Eid is a wonderful event for Muslim all over the world. It brings happiness as well but it is also an event for the parent to learn what their children do when they enjoy financial autonomy to some extent after receiving eidi (rupees given to children as a token of fondness) from their elders. Each child behaves towards it in their individual manners. Some children buy things to eat, some save their collections and some get toys. Buying toys is not worrisome for the parent but some toys are.
It saddened me a lot to see children playing with toy guns in their nearby play grounds or on streets close to their homes. Their seriousness while playing was worth noticing. They were not aware of their surroundings. What surprised me was that their parents did nothing even when seeing what their children were doing. Only some parents were complaining whose children were hit during the ‘play’. These toy guns are designed to emit the plastic bullets in a row or one by one and show striking resemblance to the real guns: color, size and system of loading magazine.
I neither want to blame for the children because they are not old enough to realize what to do and what not to do nor do I intend to request the government functionaries responsible for combating such evils as the government functionaries have many other things to shift their responsibilities and will turn a deaf ear to it in the end. The government functionaries could have done much to restrict the manufacturing of such items and impose ban on importing such items but they have done nothing so far.
I just want to draw the attention of the parents to keep a watchful eye on the activities of their children and to do their utmost to channelize their potential in positive direction. Parents must avoid providing such computer games where the use of guns is unavoidable. Parents must revisit their attitude causing the children to play with toy guns.
JAWED AHMED KHURSHEED
Karachi
