Letters: May 28, 2012

It’s up to them
I think it’s high time our society went for a change (‘‘Honour killing’ witnessed by sister’, Gulf News, May 23). We have seen many arranged marriages leading to divorce. So, it’s not a foolproof system. As our lifestyle changes, I think our mentality also needs to change. Choosing a life partner must be left to the person who wants to get married. When a person is forced into a marriage, sometimes it only becomes a compromise to keep the family happy. There are many couples who lead a double life — one side is keeping the family happy by sticking to the marriage that was arranged by them, on the other side indulging in other activities to keep themselves satisfied. This cannot and must not go on. Our traditional way of thinking needs to be modified very soon to include the rights of our children. Like choosing their own field in education, the choice in who to marry must also be left to them. Once a child has matured and is over the age of 18 years, he or she must be left with the decision on how to lead his or her life. Parents should only be involved with giving advice, if asked for it — they must make their children capable of leading their own life. I believe that this will bring about positive changes in our society including the eradication of the so-called honour killing.
From Ms Agniyah Shaikh
Sharjah

Enough time
The right age for a woman to marry is 23 and the right age for a man to marry is 27 (‘What is the appropriate age to get married?’, Gulf News, May 23). The reasons are that the woman can enjoy at least three or four years of marriage without being in a hurry to have children. The man gets enough time to settle down in life (financially) and then take the responsibility of looking after his children. Also, the period after marriage and before having children is enough to understand the compatibility of the couple.
From Ms Rakhee Mansukhani
UAE

Different ages
I feel that age should never be a criterion for marriage. Just because one is old doesn’t mean that he or she is mature. I feel maturity comes with life experience. I feel that for men the correct age is when they understand and feel that they are not only self sufficient but are also ready to take care of someone new in their life. Generally the ideal age for men is said to be from 25 to 28 years. But looking at today’s competitive world I think the ideal age should be between 27 and 33 years. For women I feel that the ideal age is from 24 to 27 years. However, as more women want to be independent first and then think about marriage the ideal age should be between 25 and 29 years.
From Mr Prash Bhatia
Dubai


Age is just a number
I don’t think it matters at what age you get married. I got married when I was 19 years old and my husband and I have grown up together, as we got engaged when I was 16. I wanted children young so that I was not an embarrassment to them. I didn’t want them to say: “Can you drop me off around the corner?” or something similar. I think that if you find the right person then it doesn’t matter how old you are and on the flip side if you are going to marry the wrong person you can do that at any age. I have no regrets with getting married at the age of 19.
From Ms Judith Cooke Welling
UAE


Fuelling the economy
If this is approved then it will be a good move for businesses in the UAE (‘Federal National Council (FNC) wants petrol prices reduced’, Gulf News, May 23). High prices of petrol and fuel heavily affect the country’s development. Cheap gas prices will fuel more business and generate more trades. The FNC’s proposal is very sound and I hope the authorities will praise it and implement it.
From Mr Peter
Dubai


What a waste
The reduction of petrol prices is a welcome move, but the authorities must impose strict penalties for people who waste it. Sometimes people don’t care to switch off their vehicle even if they are waiting for an hour.
From Mr Rajeev Jose
Sharjah


Good investment
On the one hand the reduced petrol price would help bring down the cost of essential commodities, while on the other it will increase the sales of cars resulting in more traffic. The authorities should decide whether this is desirable or not.
I believe petroleum products should be sold at market rates and without any kind of subsidies. The subsidy money should be utilised for a more efficient public transportation system that would reduce the use of private cars and thereby reduce the traffic on UAE roads.
From Ms Shiva Subramanian
Sharjah


Making a profit
I think that if petrol prices are reduced then it would only affect people who drive, as it would be cheaper to fill up their car. However, in terms of the prices of commodities I do not think that it would make a difference. When the price of fuel is decreased then it would make sense that the cost of transporting goods would be lowered. However, from what I’ve seen in the past that only means that companies would use this as a way to make profit. Rarely have I seen companies reducing the price of their product due to cheaper fuel prices. I think this is the norm in every country in the world. I hope that if the price of petrol is decreased then the authorities would see to it that businesses act responsibly and reduce the prices of goods. I think this would definitely help the people.
From Ms Leslie Salara
Umm Al Quwaim