Letters
"Mess!"
I would like to thank the writer C.R. Raiyan for the article
titled "Mess". It was such a realistic, heart-rending
and touching article. The description of the incident was
so vivid that I never felt that it was a fiction piece.
Today, we, the teenagers (especially those of us in the
urban areas), are being exposed to sex by means of the Internet,
satellite technology, etc. Most of us are, however, immature
and usually get too zealous about this unsolicited matter.
The result is awful. Therefore, I think urban High Schools
(especially the English-Medium Schools) should begin 'Education
on Sexual Health and Safe Sex', of course after getting
permission from the parents. In fact, these are being taught
in high schools of many cities, including Kuala Lumpur.
This will not only prevent such a "mess," but
will also reduce the spread of the deadly HIV-AIDS. I would
like to request the writer to keep it up and thank SWM for
printing such a practical article. Well done!
A
Reader On E-mail
On
"HIV Alert"
As a regular reader of SWM, I appreciate the effort put
in to turn out an interesting and highly readable magazine
every week. However, I was shocked by the letter "HIV
Alert!" by "An old reader and well-wisher"
in the April 8 issue. It is alarmist and irresponsible!
It would be interesting to know the source of this story;
it appears altogether too contrived to be credible. There
are several ways in which HIV infection can be spread but
doing it intentionally through planting syringes in cinema
hall seats is absurd and does great injustice to persons
who are HIV positive. What worries me deeply is that this
kind of alarmist, unsubstantiated story contributes to the
existing prejudice, stigma and isolation suffered by people
who are HIV positive and aggravates the general ignorance
about this disease. I am disappointed that SWM should publish
such a letter without verifying the truth behind it. HIV
and AIDS pose a real threat to society and it would be good
to see informed and responsible journalism on the subject.
Ruby
Ghuznavi
On
"The Yellow Line of Fear"
Nadia Kabir Barb once again did a great job in her article
"The Yellow Line Of Fear". The mass people of
Bangladesh always consider the developed countries of the
world to be some sort of promised land, where there is no
pain, distress, despair and only happiness reigns. As the
famous adage goes "the grass is always greener on the
other side." The affluent countries beckon people from
LDCs to make their economy more successful. By contrast,
when aspiring people land on the so-called dreamland, their
dreams and preconceived notions are ripped into shreds.
They find themselves to be the poor victims of racism, Islamophobia
and prejudice. No single species of animal is known to attack
its own kind with the glowing exception of the Homo Sapien
race. Human beings will kill one another and construct their
road to perdition until they are perished altogether from
this blue planet.
Professional
Stranger
May
the Pope Rest in Peace
We are deeply mournful and grieved by the death of Pope
John Paul II, who helped bring a message of peace to the
world. He was the first non-Italian Pontiff in the last
450 years -- he was the first Polish Pope and spiritual
leader. Undoubtedly, Pope John Paul II was a remarkable
person -- he touched the hearts of many people. He helped
the world face problems of today with his kind personality
and good heart. He had attempted to build our human civilisation
on love, with sympathy to those who are in need. The diplomatic
representation of the Holy See extends to over 120 countries
including Bangladesh. Pope John Paul II once visited Bangladesh,
which further endeared him to our people. May his soul rest
in eternal peace.
Md.
Toufiqur Rahman Kishoreganj
Request
for Islamic Page
I agree with the author who wrote the letter titled "On
Islamic Page" published in the April 8 issue of SWM.
Being a regular reader, I always feel that Star Weekend
Magazine should keep us up-to-date about what is happening
in the Muslim world, how their outlook is being changed
rapidly and why some highly educated westerners are turning
their attention to Islam as a code of life. After 9/11,
not only are Muslims world-wide being stereotyped as terrorists,
certain non-Muslims are also trying to define to the world
what real Islam is even though they do not know and do not
have the facts. Fortunately the interested people who do
not rely on the prejudiced western media find the real sense
of Islam. They have found the truth by studying The Holy
Quran, Hadiths and other Modern Scientific Explanations
by Muslim scholars around the globe. I believe that if SWM
attempts to open a new page on Islam like some other English
magazines it will be a great source of knowledge and encouragement
for us to know about Islam in the global perspective. There
are plenty of websites which give information and cover
debates concerning much talked about modern issues which
may help to remove peoples' stereotypes and ignorance. So,
we hope very soon we will see a resourceful, well-organised
page on Islam introduced in the Star Weekend Magazine. We
are eagerly waiting for it.
Md
Arif Sadeq University of Dhaka
Submission
Guideline:
Letters to the Editor, Dhaka Diary and Write to Mita, with
the writer's name and address, should be within 200 words.
All articles should be within 1,200 words. A cover letter
is not necessary, but every write-up should include the
writer's name, phone number and email address (if any).
While SWM welcomes unsolicited articles and photographs,
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SWM does not return unsolicited articles and photos. Response
time for unsolicited write-ups range from three weeks to
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