Clock is ticking
A war against Iran is the last thing the world needs (‘What if Israel bombs Iran?’, Gulf News, March 15). The US should stop treating Israel like a spoiled child that throws tantrums when it fails to get what it wants from uncle Sam. Who is going to bomb who first? Nobody. It has been opined by many experts that Israel can only start a war, but cannot finish it without the help of the US. As a lot of people know, the US will not venture into another war without the support of United Nations and its major allies. Just look at what happened in their war against Iraq and Afghanistan! For more than a decade, they failed to bring changes in those countries. How much more would this happen with a powerful Iran — politically, militarily and economically? It is very unlikely for Iran to put itself into trouble — that would not only undermine the nuclear program, it would bring devastating effects to their economy. A war against Iran is not like a war against Iraq during Saddam Hussain’s time. It would definitely destabilise the entire Middle East with great repercussions to the economic and political world. I think the world should give a chance to a nuclear deal. Anything contrary to this would not bring any fruitful resolution to all parties involved. Diplomacy is still our best chance for this conflicting interest. I just hope Iran realises that the clock is ticking.
From Mr Carlos Ante
Dubai
Website comment
Time for discussions
Taking a stance on whether an increasingly globalised world is reducing racial tension or heightening it, is not important (‘Facebook debate: Racial discrimination’, Gulf News, March 15). What is important is what can or should be done to reduce racial tension. There are so many factors that are now influencing the world order and it is difficult to exactly notice and measure the effect of one factor over the other. But, if one has to find a loose end to begin with, I would say that the onus of reducing racial tension falls on those who wield power in the world in varying degrees. When those in power, protecting their interests, commit injustices or let injustice prevail, they lay the foundation for future problems. Secondly, it is a wrong notion that religion is beyond the scope of public discussion. Religion shapes a person’s nature, character, thought process and disposition. All of these come into play when the person conducts oneself in public. How, then, can it be considered as something that can’t be discussed? Last week, through Gulf News, a wise bit of advice came from professor Yasir Sulaiman, Director of the Centre for Islamic Studies at the University of Cambridge, when he suggested that religion can and should be a source of finding solutions to conflicts. So please ensure justice in your family, in your community, in your country and in the world that we have been sent into by our Creator as viceroys. And please begin to talk instead of thinking that we know all about others, because change is the only constant in life and people do change.
From Mr Arish Ehsan
Dubai
Comes in all forms
In multicultural societies, the situation is somehow better, but less or more discrimination exists almost all over the world in different forms. For example, through geography, religion or skin colour. People are even discriminated on the basis of their status in their own country or community. We can eliminate this through education, improving life standards and by eliminating injustice from this planet.
From Mr Ahmad Eftekhar
Sharjah
Need strict action
It’s good to hear about students getting admission in Dubai, but I still find that gaining admission in certain schools is very difficult (‘No shortage of seats in Dubai schools’, Gulf News, March 15). The reason behind this is that school managements often do not consider the siblings of students. They are considering new admissions from references, which I think is happening in all schools. The authorities need to watch schools and take strict action against school management.
From Mr Mohammad
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Revolutionising art
I can clearly see how the UAE’s creative industry might make the first move and benefit from producing high-quality multimedia art for display and sale. The Guggenheim Museum in New York has traditionally been at the forefront of artists who explore this medium. Today, UAE-based artists — supported by UAE government investment and the success in bringing leading museums to our shores — have the opportunity to leapfrog and become leaders in this contemporary art form. Technology is disrupting many sectors — why not art? The UAE, with its iconic landmarks, natural beauty and rich and diverse community, is the perfect environment to produce inspiring works. We applaud the efforts of all patrons of the arts and the curators themselves and I look forward with great interest to the inspirational creative feast that must surely follow.
From Mr Aman Merchant
Dubai
A worthy project
I also fully endorse the views of reader Mr Mumtaz Hussain, relating to the Metro network between Sharjah and Dubai (‘Letters to the editor: New Metro network’, Gulf News, March 15). I have been a regular visitor to the UAE for the past three years and the such a project is worth considering.
From Mr Purushothaman K. P.
Nabard, India
How to teach?
What is wrong with human beings (‘Elderly nun ‘gang raped’ by robbers’, Gulf News, March 15)? Education is missing and people’s frustrations have an impact, too. No jobs, combined with empty minds, create the devil’s workshop. Where is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi? He’s visiting different countries, which is good, but what is his plan of action? How does one educate people on this? Just like how polio drops are given to children, similarly, education on morality and basic decency should be made compulsory. I really feel for the nun. What was her crime?
From Ms Surbhi Kochar
Dubai
Facebook comment
Horrific news
I wonder when Indian authorities will stand up for these kinds of shameful crimes and impose severe sentences on such offenders? This is horrific news and there needs to be punishment so that they won’t dare to do it again.
From Mr R. R.
UAE
Facebook comment
Indomitable spirit
The woman who was gang-raped in February 2012, and chose to go public about the horrific incident on her own, died on Friday due to multiple organ failure (‘Park Street rape survivor dies of encephalitis’, Gulf News, March 14). According to her, the perpetrators of the crime, as well as those who tried to trivialise the incident, are the ones who should feel ashamed.
She asked all rape survivors to come out into the open and voice their protest and anger, instead of living in the shadows. She was a 40-year-old mother of two teenage daughters and was allegedly picked up by the rapist and his friends while she was leaving a night club. She was then brutally gang raped at gunpoint in a moving car before being dumped on the roadside.
The West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did not want to give any attention to her case and accused her of being close to a Communist Party of India (CPM) leader’s son and that the entire episode was fabricated to defame her. But the news flared up as various women’s rights groups throughout the country expressed solidarity with the victim and denounced Banerjee. Afterwards, this woman was known throughout India as a woman of indomitable spirit. It will be unfortunate if her sad demise affects the trial, which is in the concluding stages.
From Mr Sunny Joseph
Kerala, India
An apt candidate
I agree with this report that Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin is a better skipper than Virat Kohli (‘5 reasons Ashwin is a better skipper than Kohli’, Gulf News, March 14). He is an apt candidate for that slot. I think that it’s better to keep Kohli away from that burden, as it can affect his batting.
From Mr Vipin
Dubai
Website comment
He was clueless
The writer should stop giving his opinion on this topic, as he needs to understand that this is not true! Against Zimbabwe in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup, Ashwin was clueless. We can’t call him a off-spinner anymore. He should be called a carrom ball bowler.
From Mr Terrence Francis Dias
Dubai
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