Letters: February 20, 2012

Priorities
This is in reference to Faiza’s letter (‘Lack of attention’, Gulf News, February 15). I felt really happy to see that such women exist — working as a freelancer just so she could take care of her son. I know parents who send their young children to their home countries to be looked after by their grandparents so that both of them can work and earn more money. What is the point in having children if you do not want to look after them? I salute Faiza and her husband for allowing her to be herself. She has her priorities in life straight. May God bless them.
From Mr Suresh P. K.
Abu Dhabi

There’s more to it
I totally understand the difficulties of traffic congestion caused by school buses especially in the morning (‘Letters to the Editor’, Gulf News, February 13). However, as a mother my opinion is that the suggestions the two Gulf News readers Ajit Lamba and Zarin made in their letters aren’t easy and practical for many of us who are not blessed with the luxury of having a maid at home to leave children in their care. In such a situation, especially if the father leaves for work before the children, we are forced to carry our children, their heavy school bags and hold their hand all at the same time till we reach the bus stop. I believe having one’s child picked up from below their building is a huge comfort for many parents. Also, the heat is a huge concern, especially during the harsh summers when you have to walk a distance with your child. Last but not least, kindly do not belittle the parents by saying that they ‘crawl in their pyjamas’. If one has children or has ever witnessed a mother who gets her children ready for school in the early morning hours then such comments wouldn’t be made. I am sure your own mothers must have struggled sending you to school. I also feel that the solution for obesity does not lie here — there are other major factors involved.
From Ms Suneera
Sharjah
Full name withheld by request

Guilty
It’s still hard for me to understand that there are still such people in this world (‘Deaf girl kept as sex slave by elderly couple for ten years’, Gulf News, February 15). This is simply abusing humanity. In fact, those who have done this to the helpless girl and those who sent her to serve the couple should be punished in the same way. I humbly request the jury to grant them such a sentence so that they can be made an example to others.
From Mr Khurram Razzaq
Dubai
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Who’s responsible?
The elderly couple should be punished severely without any mercy. I wonder how they would feel if their own child was in the same situation — how would they react? I think the ones who are most responsible for this incident are the people who sent the girl to the United Kingdom and maybe sold her as a slave. I can’t believe that these kinds of people are present in our society.
From Ms Nadeem Ahmad Haji
Al Ain
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Payback
The couple should be banished from society and punished severely for the crime they have committed. They should not be allowed to even enter their home country. Instead, they should be made to go through the same hardships that the little girl went through.
From Mr Asif
UAE
Full name withheld by request

Disgusting
People have lost their humanity. These two are not even human. How can one treat anyone like this? I pity those who have no place in their hearts for fellow humans. Such people disgust me.
From Mr Kazim Chevelwalla
Karachi, Pakistan
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Depressing
It’s hard to imagine that even today we have such people living amongst us. I felt depressed after reading the horrible report. I hope they are treated the same way they have treated the innocent girl for a decade.
From Mr Ali Malek
Dubai
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Just as bad
I don’t think that anyone will have any doubts regarding the lack of mental stability of the couple who mistreated and abused a deaf girl since she was a child. They deserve the harshest punishment so that they become an example for all the other people who mistreat underage children, housemaids or other domestic helpers.
I must say that the people who sent this girl to help this couple are equally involved in this crime as they should have sent her to school instead.
From A Reader
UAE
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Accepting change
This is a good sign (‘Government to crack down on arbitrary price increases’, Gulf News, February 15). More often than not consumers are not really aware of the price hike being imposed by major retailers, which sometimes do it without notification.
Recently, we purchased ten kilograms of jasmine rice from a hypermarket for Dh58.
After less than a week the price of the bag of rice was put up to Dh61. Even if we became aware of this increase we wouldn’t have any choice but to take it — we simply have to accept it.
From Mr Dennis
Al Ain
Full name withheld by request

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