Dear Editor,
Recently, my husband and I (pensioners) sat on the seawall (obliquely opposite the band stand), chatting and enjoying the fresh air. A minibus drove up and parked near where we were sitting. A man, woman and three young children came out. The children ran around playing under the watchful eyes of the adults (no doubt, their parents).
Not long after they began playing soft (Indian) music. My husband and I continued chatting, then the woman approached us and said something like this: “we hope the music isn’t disturbing you, because we see you are chatting, and we don’t want that…because you are elderly folks and we have to show respect to the elderly…” Wow!! I was floored! The music, playing softly, was in no way a bother to us! It was indeed touching to see in 2024, expressions of such neighbourliness, respect and thoughtfulness of others!! She continued…”we have to show respect because we want others to respect us…”
This was so unlike some, who at the western end of the sea wall (near the Marriott hotel) see it fit, from time to time, to bombard the atmosphere with thunderous sounds emanating from the trunk of their vehicles as if they owned the entire area, unmindful of the fact that they are assaulting the ears of persons who go there to relax, and do not care for their choice of music! May we as families, communities, a Nation, make every effort to treat each other with consideration and respect, regardless of face, race, religious or political affiliation.
Sincerely,
Claudia Heywood
