DEAR EDITOR: Sometimes I wonder how we can call ourselves Christians and yet be so thoughtless and uncaring for others. I recently had the unfortunate experience of discussing our country's horrible state of affairs (murders and kidnappings) with fellow Christians and was deeply shocked to hear the response that greeted me: “Good thing me eh passing in that” and “Thank God me eh have no money and big house”.

But every week you see these same people by the lotto machines. Not one single word of concern or care or sympathy for another human being.

How can we take oaths at baptism to be “Christ like” and yet when our fellow brothers and sisters are persecuted for being ‘well off’, because it does not affect us we simply don't care.

Are we not all human beings at the end of the day? Doesn't our God make the sun and the moon to shine on people of all religion, race and social status.

Would we as Christians appreciate it if one day a group was formed who do not like worshippers of Jesus Christ and started persecuting our children, family and loved ones.

 Would you like to hear in your moment of despair and hurt someone say “Good thing me eh no Christian, so me ain’t passing in that”. Do you think that our Lord will approve of our lack of concern and care?

As followers of Christ we are all called to show love, care and concern for others in their time of persecution so that when our time comes as Christians (and we all know our time will come for the bible tells us so) our God will not have reason to say “How can I show love and comfort to you when you could not show it for another one of my creation”. How will you feel?

So let us truly examine our conscience and our baptism vows and really analyse if we are living our Christian faith with all God's people. We need to all come together as God's people in fasting and prayer for the healing and saving of our nation and all its people.

 In the Bible Esther, Judith and their people came together and did it, as did many more others. We can do it too.
A Hopeful Christian via email

Dear Editor: Allow me to quote from Dame June Gonsalves, Maraval, in the Catholic News dated February 4 , “Now that the country is in a state of despair, should we not work toward a goal of extra prayer, abstinence, fasting, the daily rosary, a Holy Hour during Lent”.

As the Lenten observances begin in three days time, are we as Catholic prepared to make a difference or change for the future of our nation? Will Ash Wednesday meet us crowding our various churches to receive ashes, and then it ends there. It’s back to the same old grind?

Questions only you as believers can answer. In ending, let me wish Trinidad and Tobago, a happy, safe, crime free and enjoyable Carnival 2007, whether as a masquerader or spectator, whatever you do exercise caution, and self-control. To the drivers of our nation, please be safe. Arrive alive.
God bless our nation.
Ken Smith, Woodbrook

DEAR EDITOR: Mankind seems to be on a mission of violence and destruction with the ultimate goal being the elimination of planet earth.

Love for neighbour and concern for the less fortunate members of society seem to be a thing of the past and self -satisfaction and greed have replaced them in every aspect of life.

Leaders have opted for the role of rulers rather than servers of the people and are no longer concerned with the welfare of the citizens but only of themselves and enjoy a life of extreme luxury while many of the citizens live in abject poverty and without even the basic amenities for the sustenance of life.

Despite the immense wealth that is derived from our God given natural resources, the majority of the population lives in sub-standard conditions and without the basic needs that they deserve.

The entire infrastructure of the country is virtually under siege and in a state of disrepair while the government is squandering billions of the public’s funds on immaterial projects that are of no value to the citizens of the country and will later on, only serve as a memorial to stupidity and lack of foresight and which will crumble because of a total lack of maintenance, like everything else in the country.

The country is besieged by a state of crime and violence, rapes, murders, kidnappings and fraud and corruption at every level of society and spiralling inflation has considerably reduced the purchasing power of the average citizen, with a resultant decline in lifestyle, while housing is becoming out of reach of the average citizen.

The time has come for all citizens of this once peaceful and beautiful country, regardless of religious persuasion, to turn to their God and Master for deliverance from all the evil forces that have taken possession of our land and restore some semblance of peace and sanity so that, the citizens can once more exist in harmony with each other and in a manner pleasing to their creator.

Let us pray collectively and fervently for the emergence of good and dedicated leaders in our country, men and women of honesty and integrity with a will to serve the citizens and administer their affairs in a worthy and intelligent manner so that, the fruits of our bountiful resources will be more equitably distributed, especially among those who are most in need.
Martin Kavanagh, La Romaine