The world has become an isolated place
The picture of a young injured boy, Omran from Aleppo, Syria, which was released by medics working in the country caught the attention of the world recently. The city, which has been under siege for a long time, has become a violent spot due to heavy fighting in recent times.
While Omran’s picture is hitting the headlines of the world media, the criticism goes not to those responsible, but to helpless administrations and world powers for not interfering to stop the continuing atrocities against humanity.
As Omran, covered in dust and blood, resembles every single individual being abused in the war, there are many such cases of people in all age groups – from newborns, to women, to elderly people.
His innocence is evident on his face, as children of his age group struggle to live in a world hit by rubble and bullets every second. Over the past two decades, millions of people have been severely affected due to armed conflicts. When bombings continued in several parts of the world, there were hardly any serious steps taken to save the lives of a large section of ill-fated people.
Nevertheless, Omran has become a symbol of what has been happening deep inside Syria every day, but no one seems to have woken up. The world has become an isolated place.
From Mr Ramachandran Nair
Oman
Preying on desperate women
At this time, when science is so advanced, how can this kind of absurd thought come to someone’s mind (‘Salons selling lice as hair-loss cure warned’, Gulf News, August 21)? Whoever started this cunning practice is illiterate or an enemy of society. This person is preying on desperate women who have hair loss problems and will do anything to cure it. This matter should be investigated carefully and this beauty parlour’s licence must be cancelled.
From Ms Syeda Ahmad
UAE
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It doesn’t make sense!
This is the silliest thing I’ve ever heard. Blood sucking insects cause skin diseases and would lead to hair loss. How are they supposed to prevent hair from falling out? Has that much of society skipped their biology classes at school?
From Ms Inaya Mar M. Inaya
UAE
Facebook comment
Can’t change genetics
And there are so many oils also being sold for hair loss? It is just one of the ways to earn money! With the oils, they give some different aromas, different names and then people fall for it! It is impossible to change genetics, people!
From Mr Manana Murtiko
UAE
Facebook comment
Very irresponsible!
I have never heard of such a silly remedy for hair loss. Lice are a dirty plague on your scalp. And you will then infect countless people around you. What about your children? They will take it to school where it spirals out of control!
From Ms Elize Vols Quaint
UAE
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Understanding penalties
As an expatriate who has lived in Dubai for five years, after reading this article, I finally have learnt what constitutes a crime against someone’s ‘privacy, honour or dignity’ and the reasons why a deportation order is compulsory and a prison sentence is at the discretion of the judge (‘Flashing your finger is no middling matter’, Gulf News, August 22). It was also interesting to hear from judges and lawyers about their support for a change in the law to allow the judge to decide whether a deportation order should be compulsory in such cases. Articles such as this can only improve the understanding of expatriates and I would like to thank the reporter for investigating and explaining this issue. Keep up the great work.
From Mr Mike Murray
UAE
Website comment
Dealing with violators
Instead of flashing the middle finger, blow a kiss. It works every single time for me because people don’t know how to react. Their expression says it all. They are dumbfounded. I mutter under my breath, but show them my best smile.
From Ms Diana Phelps
Dubai
Facebook comment
Road rage
As a student of psychology, in a situation where someone raises their middle finger to you in the car or does any offence, you should apologise and change your way to avoid road rage. It’s very important to take control of your emotions and avoid emotional situations for the safety of everyone on the roads.
From Mr Al Shah
Dubai
Facebook comment
Gone downhill ever since
The day Benigno Aquino was killed started the downfall of the Philippines economy and its greatness (‘Today in history: Benigno Aquino, a Philippine opposition leader against dictator Ferdinand Marcos, was assassinated’, Gulf News, August 21). Like a fallen great eagle, the vultures feasted on the powers and the richness of the land and the leftovers were eaten by the worms (in the form of biased media and corrupt supporters).
From Ms Jennifer Refinnej
UAE
Facebook comment
Never been a hero
Aquino was using democracy as a shield for his own hidden agenda to make money off the government, selling all government-owned businesses to relatives. He was never a hero.
From Mr MauricioPonciana Sanchez
UAE
Facebook comment
Too much freedom now
Whether he was a hero or not, the day he was assassinated was the beginning of the downfall of a dictator, which young people choose not to accept. We have too much freedom today that sometimes we forget how to be humans, especially on social media.
From Mr Ruel Bautista
Dubai
Facebook comment
Freedoms we deserve
Really, Mr Ruel Bautista? Is that what freedom means to you? By accessing social media? For your information, most countries in the world can access social media freely. Our democracy is more like demo-crazy. Freedom to live peacefully, freedom from corruption, freedom from drugs and a right to equality is out of reach. Why are these things rampant in our country nowadays? Because of a lack of leadership and discipline. People don’t need that much freedom, there should be limitations. The downfall of Ferdinand Marcos is also the downfall of many Filipino people.
From Mr Lordson M. Destura
Abu Dhabi
Facebook comment
Protect people first
This is an another instance of nepotism, which emphasises the concept that the rich are well cared for in Kerala, India and the poor are allowed to die (‘Stray dogs ‘devour’ 65 year old woman, injure another’, Gulf News, August 21). The responsibility of safety and protection of citizens primarily rests with the government and, instead of protecting people, the authorities are protecting stray dogs. The animal lovers who are against the killing of stray dogs should answer one question clearly: Who will feed these animals? As long as they cannot answer the question logically, they don’t have the moral authority to speak on behalf of stray dogs.
Another suggested way by dog lovers for controlling the breeding of stray dogs is sterilisation. Do they think it is a kind act to helpless animals? It is alleged that there is a nexus between so-called animal lovers, some politicians and medical companies, which supply vaccine for rabies. This circumstance of status quo will continue and no miracles can be expected from the judiciary, also. But poor and helpless people are eliminating stray dogs by poisoning them out of fear. That means extra judicial killing is justified in some cases.
From Mr Girish R. Edathitta
Dubai
Government support needed
Since the dog mauling incident took place while the woman came out of her house to relieve herself, it raises a pertinent question about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s preaching of the common man. Though meeting after meeting, Modi broaches this subject, none of our elected representatives, both at state and central level, care to spend anything from their Benevolent Fund to construct adequate toilets in villages. What a shame!
From Ms Janaki Mahadevan
Mylapore, India
Drive safe and no worries
Great news for Sharjah and well done to the authorities for implementing more ways to catch traffic violators (‘New radars to catch hard shoulder riders in Sharjah’, Gulf News, August 19). These are two things that people shouldn’t be doing anyway. If you drive safe, then you won’t have a problem. If you are too busy on the phone or breaking the law, then you are throwing your money away.
From Mr Abdin Ahmad
London, UK
Facebook comment
Larger roads, more crossings
We need wider roads and lanes to avoid such situations. Two lanes are not enough for busy roads. First we have to solve this issue. Wider roads with more lanes to avoid traffic jams and pedestrian crossings. Many people live in Sharjah, and it is becoming more populated. So the Sharjah authorities should look into this, more than radars.
From Ms Babitha Vasanth
Dubai
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