Sunday, March 23, 2003		Feedback

How Bush is killing America

APROPOS of L. H. Naqvi’s "How Bush is killing America" (March 2), the people of the US must resist the policies and overall political direction that have emerged since 9/11 and which pose grave dangers to the people of the world. Let it not be said that people of the United States did nothing when the Bush government declared an unjust, immoral and illegitimate war in their name.

Most of the world governments watched with shock the horrific events of September 11, 2001 and mourned the thousands of innocent dead. But the mourning had barely begun when the highest authorities of the land unleashed revenge. President Bush put out a simplistic script of "good vs evil" that was taken up by a pliant and intimidated media. The Bush administration with near unanimity from Congress not only attacked Afghanistan but arrogated to itself and its allies the right to rein in military force anywhere and any time.

The American people should refuse to allow Bush to speak for all the Americans. Rather, they should extend a hand to those around the world suffering from such policies.

K. M. VASHISHT, Mansa

The write-up "Chew your anger and anxiety away" by Amar Chandel (March 9) makes very interesting and useful reading. The whole thesis put forward by the author can be succinctly described in three Ms—that is meditation, mastication, and moderation.

Meditation connotes that you should eat your food with single-minded attention, and not allow any distractions to invade your quietude. The habit of eating with the TV on, should be avoided.

Mastication i.e. grinding and chewing the food with the teeth breaks it down into smaller particles, adds digestive enzymes, and makes it so much easier for the stomach to perform its own assigned function.

Moderation has been so much eulogised that it needs no emphasis. There is a saying that more people are killed by overeating and drinking than by the sword.

M.K. AGARWAL, Panchkula

The chewing technique given by the writer is simple and yet not practised by the majority. Chewing food properly not only removes anger and anxiety, but also has other benefits. While on the dining table all other activities like reading, watching TV, or talking should be kept aside.

SUBHASH GUPTA, Faridabad

This refers to "Now I am told that I am a girl" by Roopinder Singh (March 9). A girl has to face many adversities even if she is professionally qualified and self-sufficient. Girls should understand their worth and not to submit to age-old retrogressive traditions.

ANITA KATARIA, Patiala

The article "How to make kids love books" by Inderdeep Thapar (February 23), deserves to be given a serious thought when the readership in all age group is going down day by day.

The reading habit should be developed at the very beginning. The major reason for decline in readership is that books are costly and beyond the reach of the common man. The government should give subsidy to the publishers to enable them to come out with cheaper books. Besides, book fairs must be arranged regularly in cities.

HARISH K. MONGA, Ferozepore