Make peace and win awards
Awards and ceremonies - don't we all love them? It motivates and encourages us. This is definitely the award season.

Many great personalities have been bestowed with awards. For instance, Indian authoress Kiran Desai recently won the Booker Prize ("Booker winner drew strength from mother", Gulf News, October 13).

Then there is the Nobel peace prizewinner Dr Mohammad Younus, from Bangladesh.

Anybody who is talented and gives his or her best gets recognised. But, then I wonder why do people make war?

If the same minds are used in good work then I think there would be many more award winners!
From Ms Anureet Kaur
Dubai

English is important
This is with reference to the feature "Mind your language" (Gulf News, October 20). Being proficient in English is very important, as it is the language of the world.

Due to the internet and the aviation industry, the earth has shrunk considerably. To facilitate communication, a common language is vital.

When we look at a country like India having diverse cultures and languages, we realise the significance of a common language.

It has, in fact, helped the country gain a lot of outsourcing opportunities - creating a boom in the economy.

So, we can never deny the place of English in our lives.
From Ms Anata Krishna
Sharjah
Member of the Gulf News Reader's Club

Jokes and stories
Thank you very much for bringing us Funday on Saturdays. I am a Grade 5 student. Funday has a lot of activities and puzzles, which are nice.

However, it would be more interesting if you could include short stories, information on science, sports and current affairs, comic strips, riddles and jokes.
From Mr I. Kareem
Dubai

More crosswords
I think Funday is very entertaining. I think there should be more crosswords and number puzzles, along with instructions on how to deal with it.

We do wait for it every week, and I have a fight with my sister on what I will do and what she could do.

You could improve by removing the colouring section.
From Mr K. Singh

Make it a book
I think it would be better if you made a special book for Funday. It is entertaining. You need to publish it more often during the week.
From Mr S. Jerald

No right to ridicule
It really nettles when radio jockeys for some of the UAE-based "Hinglish" FM stations lampoon Indian politicians and celebrities in their daily programmes.

For that matter, all things Indian are ridiculed on these shows. When the whole world respects the country's rich heritage, culture, secular traditions and growing economy, a "rotten and jagged" seed sows discontent and tries to tarnish the image of India.

Fine, their listeners are mostly from the Indian subcontinent, but it does not give them the licence to poke fun at the country, and its people.
From Mr J.A. Marques
Dubai

They are right
In response to the editorial ("Paranoia in the classroom", Gulf News, October 28), I would like to state that I, as a Muslim, believe this is definitely being done as a precautionary measure.

Why does the Arab and Muslim world have to react to any and every security measure taken by Western nations that have been affected through acts of terror?

This is a logical move by their security agencies and I see no discrimination at all in this security measure. After all "prevention is better than cure".
From Mr Daud Al Rahbar
Abu Dhabi

Cause of fear
To wear or not to wear the veil, that is not just an individual question ("French PM welcomes debate about veil", Gulf News, October 26).

While one is free to choose one's dress, one also has the responsibility not to upset others.

If people around us are intimidated by an action, one should take note and remove that element of fear.

With the world becoming increasingly more dangerous and every public place holding out a threat, a covered face might be worrying.
From A Reader
Sharjah
Name withheld by request

I want to follow it
I was amazed to read in your newspaper that in the days of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) women were beleaguered.

By wearing the veil, Muslim men would know that these women were Muslim and, therefore, should not be "molested".

I think that's a good idea, to feel safe, and I would wear one but everyone here (in the US) would think it's a religious statement.

We have working in our supermarket a Muslim woman, who wears a scarf and we respect her.
From Ms Olga Ann
US

The issue of choice
It is what they call Islamophobia nowadays. Would the "veil" issue have taken the same course of direction if it were related to what is considered in the West as freedom of choice?
From Mr Ali Ismail