Spreading tolerance, peace and dignity
Dubai and the UAE as a whole is leading the way in establishing the principles of peace and tolerance that are in dire need around the world (‘Shaikh Mohammad launches global tolerance initiative’, Gulf News, October 9). While those who are trying to divide us and spread mischief in the region, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is leading the way for peace and human dignity.
From Mr Nasif Kayed
Dubai
Facebook comment
Nothing peaceful about it
Don’t be foolish when you hear about the Colombian President and his Nobel Prize (‘Colombian President Santos wins Nobel Peace Prize’, Gulf News, October 8). Remember that he has run a corrupt and faulty government for years and my fellow Colombians voted ‘No’ to his peace with the Narco-guerrillas, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and their tyrannical rule. He allegedly pays corrupt politicians and spends Colombia’s money like if it was his personal wallet. So no peace has come to Colombia, but he got his “Peace Prize”.
From Ms Ana Carolina Valero
UAE
Facebook comment
Kudos to Nobel winner
For more than five decades Columbians have been struggling with a civil war and despite Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos’ agreement signed with the Marxist rebels, he was bestowed a Nobel Peace Prize for 2016. This is a dramatic development in South American politics. Coming out from the struggle, President Santos will prove the success of his strategy for improving Columbia and the people. Kudos to President Santos.
From Mr K. Ragavan
Bengaluru, India
Tragic attack on innocent people
This is terribly sad and tragic about the bombing of the train (‘Pakistan train bomb kills 4’, Gulf News, October 8). This is yet another terror attack on the country and its people and is strongly condemned. Those responsible for this are terrorists who will soon meet their fate for targeting innocent lives. My condolences to the departed souls.
From Ms Fatima Suhail
Ajman
Facebook comment
Marriage is a joint effort
How about this couple both learn how to cook together (‘Learn cooking or get ready for divorce: Newly married Saudi man tells wife’, Gulf News, October 9)? It seems lazy and spoiled to request these things. The hypocrisy of claiming that women are overly pampered now and that they don’t know the sacred family traditions when most of the men themselves are pampered and think that being a husband just means bringing in money. If you want a good wife, be a good husband and vice versa.
From Mr Morvarid Jalali
Sharjah
Facebook comment
My husband taught me
I’m a Filipino and I, too, got married to an African-Arab man 19 years ago. I didn’t know how to cook, but after a few years I learnt through him and later with my mother-in-law and now all I can say is that I’m an expert in Middle Eastern cuisine! Thanks to my husband and mother-in-law’s support.
From Ms Ellen Tiongson Ahmad
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Facebook comment
It’s her role
If she is sitting at home, it’s her responsibility to do so in my opinion. I think it’s very lazy not to offer to cook if you’ve been given everything. The least you can do is have a meal ready for your breadwinner. Shame on this woman who is not working and won’t even cook a simple meal.
From Ms Kati Cuttie
L’Anquila, Italy
Facebook comment
This isn’t slavery
Ms Kati Cuttie, your statement is the equivalent of a slaver. You are insinuating that he bought her and now it’s her duty to serve him.
From Mr Imran Turpin
Dubai
Facebook comment
It’s the norm
I agree that a woman who is just sitting at home needs to cook for her husband, but it is the norm for Arab women to cook for their husbands if they aren’t working.
From Mr Adil H. M.
Dubai
Facebook comment
Not lazy
Ms Kati Cuttie, have you ever met an Arab woman? Have you actually lived in the Middle East? I have lived there until recently for seven years and I can assure you that many Arab women work very hard. Sure there might be some, just as there are some Western women or women of other cultures who do not like to cook or can’t. But to claim that she is lazy, is a gross misconception.
From Ms Maxene Dodds
UAE
Facebook comment
Husband should learn!
A divorce for not knowing how to cook? This seems foolish. He should learn to cook if she can’t! She is to be respected as a wife, not a maid to do all the chores! This man needs to share the responsibilities. He could also learn to cook and do his job.
From Ms Amtul Nayeem
UAE
Facebook comment
There needs to be effort
If he wanted to marry a girl who knows about cooking, then he should have first made sure that the girl does have those qualities before marrying her at all. This is so unfair! If she doesn’t know how to cook then it’s his duty and responsibility to treat his wife with love and make her feel that she matters anyway. He should stand by her side whenever he can and let her try to cook. Even if in the beginning the food is tasteless or burnt, encourage her and treat her well. Increase her morale so that she can do it. This threatening to divorce isn’t right at all in my personal opinion. I don’t judge anyone, but I honestly feel that there is a lot of contradiction in why divorce is allowed compared to why people practice it!
From Mr Saidy Mansour Bhat
UAE
Facebook comment
Willingness to learn
For me, it doesn’t matter if a wife doesn’t know how to cook, but it’s the issue of willingness to learn. In my own experience, I learnt after marriage. I tried experimenting with easy recipes that I found on the internet. Most of them were successful and my husband is always my taster. It’s so rewarding after a tiresome time in the kitchen when you hear compliments from your family.
From Ms Yang Chai
Unaiza, Saudi Arabia
Facebook comment
Overcome for love
Learning cooking is no problem, but this man is a big problem. He is ready to divorce his wife because she doesn’t know to cook. I wonder if you gave him a little more time, he might come up with some other issue and divorce her. A couple who wants to stay together treat each other like family and help each other overcome any situation. This man wants to run away.
From Ms Aaliya S. Q.
Dubai
Facebook comment
Life partner, not maid
The wife is his partner and life, not his maid, but a wife should learn how to cook. You cannot rely on housemaids all your life.
From Ms Aneesah Dionson
Dubai
Facebook comment
How do you get to this point?
This man is 100 per cent right! How can you grow up to the point in your life where you’re ready to get married and you don’t know how to cook? That is just basic knowledge. Does she know how to make her bed?
That being said, this is also the fault of the parents who don’t know how to guide their child.
From Ms Phiona Nakyejwe
UAE
Facebook comment
Too much salt
Like sugar, excess intake of salt also poses great health problems (‘Hypermarkets in Dubai to cut salt in in-house food items’, Gulf News, October 7). It is widely known that salt has a direct relation with blood circulation in our body and can lead to many health complications. Let’s use salt and sugar, at least on a moderate level so we can enjoy the taste of them for a long time.
From Mr Girish R. Edathitta
UAE
Facebook comment
Cut salt intake!
The Dubai Municipality asked hypermarkets to reduce sodium levels in their in-house products and I’m glad to hear this news. I really appreciate the effort and concerns for the health of the public.
My suggestion is to apply the same standard to normal middle class restaurants also. For example, most of the people love to drink tea from restaurants, unfortunately the sugar level in tea is very high. The same goes for food items in restaurants containing a lot of oil.
I hope the municipality or concerned department can set right the standards.
From Mr Ashraf
UAE
Full name withheld on request
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