A tribute to police officers who helped us!
The other day, my car tyre abruptly got punctured, due to the 40-degree heat. I stopped my car on the hard shoulder of the road, and what happened next was simply amazing. A Dubai Police official stopped close by, approached and started to work on fixing my car tyre all by himself. But then, because I didn’t have enough equipment, the officer called for a man to bring the equipment. Then, he called another officer. They both tried their best for almost an hour in the scorching heat, but couldn’t complete the task because there was just not enough adequate equipment. They then took my car to the nearest garage to get the car tyre changed and asked us to drive home safely.
My faith in humanity has been restored. We are so blessed to live in a country where the police officers are so helpful and humble.
From Ms Farheen M. Ishtiaque
Dubai
Stay healthy this Ramadan
Ramadan has begun and it’s important that we prepare ourselves for the great journey. Don’t forget to set your alarm for suhour – it’s really important. Remember to have enough water during this time. Avoid spicy food during iftar as it may cause heartburn. Food with lots of fat and sugar content is also a strict ‘no’. If you usually deep-fry your snacks, go for a shallow fry this time. And if you shallow fry them, then try grilling. Don’t forget to exercise. Stay healthy and blessed!
From Mr Razeen Ashique
Sharjah
Shocked and speechless
I hate reading this kind of news, about attacks on innocent people occurring around the world (‘19 dead, 50 hurt in blast at UK music gig’, Gulf News, May 23). Who are these people and why they are killing others? We need peace in this beautiful world. I am speechless in trying to explain my emotions at this moment.
From Mr Abdullah Khan
UAE
Facebook comment
Mourning the loss
To target teenagers with a bomb that has nails and other forms of shrapnel in it... it’s beyond disgusting. I am from this part of the UK and I am very sad.
From Ms Anna Quirk
Abu Dhabi
Facebook comment
Give to charity instead
In the UAE, begging is a crime, so by giving money to beggars, you are encouraging a crime (‘Sharjah Police: Don’t entertain beggars’, Gulf News, May 21). Secondly, no expatriate without a job or proper living arrangements is allowed to stay in the country. So, there is no question of anyone begging. Thirdly, medical insurance is now compulsory, so there is no need for anyone to ask for financial help during medical emergencies. Fourth, and foremost, there are so many massive charity organisations run by the authorities, that regularly support and help people in emergencies. There is no need to beg if the case is genuine. Please stop supporting begging in the UAE!
From Mr Kashif Seddiqi
UAE
Facebook comment
Don’t encourage beggars
Never give money to beggars. This is a very big and common scam around the GCC. Never give in. The UAE authorities have plans for the poor. Residents are already helping by paying fees. The government has plans, charities and other programmes that include helping such people get jobs. Donating to them on the street will only encourage them. Instead, donate to a charity organisation. That way, you will help hundreds at once.
From Mr Mihrab Chowdhury
UAE
Facebook comment
The dilemma
I saw a beggar at a pedestrian bridge, with a sleeping child, and next to her was another woman begging, along with a man selling mobile phone accessories of dubious quality. I’m always in an emotional dilemma in such situations.
From Mr Erlie Dizon
Dubai
Facebook comment
Types of beggars
We have experienced encountering beggars many times, in different emirates. We once saw someone driving a massive SUV, and they stopped to ask us for money. They said they were from Oman and they did not have enough to return.
From Ms Jopay Miranda Badawy
Dubai
Facebook comment
Exploiting generosity
If you see the same poor people all the time, you might consider giving them something, however if they suddenly appear during Ramadan, then for sure, they are part of a begging scam. They are making a profit from generous people and laughing all the way back to their hotel.
From Mr Glenis Stevenson
UAE
Facebook comment
Modi’s governance
I am a regular reader of Gulf News and the other day, in the Letters to the Editor section, I read a few comments on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance (‘Letters to the Editor: A man of potential’, Gulf News, May 22). I thought I should comment so readers know the facts about issues that the common man is facing in India.
I believe the Modi government has failed on all fronts. There is lawlessness everywhere, especially in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-governed states, as innocent people are tortured. Rape cases are growing day by day, there isn’t any cash in ATMs and unemployment rates are increasing. There are no plans to control crime and there are no measures being taken to improve the current conditions. If this government has done something, it has only been for business elites.
From Mr Mohammad A. Nayeem
UAE
What development?
The writer has failed to put the facts in the right perspective (‘Three years of Modi: Possibility of a second innings looms large’, Gulf News, May 21). The BJP is gathering more votes on the basis of communal polarisation, rather than based on actual development issues. There is no alternative leader to Modi in the current circumstance. Modi is a man of u-turns. He has made several u-turns in the past, regarding Aadhar card, black money and employment issues. He has still not managed to bring the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to the level that his predecessors had done successfully. He could not bring down the prices of petroleum products, even as the price of crude oil fell. So, where is the development?
From Mr Girish R. Edathitta
Dubai
Facebook comment
The role of parents
Fathers need to be more friendly towards their children, more so when they turn 16 (‘Readers views: How to know if you have succeeded as a father’, Gulf News, May 21). In ancient India, education was sound and complete, because of the sacred and selfless personal relationship between the teacher and the taught, which we are tremendously lacking in recent times. The pious and selfless relationship between a teacher and his pupil has always been one of the main features/contours of olden times. A teacher is a spiritual and intellectual father of thought. Without the help of a teacher, no education is possible.
Parents, too, must reform, supervise and monitor the day-to-day routine of their children. Leaving everything to the school and its teachers is not enough. Parents need to get involved actively, to watch the daily progress of their school-going children. Unfortunately, that is not happening. Whatever time parents have at their disposal is consumed by newspapers, television and other recreational activities. As a result, the younger generation hardly gets any opportunity to share ideas with their elders or to enter into a meaningful discussion and dialogue with their parents. It is the duty of parents to take an active interest in the day-to-day progress of their children, both in and outside of school.
From Ms Shiben Krishen Raina
UAE
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