September 27, 2025) made interesting reading. I do not disagree with the editorial when it says “Political observers will agree that the MDA 1 & 2 government has taken several initiatives in the area of Health, Tourism, Industry and that the government has engaged with the issues plaguing education in the state.” It has also raised a pertinent point that the MDA-2 government has “publicly acknowledged the existence of ghost schools and will be pushed to take action. The Opposition should have rightly demanded that such schools be closed down at once but such discussion did not feature during the Assembly sessions.” Such is the hypocrisy of the Opposition in Meghalaya when it comes to schools and education. Of late there has been a lot of abuse and misuse of the word Hynniewtrep and for those interested I would suggest that they read the book “Ka Pyrkhat U Khasi” by H. Onderson Mawrie or the English version, “The Khasi Milieu” by Sujata Miri who in the preface of the book mentions that Mr O. Wahlang did the major part of the translation of “Ka Pyrkhat U Khasi” to English. This book will be a good read to understand how and what a Hynniewtrep is and should be.
I am in sync with the editor that the most competent should run the government in Meghalaya no matter from which tribe he may be and, “it’s time to free our minds of ethnocentric biases” as the editor puts it. Freeing our minds of ethnocentric biases is not just a moral imperative it’s a strategic one, especially for those who thrive on plural epistemologies and participatory frameworks. Why ethnocentrism is limiting is because it leads us to interpret other cultures through the lenses of our own, often misjudging practices, values or institutions as “wrong” or “inferior.” It blocks collaboration and thereby creates barriers to meaningful dialogue, especially in multi-stakeholder governance or cross-cultural civic modelling. Ethnocentrism undermines innovation and when we assume our way is the only way, we miss out on alternative systems of knowledge like indigenous cosmologies or informal economies that offer resilience and insight.
Ethnocentric thinking reinforces in-group favouritism and out-group vilification, which can skew data interpretation and policy design. It leads to premature judgments, such as assuming written Hebrew is “backward” instead of simply “right-to-left.” Monoculturalism breeds absolutism and weakens adaptability in diverse or crisis-prone environments. There are strategic benefits of de-centering bias as the approach fosters empathy and allows us to evaluate practices within their own cultural logic rather than ours. When we shed bias, we open space for plural voices especially those historically marginalized to shape policy and resilience frameworks. Ethnocentric filters distort symbolic capital overlays and civic sense gradients. Removing them allows for richer, more accurate simulations.
Yours etc;
VK Lyngdoh,
Via email
Needed better security in schools
Editor,
I have been noticing and I’m concerned that schools do not have a safe system for pick-up of children after school hours in Shillong. Young children go out of the gate, then come back inside while waiting for their parents or guardians. Even while they are inside the school campus any known person to them may come to pick them up with wrong intentions.
I believe that when our children are inside the school, it should be an absolute safe place for them. I suggest an ID card system to be given to the authorised person picking up the child without which the child cannot be handed over to the person and to not let children move out of the school gate especially the young ones. School authorities should ensure that and parents should also advise their children about safety when they are outdoors alone or with friends.
In this tragic world, no one can be trusted with our children.
Yours etc.,
Monica Thangkhiew,
Via email
