A choice to make
The dilemma of taking care of parents when we live abroad is an increasing concern (‘Expats face parent care challenges,’ Gulf News, October 1). On the one hand, when parents get older, they need extra care, but unfortunately most of the expatriates here are either unable to sponsor them or their parents don’t want to come. I have been facing a similar situation. My father-in-law and my father have passed away, so my mother-in-law and my mother used to stay alone in Jaipur, my home town in India. After a couple of incidents wherein my mother had a fall and we couldn’t find a full-day nurse to be with her at home, I finally had to sponsor her and bring her to the UAE. She loves Jaipur and didn’t want to leave our historic home, but with time, she has settled in. My family and I make sure that we give her love and the required care so that she doesn’t miss her home so much.
Soon enough, I shall be sponsoring my mother-in-law also for the same reason. So far, our society has not yet accepted the trend of old age homes. Neither of our parents were willing to live in one. I have decided that when I grow old, I would like to be part of one. I have checked a few old age homes that have a very healthy environment and apartments for the elderly. I don’t think there is any harm in gradually accepting this new way of spending our golden years, where getting taken care of is a priority along with living in a healthy atmosphere.
From Mr Anjali B. Ramchandani
Dubai
Website comment
Reduced mall visits
Charging parking fees in malls is unfair (‘Paid parking adopted in Abu Dhabi malls,’ Gulf News, October 2)! Last weekend, I spent almost the entire day at the mall. We watched a movie, then had lunch and did some shopping — our total time spent there was around six to seven hours. I would have never visited the mall if they charged me on an hourly basis. If overnight parking is the problem, there are many ways this can be dealt with. The mall can seek to have an arrangement with the traffic police department to issue violators with fines, have their vehicles towed or have some sort of a lock or chain that immobilises the car. On weekends or public holidays, the malls are one of the major places in the UAE where one can spend the day — charging a parking fee because of the carelessness of others is not fair.
From Mr G.
Dubai
Website comment
Unacceptable fee
I think that if malls were serious about getting rid of overnight parking, they could go with alternative methods for dissuading people, rather than putting the burden on mall-goers. A constant watch on violators who are parked overnight and issuing fines would help. Some prefer to stay at the mall for a short time, while others may stay well into the day at the mall. To be charged Dh10 per hour is completely unacceptable.
From Mr Yahya
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Please reconsider
This is very unfortunate, because if I go to the mall to watch a movie and to do some grocery shopping as well, three hours is not enough time. In my opinion, to curb this illegal parking behaviour, the management must call the police and slap them with hefty fines. Let’s hope that they will reconsider this rule and spare the general public.
From Mr Crixalis
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Different tactic
If the malls want to prevent illegal parking, rather than making money off genuine customers, the way forward may be to seize the vehicles that are parked overnight. Security personnel could go around the car park every 30 to 45 minutes after all the shops are closed at night and apply clamps on the wheels of any cars still parked there. They can then release the clamps upon the payment of a hefty fine — say Dh500 to Dh1000.
From Mr Shankar
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Free parking for clients
I think instead of charging mall visitors, it would be a better idea if they charged a parking fee to those who visit the mall but aren’t shopping, seeing a movie or eating. People who are there to roam around or park for free should be charged. If a person is spending his/her day at the mall, he should be allowed to have free parking because he is providing business to the mall.
From Mr Afzal Biyabani
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Less spending
This is a bad move. They need to find an alternative solution. Anyway, now we will save on our food bill while we are out, as we used to reach the mall at 4pm to purchase our weekly groceries, followed by dinner at the food court, and would leave at around 10pm. But now, no more food court after shopping, because we’ll be watching the time.
From Mr Ahmad
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Worsening situation
What is already happening to Muslims around the world is bad enough and with these so-called ‘darlings of Daesh’, it’s just becoming that much worse (‘Darlings of Daesh: Why teenage girls are flocking to join militants,’ Gulf News, October 2). There is so much discrimination and stereotyping around being a Muslim because of extremists, that you just have to eventually develop a thick skin and get on. What I fail to understand is why are these self-proclaimed activists of Islam are promoting violence? In other words, they are working against the religious principles where peace is supposed to be the core value. They definitely can’t be considered Muslims of any sort!
From Mr Y. N.
Dubai
Full name withheld on request
Misconceptions
This report states that women are being raped, abused, sold into slavery or forced into marriage. Then it goes on to say that Daesh is a “strictly Islamist, brutal movement ... the power, the leadership structure, are clearly a male domain.” I don’t agree with this, however. What is this article trying to say? If someone is strictly Islamist, then their attitude is brutal? If someone is strictly Islamist, then he can’t do anything brutal because Islam strictly forbids him to do so. The only weapon to fight these brutal attitudes is to spread the true message of Islam — peace.
From Mr Mani
Cairo, Egypt
Website comment
Say ‘no’ to Daesh
This news is very hard to digest, when there are so many resources online that teach people the right philosophies, away from violence and fighting. How do these girl fall into such traps?
From Ms Afrah
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Guidance and love
I think that perhaps parents need to guide and love their children more so that they will not make decisions like this! How does it get this far?
From Ms Diane Monet Nobles
Abu Dhabi
Facebook comment
Cult characteristics
Daesh is a cult that people are associating with Islam. In the olden days, this type of brainwashing used to be done in cults. I don’t see any difference.
From Ms Nilofer Taher
UAE
Facebook comment
Senseless
Islam is a religion that spreads love and teaches us to respect other religions. It’s sad to read stories like this that target the religion. Be it any religion, violence is not acceptable. Killing and calling themselves martyrs is senseless!
From Ms Rida Rashid
Abu Dhabi
Facebook comment
A timely apology
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has made a timely apology about his mistakes in the past, but it will not be able to resolve the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) issue (‘Bilawal to formally launch political career from October 18,’ Gulf News, September 30). The PPP is still a major political party. They are leading three provinces of Pakistan, they the main opposition party in Parliament and they are also leading the senate. Zardari has predicted correctly that the party was losing ground in Punjab and that the workers are joining Imran Khan. Now he must correct governance within party. Currently, his party belongs to all the old guards who have not delivered properly on their promises, but instead created problems and ditched the party position. The PPP is lacking accountability at each and every level of governance. Zardari needs new blood within his party, people who will lead the party to greatness after his apology. When the next election comes, the people will ask Zardari what his party did in his chairmanship in the last two periods of the Sindh government. Unfortunately, the delivery rate of Sindh government in the last period and the current one has not been satisfactory. The situation in Sindh is deteriorating day by day in each and every sector: education, healthcare, industry, agriculture, local government and, above all, law and order is completely in shambles.
I believe that Zardari can change the situation of Sindh if he is really sincere. His actions will be counted by everyone. I hope and pray for his success and the party’s positive action everywhere in Pakistan.
From Mr Aijaz Ali Khuwaja
Karachi, Pakistan
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