L E T T E R S    T O    T H E    E D I T O R

End of Obama’s honeymoon with electorate

G Parthasarathy’s article “Obama losing popularity: Uncertainty in India-US ties” (Jan 21) was well-researched. US President Barack Obama’s problems are not his creation. The US is indeed a conservative society. Mr Obama was elected as Americans did not want to give a chance to another Bush follower. However, change is always accepted grudgingly by the man on the street.

Mr Obama’s honeymoon with the electorate has been short-lived. From now on his mistakes shall be magnified and his achievements will be underplayed. Regarding his relations with India he is new to this ancient civilisation, but his Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who knows India, is favourably disposed towards India.

Mr Obama is learning, but the average American does not intend to give him requisite time to learn. The next three years will be crucial for Mr Obama and the US.

HARJAP SINGH AUJLA, New Jersey, US

The real sources of revenue leakages are unchecked corruption, huge government force and public undertakings suffering losses. This finance mobilisation plan will fail to muster desired results.

Capt AMAR JEET KUMAR, SAS Nagar

Let them choose

In today’s competitive world both parents and children are prone to immense pressure. I strongly feel that parents should understand the aptitude of their child. Parents can estimate the potential of their child if they spend quality time with them. Each child is special and he or she should be allowed to choose a career of his or her choice.

In class XI it is generally observed that many parents force their children to opt for sciences. The outcome is that an average or below average child is unable to cope and struggles to get 40 per cent marks in the examination and is under tremendous pressure.

I appeal to parents not to have unrealistic expectations from their children. Allow them to choose a career of their choice. Just guide them in the right direction.

SUBHA RATHORE, Chandigarh

Rising prices

Despite mounting pressure from the people and the Opposition, the government has been unable to mitigate the effects of inflation. Further more, the Agriculture Minister’s statement on sugar prices depicts frustration and apathy. When it comes to inflation, the UPA could learn a lesson from its predecessors.

SURAJ & R KAPOOR, Solan

Cherish, not waste, flowers A flower is beauty epitomised. When beautiful flowers bloom, the garden presents a heavenly look, which gratifies the aesthetic instinct of human beings. “A thing of beauty is joy forever” and hence a flower is a source of perpetual joy. In social life, people greet each other with flowers. Deities are worshiped with garlands and flower offerings in temples. Women use flowers in their hair to appear beautiful and fragrant. Flowers are considered a symbol of respect and piousness to remember venerable ancestors. Notwithstanding varied ideologies and lifestyles, this creation of nature reminds human beings to be kind and affectionate. For last few years the affluent sections of Indian society have started not only wasting but also abusing flowers. If leaders or members of marriage parties are to be respected, there is nothing wrong in ‘saying it with flowers’. But to present huge bouquets or dump flowers on the floor to welcome someone is disrespect for all things beautiful. Often tons and tons of flowers are wasted at wedding occasions. The famous poet Wllliam Wordsworth while on a morning walk saw a glimpse of thousands of daffodils and they kept flashing on the inward eye of the poet which he enjoyed all through his life as a ‘bliss of solitude’. Flowers in drawing rooms or in gardens speak of finer tastes of life. To dump them wholesale to prove one’s aristocratic status in society is a vulgarity, which should be condemned by all right thinking people. In the West, people often present just one flower as a token of affection. The wastage of flowers is a crime. TRILOKI DAS KHANDELWAL, Jaipur