With hearing loss, you could be next!
It was really unfortunate to know that 25 per cent of youth in the country are facing hearing loss due to the exposure to high frequency music (‘Can’t say it’s music to the ears’, Gulf News, September 19). This should be considered a serious problem to society, and it should be controlled.
Being an observant teenager, I see everyone around me plugged into earphones. Whether it is in the airport lobby or even on the Dubai Metro, everyone is just on their phones! Using earphones has become a fashion these days. People feel as though it reserves them from the rest of the world. But, the saddest part is that not everyone thinks about the aftereffect that lurks behind such trending habits.
As the famous proverb says: “Today it’s me, tomorrow it will be you.” If you have the habit of listening to music for long hours, it will be sooner rather than later. You could even face hearing loss like this 25 per cent. I thank Gulf News for publishing such thought provoking articles.
From Ms Parvathi Sreeraj
Dubai
Clear intentions
I think that this man’s intentions to join a terrorist organisation and leave the US were very clear and it’s there still in his brainwashed mind (‘Saved from joining Daesh, now facing prison’, Gulf News, September 17). He is a would-be terrorist and a killer who got caught early. Good job to the security services for catching him. Prison is a minimum for terrorists like him.
From Mr Phil Jones
UAE
Facebook comment
Premeditated
He had every intention of going! Just because he didn’t make it past the airport doesn’t make him innocent. It’s like a premeditated murder, people are still taken to court for that even if they didn’t succeed in killing.
From Ms Judith Cooke Welling
UAE
Facebook comment
Ready to kill
This person is a bad man who was ready to carry out horrible actions. Why do they like to join Daesh?
From Mr Aminul Islam Choudhury
UAE
Facebook comment
Brainwashed
Like many, he was brainwashed. It’s not that hard if the recruiter knows the trigger points for anyone.
From Mr Mac Nirmal Lobo
Dubai
Facebook comment
Holds hate
I don’t think there are any trigger points if they don’t already have hate in their hearts for others who don’t believe in the same. It shouldn’t be the case if they once decided to migrate to the West, but here he is.
From Mr E. Ray
UAE
Facebook comment
Result of poor treatment
I worry about the families that treat their maids poorly anywhere in the world after the murder of a young girl by their maid (‘Kuwait court upholds death penalty for maid’, Gulf News, September 18). I have seen someone slap their faces or humiliate them. After a time with poor treatment, no one can maintain a stable mind. Some helpers come from a really poor background and no education. It’s very sad. I hope that anyone hiring a helper changes their mentality for ownership in order to make this world better without hate, selfishness and violence. Violence generates violence!
From Ms Julieta Isis Gino
UAE
Facebook comment
Part of the family
In response to Ms Julieta Isis Gino, I would say that you are wrong on many levels. If the maids are not happy, they can leave and find another job. Maids are family and that’s why we fight and argue just like brothers and sisters do.
I am tired of hearing justifications that she must have been mistreated. What about the fact that they might have come from violent, poor, uneducated backgrounds? I can’t even eat a meal on my own, because I feel bad that my maid might see me. We eat together. Every job has its good and bad sides, and no one is forced to do their job. Holding anybody’s passport is illegal!
From Ms Nadia Al Ameri
UAE
Facebook comment
Changing mentalities
Ms Nadia Alameri, I agree with what Gino said. Violence begets violence. Just because you are paying for the service, doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want and treat them poorly. I am not saying everyone does this, but a lot do. This goes for all employers, especially those of domestic helpers who mistreat their employees.
About what you said that if the maid is not happy, they can just leave - some employers do keep their passports.
From Mr John Garcia
Dubai
Facebook comment
Can’t blame all employers
Everywhere there are good and bad people. On the basis of this one incident, you cannot blame all employers. Don’t forget that a lot of incidents have happened against the employers’ families from maids.
From Mr Sohaib Mohammad
UAE
Facebook comment
He led with peace
Mahatma Gandhi imparted the tolerance of acceptance and he partly succeeded in it, too (‘Today in history: Gandhi underwent a six-day hunger strike that led to better and more equal rights’, Gulf News, September 20)! He never coerced anyone or forced anyone to accept his philosophies and ideals. Unfortunately, he was shot by radicals.
From Mr Anandkumar Nagabushanam
UAE
Facebook comment
He taught the world
It is interesting how it displays the love and compassion the country showed for Gandhi during this time. Through his hunger strikes, many people put their differences aside. He always urged independence and unity through peaceful means, and I think the entire world has learnt much about this.
From Mr Saeed T. A.
Dubai
Facebook comment
Renewed hopes in India’s players
Without doubt Adam Pavlasek was the hero of the tie. Though we are glad that our legendary tennis player Leander Paes has accepted this fact, he should have given his place to one of India’s youngsters to prove themselves (‘Somdev Devvarman’s shock win draws India level’, Gulf News, September 20). While it was necessary for him to skip the New Zealand tie and at that time, he preached that he wanted to give a chance to the younger players, where was the wisdom now when he was actually tired?
I think he was determined mainly with his eye on the Rio Olympics. In fact, we should blame the selectors who persist with Paes and Rohan Bhopanna, who have lost the pride in representing India. Thankfully, once again Somdev Devvarman and Yuki Bhambri have risen up to the occasion and won their reverse singles.
From Mr Viswanathan
Virugambakkam, India
Eating is a basic right
The recent ban enforced by the Indian government on selling meat is yet another move aggravate the minorities and, as many news agencies have reported, the ban is not the answer (‘Avoid cow slaughter, Muslims advised’, Gulf News, September 19). The same political party that was part of the Gujarat riots that took the lives of thousands of Muslims and made many refugees in their own country is now preaching respect to other religions and interfering with people’s basic rights to cook what they like in their own kitchen.
I have had Hindu friends right through my school and college days. We used to sit and eat around the same bench. Nobody thought it was necessary to look into the other person’s lunch box and decide what he/she should be eating. I would like my neighbours to respect my religion. But, I can’t force them to eat or not to eat according to my beliefs because that would be tyranny. The right to eat what we want is a basic right that no elected government can take away from its citizens.
From Ms Mariam Jinnah
Ajman
Stop massage centre cards
For the past six months, I have seen many people distributing cards for massage centres. I feel that this has increased lately throughout the Emirates. It has become a menace for people walking in the street because at many signal junctions, people are standing and distributing the cards. First of all, I would like to know whether the people who distribute these cards have authorisation to do such a thing. I also find the card inserted in the car door handles every day. I hope the authorities will take note of this and reduce the menace to the public.
From Mr R. N.
Abu Dhabi
Full name withheld on request
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