THE EDITOR, Sir:THIS FESTIVE season means different things to different people.
For some it is time to join with family and friends to eat, drink and be merry.
Others would have done the same, but are unable to, as many of their close loved ones have been laid to rest, due to either murder in this our bloodiest year yet, or one of the many fatal accidents on the roads like the one on Monday morning in Bog Walk. My sincerest condolences to you all.
For others, the season just reiterates the fact that they are lonely and in need of someone. Although retailers are reporting that the mad rush for commodities that they experienced last year is not happening this year, due to Hurricane Ivan, there is still a significant increase in the amount of shopping that is taking place at this time of the year.
I would like to make a recommendation to all the people who are shopping for gift items for children. I implore parents to help their children to realise just how important they are and how much you care for them.
Parents should also let their children understand that what they want is not
necessarily what is good for them. Parents should not really be caught up in buying things to make their children happy, but should be buying things that will make their children better boys and girls things that will help them to perform better in schools and become good, peaceful and caring citizens of the future.
Thus, our shopping baskets should not be filled with video games, toy guns, huge dolls, toy soldiers, cars, truck, nor any other games that seem to increase year after year. These things will only cause them to want to 'show off' on their friends and become boastful and selfish.
Parents should take the opportunity to invest in the lives of children. Buy for them an educational item like a book. Many of our children have GSAT and other exams in the first half of the new year. Let them realise the importance of these exams and that this is a period to engage in some serious school work.
Too many of our young boys are struggling in English; buy them a book and ensure that they read it. Buy a book that interests them, whether it is fact or fiction.
Reading will awaken their minds, extend their vocabularies and strengthen their faculties. Television helps to limit their imagination and weaken their reasoning.
I wish for all a very peaceful Christmas season and a prosperous new year.
I am, etc.,
JADE FRAY
jadefray@yahoo.com
University of the West Indies
Faculty of Humanities and Education
19a August Town Rd, Kingston 7
Via Go-Jamaica
