Imam: Dialogue losing out to technology

Fathers must have continuous dialogue with their children, and Father’s Day must not be a one-day affair, according to Imam Jameel Ousman. He told the annual Father’s Day celebrations at the Edinburgh Hindu Temple on Sunday: “We all live in a global village and we live in an age of fast-pace-growing technology, and communicating with our children is now done by texting, Facebook, Twitter.” Ousman pointed out that communication on a one-to-one basis with children was now becoming a thing of the past.
“We are losing that family dialogue and discussions to technology. As fathers, we must embrace the opportunity to have dialogue with our children on a regular basis,” he said. Ousman said that a good father makes all the difference in a child’s life as he was the pillar of strength, support and discipline.

“His work is endless and, often times thankless. But in the end, it shows in the sound and well-adjusted children he raises,” he added. He pointed out that traits of a great father include being, “a good disciplinarian, disapproving in a loving manner, using tough love to prove a point. “Other traits are being open-minded, supportive, loyal and respectful of your child’s opinions and actions, even though you may not agree with him or her,” Spiritual leader of the temple, Pundit Ramesh Tiwari, called on all fathers, “to come home to your responsibilities.” “Fathers must stop shirking your spiritual assignments, and get down to the task of serious parenting. Let us use today’s Father’s Day as the channel towards new family values and appreciation.”