Social media is a platform for bullying
Bullying is a big problem in schools (‘Schools are helping police spy on kids’ social media activity’, Gulf News, April 24). This is a problem that should be taken seriously at any school. A big part of the problem with social media in schools is the use of cell phones. Cell phones should not be allowed in the classroom or during extra-curricular activities the school is involved in. Cell phones could be considered an invasion of privacy. For example, if students are in a gym locker room changing their clothes, if a student with a cell phone takes a picture of a student as they are changing and immediately posts the picture on a media site for anyone to see, that’s an invasion of privacy. I certainly wouldn’t want my child’s picture in an undressed state posted for anyone and everyone to see. People need to realise that this happens in schools and it needs to be stopped. The use of cell phones and access to social media sites on classroom computers needs to be banned in schools.
From Ms Susie Marx
UAE
Facebook comment
Insurance cover for autism
I agree with Mr Keith Davids’ letter regarding insurance coverage for autism (‘Letters to the editor: We need insurance coverage for autism’, Gulf News, April 24). Children with autism cannot really make any progress without receiving speech, occupational and behaviour therapy for at least 10 hours a week. But with rates like Dh250 for 45 minutes of therapy, it becomes extremely difficult for parents to afford it. Having two children with this problem, I know that it would greatly benefit all of us parents – and even more the children – if medical insurance providers come forward for this very human cause.
From Ms Thomas
UAE
Choosing who to marry
It really makes me sad since I am a foreigner married to an Emirati that people feel this way (Letters to the editor: Prejudice’, Gulf News, April 26). Mixed marriages should be encouraged, for both men and women. It’s the year 2016! Everyone should have the right to choose who they marry.
From Ms Sarah E. Al Balushi
UAE
Facebook comment
Breaking barriers
What’s wrong in it? The Prophet [PBUH] and his companions had broken the hold of tribes/clans and ethnicities by cross cultural marriages.
From Mr Syed Wajid Ali
Dubai
Facebook comment
Openness and respect
A few home truths is that as expatriate women are not after the men’s money at all, for those who say that without knowing the woman’s background, they could be from an equally wealthy family. To bring children into the equation is just wrong. If I happened to marry an Emirati, I would encourage the children to learn Arabic in the sense that it would be equally as strong as their English. I think, in a way, having a mother who is an expatriate and a father being Arab (or in this case Emirati) plays an important role in the children’s education, they could be bilingual in a short amount of time. I applaud the women who convert and cover in respect of their husband’s beliefs and traditions. It is equally as hard for them to let go of their home and their past way of life. To convert and to put yourself in a new culture is a massive decision. Instead of sitting here and using money and passports as an explanation, think of the fact that two people from different backgrounds found a mutual meeting ground and let down their guards for each other. Many of us seem to fail at that.
From Ms Bethan A. W.
UAE
Facebook comment
Adequate representation
We fully endorse the views of our Olympian legendary sprinter, Milkha Singh that a sports person should have been appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador of India’s Olympic contingent. That fact that one hasn’t been is shocking and surprising. We do not know why the government is keen only to nominate film personalities to be the brand ambassadors. It is high time they change their mindset and select only eminent and legendary people of the event to be the ambassadors. It shouldn’t be any politician, bureaucrat or film star!
From Mr N. Mahadevan
Mylapore, India
A serious offence
This article was good to read since in the workplace, whether it is in a corporate office or at an airline company, employees should behave with their colleagues in a friendly manner without any bad intentions (‘SpiceJet sacks pilot for sexual harassment’, Gulf News, April 24). In the airline industry, air hostesses should be respected and not harassed by pilots. I applaud the decision of the SpiceJet management for sacking the misbehaving pilot and this will be an eye opener for others who like to indulge like this.
From Mr K. Ragavan
Bengaluru, India
Crew in the cockpit
After the Malaysian Airlines and other flights that ended with fatal accidents, airline authorities need to strictly impose rules and regulations with restrictions for other crew members entering the cockpit.
From Mr Varusaijamali Syed Backer
UAE
Website comment
This behaviour is never acceptable!
Rape is rape. We should never look for more excuses for the offender (‘Man accused of raping woman in desert after dinner invite’, Gulf News, April 25). No woman will ask for rape and men should know the meaning of the word ‘No’. Punishment for the man should be severe. We must have a really small mind to think that women can’t afford to pay for their dinner and they deserve to be called greedy. Such a sad world we are living in.
May God give each and every one of us exactly what we deserve according to our hearts, intentions and purity of our souls. No person is above another. Modesty and tolerance is the first thing that the Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] taught his community, but nowadays some people think that they are better than others and they justify their horrid actions by pointing fingers, judging and giving themselves the freedom to hurt the weak.
From Ms Angela Diac
Dubai
Facebook comment
Truly vile
Very sad indeed. This jobless woman was probably hungry and people on social media call her greedy for accepting a dinner invitation. Some people are truly vile.
From Mr Alex Morgan
UAE
Facebook comment
No excuse
An invite to dinner is an invite to dinner, not a free pass to rape.
From Ms Jacqueline Curran
UAE
Facebook comment
Bad people in this world
To invite one for dinner, I think it must be a public place – not in a desert. Why did she accept a dinner invitation in the desert? However, it’s still not acceptable to rape the woman no matter what circumstance. There are bad people in this world and women have to be careful of the situations they find themselves in, unfortunately.
From Mr Abdul Wajid Afridi
UAE
Facebook comment
If the Kohinoor returns
The return of the Kohinoor from the UK has been in the news a lot these days (‘Poll analysis: Should India get back the Kohinoor?’, Gulf News, April 21). The Kohinoor diamond has been the subject of much attention over the years with the demand for its return to India raising its head every few years.
The central government of India has said that the Kohinoor cannot be brought back to India since it was taken out of India prior to independence. After independence in 1947, demand for the return of the diamond was initiated by the then Prime Minister who said that they have no ground to claim this treasure. He also added that efforts to get the Kohinoor back would lead directly to difficulties, hence it’s not desirable.
Simply demanding it back when there is at best, a weak, ill-defined claim to the stone will not work. It happened over 175 years ago and it would be difficult, if not impossible, to establish who is the right owner. Questions about ownership, authorship, theft and possession in the context of colonialism were discussed on many occasions.
Despite the often strong moral claims of return, such attempts rarely succeed. We should not always be obsessed over the events of the past, particularly when India has such an incredible future at its finger tips. But, I feel strongly that the return of the Kohinoor may go a long way in allowing us to move on.
From Mr Naresh Kumar Agnihotri
Mumbai, India
Times are changing
It’s amazing that you no longer need to go to the US to experience all these theme parks and amusement parks (‘Shaikh Mohammad tours Dubai Parks & Resorts’, Gulf News, April 24). I hope to see all these places when I come to visit Dubai.
From Ms Mary Angeline Padilla Abustan
UAE
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