Utter chaos at Sharjah airport
This is in reference to "Additional flights from Sharjah help tackle summer rush" (Gulf News, July 6). I was at the Sharjah airport last week and to my dismay found the ground staff extremely confused and unable to handle the rush. There was pandemonium and disorder with people screaming and worried about their travel plans. Passengers were fighting their way in and out between the unusable empty trolleys in the main atrium. It seemed for a moment that all the ground staff were absconding, due to the rush!
From Ms R. Sebastian
Sharjah
Israeli aggression
If action against Israel was ever justified, it is now. Look at how they've terrorised a colonised population, in the name of freeing one of their soldiers. Past efforts against Israel failed because there was no unity on the part of the Arabs.
From Mr M. Ally
Alberta, Canada
Unfair portrayal
I have been a regular reader of Gulf News Online since 2000. Though I live in India, I prefer to read Gulf News because it gives me a balanced view of India and the world. However, I was upset to read "Israel withdraws from Northern Gaza" (Gulf News Online, July 8). The reason being that it was sad to note that Gulf News refers to Palestinians as militants and ruthless Israeli terrorists as soldiers. I protest against this and the least that I can do is to stop reading your unfair paper.
From Mr M.A. Khan
Bangalore, India
Editor's note
The reader has a valid point. The story was reported by an international news agency. However, our staff should have not overlooked the sensitivities.
Unclear nuclear policy
I agree with the comments in the letter "Misleading headline" from Mr J. Salem (Gulf News, July 9), regarding the double standards for various issues. When India and Pakistan tested nuclear bombs, they were initially threatened, but both are now back in the world comity of nations. India's Agni missile test is authorised, but when North Korea test-fired missiles recently, not only was it condemned, but it is also under threat of sanctions. Again, Israel has the right to nuclear weapons and attack its neighbours, but Iran is not allowed to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. How long will the double standards continue?
From Mr M.E. Ahmed
Dubai
Ill-behaved doctor
I had a bad experience at a hospital in Dubai. My husband and I went to a general practitioner to get my husband's blood pressure checked. The doctor treated us very unkindly. Even before examining my husband, the doctor said he may be a cardiac patient. The doctor spoke harshly, not bothering to ask what my husband's problem was. Some people are arrogant, but when it comes to such noble professions, such an attitude is unacceptable. A doctor who takes out her frustration on patients is not fit to treat others.
From A Reader
Dubai
Parking woes
Living in Dubai we are constantly reminded that parking is a luxury. This is true, especially, for those of us living in older buildings that don't provide any basement parking in areas such as Karama. Spending an average of 30-45 minutes everyday looking for parking is now a norm. We have no choice but to park on the pavement or double-park as a result of which, we pay fines. Most vacant lots are now construction sites. All we ask for is more parking facilities even if we have to pay. It would be worth every dirham spent for peace of mind.
From Ms C. Suvares
Dubai
Eating on the streets
I draw the attention of the authorities to the cafeterias, especially in Deira, which lay out tables on pavements leaving no space for pedestrians. The customers smoke pipes and play cards on the roads (a common sight in Frij Murar area) making it difficult for families with children to pass by.
From A Reader
Dubai
Car insurance chase
Someone hit my car last month and I gave in my car for repairs the very next day. It has been more than three weeks since the incident and my insurance company has not chased the relevant parties (agency repair people and guilty party's insurance) to ensure my car is fixed. They claim it is "my job" to do this. The insurance company has neither given me a replacement car, nor are they sympathetic to my situation. I have been catching cabs which has cost me more than Dh 2,000. Who will bear this cost? Are there others in my situation?
From Ms F. Tapya
Sharjah
Tall promises
India's Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announces proposals every now and then, but sadly not many are implemented. For instance, the helpline to help pupils taking the CBSE board exam was literally helpless. It was virtually impossible to get through, and if you left a message nobody called back. Similarly, the assurances to reduce the load on primary school pupils are not being implemented. Children are given weekly homework assignments and instead of teachers sitting with pupils to do projects, it's the parents who do so. Further, no effort is being made to lighten the schoolbags of small children.
From A Reader
Dubai
Tragedy in waiting
We, the residents of the Green Community, are living in the shadow of danger. The huge roundabout from Emirates Road to get to our community is constantly choked with every kind of 18-wheeler truck imaginable. Drivers have to manoeuvre through an ocean of these behemoths just to get in and out of the community. Near-misses are an everyday occurrence and a major accident is imminent. Hopefully the authorities will do something before a carful of children is involved in a horrible calamity.
From A Reader
Dubai
What lies beneath?
I don't think terrorism will stop with the mere control of money transfers. Terrorism is a tool for some, who control their gains, but prefer to work in the shadows. The reason behind my belief is that the brutal killings labelled as terrorist acts are investigated away from the root. They don't ask the right questions and so we don't have any answers. Common people are fooled by focusing on the "real killers" and diverting the attention from the "real beneficiaries" who enjoy the gains. I hope terrorism will end the day we find out who really benefits from it.
From Mr S. Chacko
Abu Dhabi
Criminal discrimination
I hope I'm wrong, but it seems to me that Gulf News makes it a point to mention the criminal's nationality when reporting a crime, especially when the criminal is a UAE national. For example, why is it that in the two rape crime reports in Gulf News (July 6) the UAE national is identified by his nationality, while the other rapist who got jailed for raping a teenager is only identified by his initials?
From Ms M. Al Hussein
Dubai
Editor's note: We never distinguish between nationalities. However, we differentiate between cases according to the press law. We would not reveal identities, including nationalities, unless a verdict has been passed or it is in an official statement from relevant authorities - the public attorney, the police and other concerned bodies.
