The Voice of Oman Rumaitha Al Busaidi talks about the importance of being a knowledgeable ambassador
correspondence Keeping our children safe Dear Editor,
O
man is a four-letter word that brings up so many jumbled emotions in my mind. It’s my identity, my land and my home – and yet do I really know it? I was always proud to mention the name of my beloved country when I was studying abroad. Being away for long periods got me to read and study more about its history, the legacy it left behind and, more importantly, what it is now; a progressive developing country with so much potential. It soon became a habit to educate myself more about Oman – and in turn, educate everyone else about it. I felt a sense of pride in being able to answer the questions asked about the geography and culture of my homeland. But being an ambassador can be tough. It requires a lot of patience, especially when people still think we get around on camels and that every Arabian girl must be a daughter of a sheikh who has an oil well in his backyard (trust me I ran into a few people who asked me that question!) With this level of unawareness, isn’t it our job to let everyone know simple facts about the place we call home? It saddens me when I encounter so many of the younger generation lately who have no idea about the basics – like, for instance, the Blessed Renaissance began on the July 23, 1970 and not November 18. If we don’t inform our little brothers and sisters about their country, how are we supposed to put Oman on the map?
Next week: yummy mummy karima farid
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MAR 13 - 19 / ISSUE 261
I am a parent in complete distress. Why? Pondering about the safety of my children is giving me sleepless nights. After reading the two articles about children being abducted from schools and public places, I have really lost my composure. Being brought up in Oman myself, I always thought it to be quite safe but these shocking incidents have just triggered a buzz in my head to take more care of my children’s safety. But how safe are they once they leave my circle of influence? I even take them to the bus stop for their school. But after that, I feel my children are on their own. The limit to how much a parent can caution their child and how much the child’s presence of mind helps in such a situations just keeps me wondering in anguish.
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I wish the authorities concerned would look into the matter more seriously and the schools take complete responsibility for each child once he/she reaches the school and until they leave the premises. I also request that parents who go to pick up their children after school ask them to wait inside the school premises. I am sure all schools have waiting rooms from where the child can be fetched. They will be much safer than if they are waiting on the road outside the school. It’s better to be late for whatever you are doing than to be upset after something has gone wrong. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Nothing is more important than the safety of your child. Nothing. Shabana Haris, Muttrah
WOMEN RISE ABOVE THE RAT RACE Dear Editor On International Women’s Day, amid all the glib talk of women’s empowerment and gender equality, women have realised that healthy competition and co-operation can run parallel like two railway tracks, for a win-win situation for all, irrespective of gender inequality (Y Issue 260). Gone are the days when the saying ‘women are the worst enemies of women’ is right. Moreover, in these days of the rat race, with phrases like ‘live and let live’ being the punch words, it is a quid-pro-quo to compete and yet cooperate for the simple reason that co-operation doesn’t necessarily have to be self-detrimental. Articles like Penny Fray’s add to awareness and act as reminders that we should rethink and retune for the better, rather than being jealous, egotistic and threatening.
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To the editor’s pick of inspirational women, I take the liberty of adding the 14-year-old Pakistani blogger activist Malala Yousafzai, who nearly paid with her life for speaking out about girls being denied an education. Her story is a true inspiration. It proves that a voice, no matter how young, can make a difference. She has become an iconic symbol of hope for all those denied human rights. I also refer to a recent research finding published in the periodical Intelligence (MarchApril 2013) which concludes that women’s brain works more effectively than men’s even though their brains are smaller, so women are better than men at inductive reasoning, keeping track of tasks, numerical attention and spatial tasks. Regards, Usha Devi Suddapalli, Ruwi
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