Very difficult traffic
Once when I was in the middle of Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), I ended up taking a wrong turn, but I realised it immediately (‘No left, U-turns at five Dubai tram junctions,’ Gulf News, December 24). The U-turn was just a few metres away, and I could have walked up to the U-turn in less than two to three minutes. Instead, it took me about 45 minutes to take the U-turn and get back on track. When I shared the incident with relatives, everyone had the same thing to say: JBR has become horrible to navigate through.
From Mr Martin
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
From bad to worse
The entire traffic situation in JBR has gone from bad to worse! It looks like the time has come to move out of JBR, I guess. I’m not sure what else to do!
From Ms Shaan
Dubai
Website comment
It will work out
It is my opinion that if people have an issue with the traffic in JBR, they should get on the tram. I mean, really people: why do you think it was built? Traffic is bad in this area because it is a heavily occupied piece of land for residences and businesses alike. I think that with time this issue will sort out itself as some people decide to move and others decide to take the tram.
From Mr Ali Khan
UAE
Not relevant
The decision to also ban jeans and mobiles for girls by Lalu Prasad just goes to show that he is an embarrassment to all Indians (‘Lalus village bans jeans, mobiles for girls,’ Gulf News, December 24). India today is a fast growing world power and there is no relevance in this country for such prehistoric and ancient bans and rituals. Given time, all those trying to pull India back into the dark ages will be forgotten. They won’t even get any space in our history books.
From Mr Aman Pal Singh
Chandigarh, UAE
Website comment
Backwards mentality
What a step backwards as this move by Prasad is assuring men that the fault lies not with them if they sexually assault a girl – no, it’s her own fault because she had jeans on. Is this the message Prasad is really looking to spread? This is a backwards mentality and politicians don’t seem to be giving their people a chance to learn what’s right and what’s wrong. This is infuriating.
From Ms Jane Cross
Dubai
Spirit of the holidays
I agree with this article because I feel that most people are not celebrating Christmas as it should be anymore (‘Spending too much money dilutes Christmas spirit’, Gulf News, December 24). It has become more and more a holiday of consumerism and buying, buying, buying! People need to realise that the holidays are more about spending time with family. Now everyone is spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on gifts and food. Christmas has been taken out of proportion of its real meaning.
From Mr Lawrence
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
A growing intolerance
The Pakistani community is slowly changing its beliefs, especially after the attack on the school in Peshawar (‘What is the way forward for Pakistan now?,’ Gulf News, December 24). The community has to realise the meaning of tolerance. Hopefully in the near future, we will find a zero-tolerance policy in Pakistani society towards any extremists spreading terrorism – even if it is as little as an online comment. Terrorism has absolutely no place in a civilised community.
From Mr Shehryar Khan
Dubai
Website comment
The world needs proof
All this drama about dealing with terrorists, but even the news of executions is undetermined. We need to see solid proof that these terrorists are being dealt with in front of the media so that the world will believe the news. People are not fools.
From Mr Mohan S.
Dubai
Web
A grim future
‘Terrorist chatter’ is something that has to be taken care of because it is unhealthy for any nation (‘Terrorist chatter ‘ puts Australia on high alert’, Gulf News, December 24). The spectre of terrorism is like a gigantic vulture spreading its wings that is hovering over the world. Those who live in the high alert areas spend sleepless nights when the beasts are fighting. Who cares about the grass that gets trampled?
In addition to natural calamities, man adds to the destruction with war and riots and the world’s economy is jeopardised, leaving the poor people in a pool of agony. Whether the world will survive terrorism is a moot point.
From Mr Sunny Joseph
Abu Dhabi
Technology has a ways to go
Even though there were many stories which attracted public attention, the disappearance of MH370 still raises more questions than answers (‘Stories that left public grasping for answers,’ Gulf News, December 24). We have realised the fact that the technology that is available to us is not sufficient enough to complete the search operation to a logical conclusion.
From Mr G. R. E.
Dubai
Website comment
I can’t believe it
I still can’t believe that we are unable to locate the MH370 flight in this era of technology. Hopefully one day we will know.
From Mr Fareed Syed
Dubai
Website comment
What a year
As 2014 draws to an end, I have mixed feelings. For me, this year was the best year because I achieved what I aimed for. So on a personal note, I have the feeling of satisfaction, but I am saddened to remember some tragic events that 2014 showed us. We saw the mysterious disappearance of Malaysian flight MH370, the explosion and downing of Malaysian flight MH17 that was only passing through Ukraine. There was the sinking of Sewol ferry in South Korea, the kidnapping of more than 200 Nigerian girls, the terror attack on the school that resulted in the death of around 131 school children in Peshawar.
My heart bleeds and my eyes are wet to realise what the parents and relatives of victims of each of these accidents must be going through. They must be remembering how last New Year’s Eve they were with their loved ones and this New Year’s Eve they are mourning their deaths. I offer my sympathies to the families of these victims. I pray to God to give them courage.
I wonder what have these terrorists, militants or gunmen achieved by killing innocent children in Peshawar, by kidnapping girls in Nigeria or by shooting down a passenger plane like MH17. Oh God! Give them wisdom. No religion teaches us to kill innocent lives or to harm others. Instead do something to improve others’ lives, help others to bring smiles on their faces, share and care for the needy. Let’s all live like one global human family.
I urge readers to wipe out all negative feelings from their minds, hearts and souls in this New Year and start the year with positive vibes, positive feelings and a positive note by doing good deeds.
From Mr Arushi Madan
Sharjah
Improving myself
One of my unique memories for 2014 is that the year was a transformation for me personally. I really changed my lifestyle and daily routine, which helped me to enjoy my life and use every hour of the day productively. One of the biggest affect of this change was the impact on my stress level, which reduced considerably. Also, I could divert my time properly and balance it in all the areas of my life. I found times for many different aspects of life like home, family, health, work, self improvement, knowledge development, networking and personal time.
From Mr C. S. Neha Shah
UAE
Last resort
It is really very sad to hear that there are slavery victims of Daesh that have started to fall on their last resort (‘Sex slavery pushes Daesh victims to suicide,’ Gulf News, December 24). Someone should step forward to help these people! Governments and organisations need to take immediate action to save mankind.
From Mr Emtiaz
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Lasting effects
Crimes like this against these people will mean that governments will need to take serious action to help their citizens through the mental illnesses associated to going through such horrible situations. Mental illness in the form of depression, anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) will be like a ripple effect in the wake of Daesh’s path of destruction. In many ways, but especially in this, Daesh is destroying the fabric of society in their targeted countries.
From Mr Leo O.
Calgary, Canada
Hold their hands
This is very sad. Suicide is wrong and the former captives have a long road to recovery. For the survivors I hope that help will come their way in the soonest time possible. Even if this means that there is someone there to hold their hands when the nightmares revisit them during their sleep.
From Ms Farah
Sharjah
Website comment
Editors’ note: Is there a news report that you feel strongly about? Something that has to be addressed in the community and requires resolution? Email us on readers@ gulfnews.com. You can also post a comment on our Facebook page or tweet us @GNReaders.
