It is time to make changes relevant to our social events

In recent months, health-related tragedies have been inflicted on people attending social events. In fact, tragedies associated with social events did not start with the spread of coronavirus pandemic, since they occurred in the past as a result of gunfire or squabbles occurring among the invitees. However, the mass participation in happy or sad occasions has persistently reemerged during the spread of the pandemic.

Our society is tribal. This society views such events from a perspective relevant to ostentation, with families and tribes taking positions towards one another, particularly in weddings which become rife with the families of the brides and grooms who draw comparisons and standings of one another. After all, we have been looking for someone who would “ring the bell” at a time when the pandemic emerged bringing control of the entire humanity. This forced us to make urgent changes to several “protocols” related to weddings or mourning.

This situation has been difficult. Several families decided to postpone wedding and engagement ceremonies until further notice in order to follow the procedures as had been in the past. There are reports on brides who adamantly insisted on holding parties and receptions which consequently led to termination of marriage arrangements days before they were scheduled.

The time has come to make a change relevant to several customs and traditions at a time when some of them express sincere love to our children and others related to ostentation, show off, and reckless disbursing of money.

One of the customs followed is inviting a large numbers of people. The government decided to limit the number of people in attendance in any religious-related social event to 20. It is worthy to note that the fulfillment of marriage ceremony necessitates the free acceptance by the couple to be married, in addition to the presence of two witnesses who sign documents marking the validity of the Marriage Sacrament. The presence of luxury cars is not a precondition for the fulfillment of the marriage sacrament.

In cases relevant to the conveyance of condolences, we have to comfort the families suffering from the loss of a dear person by reducing the days of mourning and abolishing the presentation of food which serves as a burden on the poor families.

With the corona pandemic, unemployment and poverty spiked, and several families lost their jobs and consequently their incomes. Considering university students who are unable to pay their fees, wouldn’t be better for the opulent to dispense with such social luxuries by helping poor students complete their studies? This is the most helpful and humane attitude.

Let us jointly consider this!