The West hasn’t learnt
Exactly 3O years ago, filmmaker Roland Joffe painted a grim picture of war and it’s consequences in the movie ‘The Killing Fields’ – a reminder for those trigger-happy politicians to whom war is nothing short of an industry. The world hasn’t changed much when it comes to war.
The horrific scenes of the Cambodian killing fields should have jolted the collective consciences of Capitol Hill and Downing Street lawmakers and politicians – partners in global destabilisation. Instead, armament expenditures, globally, have risen to levels high enough to wipe out the US’s trade deficit!
From Mr A. R. Modak
Johannesburg, South Africa
Boycott US products
What is happening in Gaza is inhumane and every human being should stand up against this war crime (‘300 children killed so far in Gaza: UN,’ Gulf News, August 3). They have disproportionate responses and are openly defiant of international law. The UN has repeatedly shown throughout such conflicts around the world that it simply does not have any power and is reduced to a mere rubber stamp.
It is up to the world’s common man to react and condemn such horrors inflicted on the Palestinians. Innocent civilians have been taken ransom by a country in a freedom movement. This is the modus operandi of terrorist outfits and it is strange that while on one hand, the US is putting pressure on the UN to find a truce; on the other hand, it is directly fuelling the war against Gaza by selling arms and ammunition to Israel. For me, there is a need for a total boycott of US products.
From Mr Ahmad Wajeeh
Dubai
Website comment
Do something!
It is very sad and horrible news. I can’t believe that in 2014 the world has allowed such a massacre. This must stop. I wish that someone, the UN or anyone, would not only condemn these horrible attacks, but really stop them.
Action must be taken now. Every day that passes, more people die. Children should not suffer like this. It is a really petty and sad reality. Humanity should be ashamed of this and I pray every day for the sake of the Palestinian people to have some peace and respect. May God help the Palestinian children and people.
From Mr Marwan
Dubai
Website comment
Not just accents
It’s not only accents that are valued more; passports and ethnic backgrounds as well matter (‘Western accents valued more: poll,’ Gulf News, August 3). I have noticed a trend of letting go of Middle Eastern and Asian nationals and hiring European and Western nationals instead. For some reason, corporations in the Middle East think this is the right thing to do. A person should be evaluated by his life experience not by his accent, colour, passport or ethnic background.
From Ms Samy
Sharjah
Accent doesn’t matter
English is not the most spoken language of the world nor is it a sign of a person’s education or character. Still, there are so many countries that have no English as a subject, how many English speakers can distinguish the difference between various English accents and American accent versus Canadian accents.
I don’t think that adopting an accent will bring any higher results. Only vocabulary and understanding English are important when speaking. In China, there are more English speaking people than in the US. They don’t care for accents; English is a must in international terms and travelling. Speak English in the accent that you have studied.
From Mr Ashraf
Dubai
Website comment
Mimicking only
The tenses, context, and grammar when speaking English are more important to me than the accent. I do, however, sometimes adapt my English depending on who am I speaking to. By mimicking the accent of the other person, I find we can understand each other better.
Other than that, it’s best to use neutral spoken English, wherein most or everybody should understand you clearly regardless of where they are from.
From Ms Farah
Sharjah
Website comment
Importance of pronunciation
Accent cannot overshadow knowledge. However, I do think that accents are part of any language. I don’t think one has to be proud of speaking a particular accent or be adamant in sticking to a crude accent.
Rather, it’s about learning the language correctly in order to pronounce the letters and words right. This applies to English, Arabic and just about any other language.
From Mr Javed
Dubai
Website comment
The value of education
It’s very true that accents overpower knowledge nowadays. The funniest bit is that a lot of people have an accent and no educational degree but they are treated higher than the educated. I find this offensive.
People should be judged on character and educational background and not their accent. If priority is on colour and accent and not on education, does that mean education has no value?
From Mr Chris
Dubai
Full name withheld by request
More to life
I disagree with Chris and I think that the reality is that the person comes first and then their educational accent. I am a Canadian who works in a private school, and I have hired many teachers whose maternal tongue is not English, and they have been excellent teachers and persons.
My own children, who were born in Canada, speak fluent Arabic and French and have an Arabic and French accent when speaking English, but they don’t seem to care at the end of the day. It’s who you are as a person, and I would like to think that a person’s personality would count first before the way they speak. Many rich and successful people have made it in the world and they don’t have the correct accent so why should you worry? There is more to life than the way you speak English.
From Ms Lora
Montreal, Canada
Website comment
I wouldn’t care
What is so surprising? If 100 per cent of communication in the workplace is in English, a person who has more knowledge and can adapt better to the language, will obviously gain respect and recognition.
English is the first language of many Western nations, isn’t it? Simple question - how much would people value the words of a person participating in a discussion in Arabic by speaking Arabic in an ‘English accent’? I don’t think they would.
In a conversation in my mother tongue, Malayalam, I myself would be comfortable and pay more attention to people speaking in a native accent. Wouldn’t you?
From Mr Rohit
Kannur, India
Website comment
A sad reality
Almost throughout the Middle East, we all know what and who are given preference at work, and the factors are not the real basic qualifications or experience.
If accent and nationality are the factors that determine ability and knowledge, the industries and organisations will meet their failure sooner or later. Unfortunately even companies that proclaim in their Human Resources (HR) policy manual equality among race, religion or nationality, they do not really practice what they say.
From Mr R. Vasudevan
Dubai
Full name withheld on request
Technology affecting history
As the years pass, people tend to be more curious to unearth the hidden secrets of this magical world. Technology has improved, keeping up with the demands of the growing populations and the changing lifestyles. So I wonder, does the information age mean that we are losing important historical information? It has both positive and negative impacts on the world of history.
People who love to research our past depend on technology for effective results. Digital innovations have gifted us new equipment like X-Ray and laser scanners to detect clues hidden beneath the earth’s visible surface.
However, the extensive use of technology might have curbed the interest and insight with which people learnt history. I think this has reduced the original purpose of historical information - to discover and learn.
Technology has its imperfections. All the information we get from the internet need not be correct. When a new piece of information is excavated, different versions of it are posted on the web, and it is difficult to identify the truth. I think this will result in authentic historical information slipping through our fingers.
The historical information mankind currently possesses faces serious threats from the advancing new media age. If we know how to manage our resources and technology, if we understand the individual and unique importance of the past, present and future, then the information age will not wipe out our past.
From Ms Maria Vincent
Dubai
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