IN THE wake of the horrendous Mumbai terror tragedy, the destruction of hundreds of lives in both Gaza and Israel leaves people everywhere in shock and disbelief.

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I share Zainuddin Mohamed Ismail's worries about the effect on our children and think his suggestions about universal values and public education are sensible. What are the universal values, and what form should the public education take?

For the universal values, I would suggest two as being the preciousness of human life and the dignity of the individual. To help reinforce these values and develop empathy, I would suggest an expansion of the Community Involvement Programme in schools so that, at an age-appropriate level, children could visit hospitals and hospices (perhaps befriending opportunities could be encouraged for lonely patients?). Such visits would have to be managed sensitively; we would not want the patients to be exhibits.

I think it is also important to spell out the beauty in the world too. There was an article in the New Paper a couple of weeks ago about a young woman who looked after her younger sister, suffering from muscular dystrophy if I remember correctly, so that the latter could attend school and sit the PSLE. It was a very heart-warming story.

Welcome to the real world. Infact, I have many rounds of discussion with my own two teenagers the last few days over the recent violence. I try my best to educate them on the conflicts around the world and the need for us to be able to defend ourselves. Nothing is of value unless we can defend it. We should not try to block our children from these news but to expose them and manage their fears and prepare them to face the real world and train them to stand on the own feet.

I think that we have to focus and prioritize those values which protect humans and our earth rather than the sacred and the abstract. For those who believe in God, we know that God is beyond any need for protection as He is Self Sufficient.
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Every parent must monitor and ensure that his son/daughter doesnot become a terrorist. It is first and foremost parents duty. Then only society.

Zainuddin Mohamed Ismail's = Mediawatch, etc.?

"Undeniably, inter-faith workers would again be persuaded to organise prayers for peace, and lectures too. It is not easy for representatives of 10 different religions in Singapore to come forward to pray for peace, but it is a comforting and reassuring sight in these volatile times. Inter-faith prayers for durable peace are important, even if some interpret them as being only of symbolic value."

Who is qualified to talk about or promote World Peace when they have hatreds [grudges] in their soul and heart against others on the WWW or against their loved ones at homes, or against others in schools, at workplaces, in society, not to say even in places of worship, etc?

It become deception. No one can deceive the Creator.

It is deception in talking and promoting [including prayers] about World Peace or interfaith peace when one does not respect the Divine Principles of Cause and Effect that are applied on everyone 24/7 no matter who you are or what is your belief or non belief.

There will never ever be World Peace or true interfaith peace unless and until all spiritual gurus kneel down and hug each other [and cry] and offer unconditional apologies to one another for all the past killings, grudges, hatreds, conflicts, etc. they had inflicted among themseves, against each other [by putting down and do not ever again question who was the one who threw the first stone as it is an exercise in futility riding on deception].

Who dare to propose unconditional and open apologies to one another [race, religion, etc] to be included in the interfaith prayers?

Dare not = Deception = insincerity in seeking peace unconditionally in interfaith dialogues and activities.

FIRST and FOREMOST : UnConditional APOLOGIES. Whatever esle is USELESS, at best it is plain HUMBUG..

Please do not encourage your kids from age 6 to watch violent cartoons, play PC games, and watch violent sitcom [friction, shouting and quarelling], movies, etc.

Please google "the Glad Game" or "Polyanna" and nurture your kids from age 6 to have good manners and decorum.

And please do not use deception to sow the seed of disdain, displeasure, grudges, hatreds, etc. against others in their soul, mind and heart for them to grow up with hatreds and disdain for others [whatever their belief or non belief].

It is not in accordance with the Great Love and Divine Will of the Creator God. It is against, not for the Creator God.

1.Sacredness of Human Life
a) Respect for Wholesome Human Rights
b) Due regard for Human Duties
2.Enhancement of Non Violence except for Right of Self Defence
3 Trusteeship of mother earth
4 Respect for the rights of others to practice their religion and their culture within bounds of public interest/ public good.
5 Reverence for parents especially of the mother
6 Respect for elders
7 Love for children
8 Compassion for the less fortunate
9 Regard for the stranger , the wayfarer
10 Neighbourliness
11 Physicial, environmental cleanliness
12 Thrift
13 Striving for Excellence in all that is good
14 Chivalry
15 Mutual Consultation/ Shura/ Democrary
16 Rule of Just Law not Rule by Law

Non-Violent Language is also sometime to be taught and pracatised.

Recognition of the rights of animals.