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| Sunday, 16 March 2003 |
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Letters |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Please forward your letters to [email protected] in plain text format within the e-mail message, since as a policy we do not open any attachments.
Soft porn in newspapers - a response In the Sunday Observer of February 23, Dr. Mareena Reffai, writing on the above subject, shows her disgust in seeing a newspaper advertisement of a well-known jewellery maker, purportedly to advertise their jewellery - 'through a woman', spread-out in half a page, 'with hardly any jewellery on and worse still hardly any clothes on'. She goes on to say that she had spoken to a few housewives and that 'they are all furious about this wanton display of flesh'. While speculating for a possible reason, why a 'reputed jewellery maker', with 'good quality products' should have 'to stoop to such a gimmick to catch the public eye', she blames the newspaper also for accepting such advertisements for publication and questions whether they have any 'conscience or just sell their souls too for a few extra bucks.' Her fury at the jewellery maker for selecting the half-page spread-out, to sell their jewellery on Valentines' Day - and the newspaper for publishing the said advertisement is quite puzzling, since she had conveniently forgotten the main character in this episode. The picture that appeared in this advertisement is not that of a mannequin or a figure made out of cardboard, plastic or fibreglass. In real life she is a woman. So, why blame all under the sun, if this particular woman had chosen to pose in a provocative manner 'with hardly any clothes on'? - to use her own phrase. There are some women who do not use clothes for the purpose they are meant for. Clothes are meant to cover one's body - but there are some women who use clothes to uncover their bodies! Just give such a woman, six metres of cloth and a jacket to cover herself in the most feminine and elegant attire a woman can ever be dressed - identified in Asia as the saree - and see the outcome. First, she would 'modify' the jacket by stripping off completely the rear piece and reduce it to a few horizontal strings - which would also help in keeping the front piece of the jacket firmly in place. Ultimately, her midriff will be covered only by a few criss-crossing strings. Next, she would start draping the six metres of cloth at the lowest possible level, which is nowhere near the accustomed waist-level. This 'lowest possible level' can go down further, in the same way as the water level in the Victoria Reservoir goes down in the dry season, displaying the ancient monuments that lie submerged in the water when the reservoir is full. Eventually even after wearing six metres of cloth, she would end up as a dressed chick! Give her a slack - it would be sewn too tight and figure hugging - so that from a distance no one will be sure whether she is wearing a slack or not! Give her a skirt - knee length or ankle length - there will be no difference - slits would appear in all directions and she would be doing an Ostrich Dance as she takes a few steps on the road. Give her a shift - First it would be a mini, then a micro and finally a micro-mini - that would be no bigger than the fig leaf of the Biblical Eve! Give her a pair of shorts - First it would be a Three-Quarter then a short-short and finally when a 'T' shirt is worn over the short-short, the short-short will be lost under the 'T' shirt! Give her a blouse - a deep cut 'V' would appear on both sides and eventually the distance between the plunging neckline and the ascending hemline would be not more than the width of her palm. So, Dr. Reffai - It is the woman herself who abuses her own personality, and not anyone else - and before accusing the 'reputed jewellery maker and the newspaper concerned for the 'wanton display of flesh' - why not start educating your own kind on the importance of preserving at all cost, the sacredness of the womanhood - which is a gift of god. Srilal Jayasuriya, Are Leos prone to heart disease? A large number of Asians especially Sri Lankans (mostly Buddhists and Hindus) and Indians believe in Astrology. It is common knowledge that majority of Sri Lankan politicians go after astrologers during election period. There are rumours that some of the so - called famous astrologers are bribed by politicians with the idea of misleading the public as some of the voters can be influenced by these astrologers. Astrology is a system of knowledge whereby human nature can be understood in terms of the heavens. It relies on precise measurement and a body of symbolism which has come to be associated with each of the signs of the zodiac and the planets (including the Sun and the Moon). Astrology rests on a foundation of ancient idea that force which patterns the heavens likewise orders humanity. As with religion it is a source of trivial superstition and profound insight. Astrology is the mother of astronomy although the two parted company in the seventeenth century. Zodiac meaning "circle of animals" refers to an imaginary belt extending on either side of the plane of Earth's orbit. The twelve astrological signs of the zodiac are each considered to occupy 30 degrees of the circle. These are grouped further into fire signs (Aries, Sagittarius, Leo) water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) air signs (Libra, Aquarius, Gemini) and earth signs (Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo). Each sign is allegedly associated with key personality traits and predisposes to illness affecting certain key body parts. About the 21st of each month (approximately) the sun appears to change sign in the tropical zodiac from Aries through Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. The disposition of the planets within the signs of the zodiac furnishes important information to the astrologer. Zodiac signs are believed to influence personality and health. Those born under the sun sign Leo are alleged to be big-hearted and at risk of heart disease. As far as I am aware, association between health and zodiac signs was first reported in Lancet in 1988. In this retrospective study which was done using a sub group analysis of the International Study of Infarct Survival (ISIS) 2 trial, patients born under Gemini and Libra demonstrated a slightly adverse effect of aspirin on mortality whereas patients born under the remainder of zodiac signs had a significant mortality reduction with aspirin. This study was not a well planned study as regards the relation between zodiac and health outcome (Lancet 1988, 2349-60). Zodiac signs are determined by date of birth and once acquired are not amenable to change. The use of zodiac signs is immensely popular in Sri Lanka and there are instances where some pregnant mothers have been subjected to elective Caesarian section operation (C.S.) without any indication for C.S., to change the zodiac signs of the baby. According to American Federation of Astrologers, the sign of Leo is associated with a big heart and predisposes its bearer to heart trouble. (Zodiac sign of Leo is defined as a person born between July 23 and August 22). Population of Leos make up approximately one twelfth of mankind. Dr. Hitinder S. Gurm MBBS, MRCP and Dr. Michael S. Lauer MD, FACC, FAHA of Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio studied 32386 patients undergoing stress testing (exercise ECG) and studied the association of Leo sun sign with long term mortality. There was a total of 2586 deaths over a period of 5 years. There was a slight excess of deaths among the Leos (9.6% vs 8.7%). The researchers found that there was no significant difference in risk of mortality. Above researchers came to the conclusion that being a Leo is not associated with adverse cardiac risk and concluded that their findings should provide reassurance to the large population of Leos that make up approximately one twelfth mankind. Dr. Hitinder and Dr. Michael showed that stress testing of Leos is not significantly different from non-Leos. As Leos are said to be big-hearted, the ECG's of Leos were studied for evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) as defined by ECG criteria of LVH. There was no statistical difference between the two groups (Leos and non-Leos with regard to LVH). They looked into the incidence of smoking, diabetes mellitus (non-insulin) coronary artery disease, history of heart failure, coronary artery surgery (CABG), coronary angioplasty (PTCA), use of (a) cholesterol lowering drugs (b) beta - blockers, (c) aspirin (d) digoxin, right-bundle branch block (RBBB) left bundle branch block (LBBB), LVH and Q Waves in ECG. There was no statistical difference between the Leos and non Leos. Same was true with regard to resting tachycardia (rapid heart rate) chronic lung disease and end stage renal failure. Thus being a Leo is not associated with any adverse cardiac risk. Dr. D. P. Atukorale The board of management of the Nandadasa Kodagoda Memorial Trust intends publishing a booklet containing articles etc. written by the late Deshamanya, Professor Nandadasa Kodagoda. Anyone who has access to such articles etc. is requested to kindly send us copies of such material which may have been published in newspapers, journals or magazines, so that they could be included in our publication. S.B.W. de Silva, I am a devout Muslim. However, there is one aspect of sacrifice that confuses me. When the Holy Quaran says, "Their flesh reaches not Allah, nor does their blood, but it is your righteousness that reaches Him", as explained by Mr. Abdul Aziz in his above-mentioned newspaper letter of 2.2.03 that the sacrificer shows his willingness to be sacrificed, to shed his blood for the sake of God, as is shed the blood of the sacrificed animal". But it is obvious that in every instance the sacrificed animal does not offer his life willingly at all. His life is, rather, torn out of him; in fact, robbed by sheer force, while he struggles in anguish, terror, pain and fear of his impending, cruel slaughter. Allah has decreed that to rob is a sin, and what more sinful than to rob another's life ? As quoted by our brother Abdul Aziz, "A Haji who performs the Haj in its fullest sense emerges out of it, as though he was a new born infant, pure and perfect." Can this result be achieved, by robbing by force a life and offering it absolutely against the will of the sacrificed ? As a true Muslim, I do my own sacrifice - just pricking my own finger - ouch ! how much even that hurts ! - and offering my own drop of blood to the Almighty. Many young Muslims, like myself, think that, instead of cruelly slaughtering animals, it is a much better sacrifice to offer a drop of our own blood to the Almighty ! Fatima Thair, After nearly two years of work and spending a large sum of money, borrowed from the Asian Development Bank, the section of the highway from Kanatte to the High Level Road was completed. The road was hailed by all as a major triumph for the road building activities of Sri Lanka. We were stepping into the world super highway. The people living in the area covered by this road suffered a great deal during the construction stage of this road. But they endured all the hardships, as the road was eventually going to help them. Now, what is the Ceylon Electricity Board doing, digging up the pavement so well prepared by the RDA? It has not taken even six months before the road was opened as a highway, for this digging to take place. The question we have to ask the relevant authorities, namely, the Minister of Highways and the Minister of Power and Energy, as well as the government agencies like the RDA and the CEB is, why they could not coordinate and ensure that this type of haphazard work is not resorted to? If there is a Government in control of this country, the people who are responsible for these very irresponsible acts should be punished and sent away from their jobs. This is indeed the worst kind of mismanagement perpetrated by the powers that run this country. W. S. NANAYAKKARA, "It is not wrong for the king to punish with death penalty those who commit grave crimes, such as murder. It is like uprooting the weeds to save the crop" (Thirukurral 550). The Thirukurral was written by Thiruvalluvar 3000 years back. It was acclaimed a great philosophy (Vedantham). The white man was enamoured and translated it and published in book form. To arrive at a balanced decision on this vexed question, it will be useful to reproduce a passage from the book entitled 'The Tamil Nad in which Vathuvar lived' by Samy Sidambanar published in 1956, in Tamil, the English of which is substantially as follows: (Page 118) - "The Thirrukurral is of the firm view that severe punishment should be meted out to those who commit grave crimes such as murder. In ancient times even small offences were dealt with severely. Those of ancient times believed that crime can be reduced only by suitable punishment fitting the crime. Death penalty was enforced on murder and robbery. Punishment must fit the crime, states the 'Silapadikaram' (by Hango) another of the great epics coming down the ages ... any government can enforce such methods of punishment in order to keep a check on the increase of criminals. Necessary laws for such punishment and the courts for such purposes should be available in the country. This is in keeping with the principle enunciated in the Thirukurral". The author Samy Sidambaranar goes on to state, "The need for such measures will not arise if there is good governance. These measures arise where persons who are greedy for power and selfish govern the country. The Devil will dance for sometime and inflict sorrow on the people. In the end this Devil will swallow the government which let it loose. This is the truth which history has shown". I cannot agree more with the last para. In our country the Devil has been party politics and as a result criminals have been encouraged. Murder, rape, arson, robbery, drunkenness and disorder are now commonplace. Contract killings are well-known. Therefore, for the safety of the innocent people and law-abiding citizens of the country, there is justification to restore death penalty for a period of time, at least, until this country is assured of good governance. That would be a balanced decision and a pragmatic one. S. Thambyrajah, I appreciate the decision taken by Ministry of Human Resources Development, Cultural and Education to keep the names of 18 great achievers in the minds of average reading public by way of writing their biographies. Absolutely they are great products of Mother Lanka. Already selected achievers' names and their fields:- Lester James Peries (Cinema), Pani Baratha (Dance), Chithrasena (Ballet), Nanda Malini (Singing), Sybil Wettasinghe (Children's Literature) Ian Goonetilake (Library Science), Prof. Tissa Kariyawasam (Communications), Dr. A.N.S. Kulasinghe (Engineering), Wasantha Kumara (Dance), C.de S. Kulathilake (Folk Music), Prof. Sirimal Ranawala (History & Archeology), Prof. A. Liyanagamage (History), Dr. P.R. Anthonis (medicine), Thilake Abeysinghe (Art), W.R.P. Wijesoma (Cartoon), Prof. K. Sivathamby (Tamil Literature) Geoffry Bawa (Architecture) and Michael Ondaatje (English Literature). However in my way of thinking this list is not complete until a fresh decision is taken to include a few names of outstanding personalities who have also excelled in their profession.They are; ICG vice President Prof. C.G. Weeramantry (law) Jayantha C.B. Dhanapala UN Under Secretary General for Disarmament (For diplomacy) Ms. Susanthika Jayasinghe (Athletics) Rev. Father Dr. Mervin Fernando Director general Subodhi (for Leadership Training & Spiritual Studies). ARIYA JAYALATH, |
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