Letters from the past

Gulf News looks back over the years at concerns and issues raised by readers in their letters to the newspaper. It's a retrospective that offers an insight into the community, the development of the country and the paper's journey. This week's letters are from October and November 1978.

Bring back Sue
One might read the following as a letter of complaint. It is not. However, for the first time since going into publication we noticed, in today's edition (October 21, Gulf News) of the Classifieds on page 11, the disappearance of the caricature of Sue, Gulf News' great and well-travelled Sharjah advertising representative. This is not really the start of a campaign; just the lonely cry of "bring back Sue".
From Mr Bob
Sharjah

Editor's note: Pleased to oblige. We will try and include the caricature as often as we can. It was never intended to be Sue - but yes, there is a remarkable resemblance.

Driver sees red ...
I was delighted, as I am sure many other people were, to read Gulf News's story concerning the police department's attempt at cutting down on careless and selfish driving. (Gulf News, November 7). I would like to tell the newspaper about two separate incidents that occurred whilst I was driving along the Al Garhoud Bridge road.

We had stopped at the red traffic lights and as they turned to amber were immediately hooted continuously from a jeep behind, despite the fact the three cars in front were all patiently waiting for the green light. On my return journey, I was approaching the set of lights, which were on red.

No sooner had they turned to amber when once again a jeep, shot over. Had there been another vehicle around, an accident would most certainly have occurred.
From A Concerned Woman Driver
Dubai

Sighs over bridge trap
With reference to Gulf News's front page feature on Tuesday, November 7, stating the concern of the local police about the increase of accidents in Dubai, I would suggest that if they are so concerned they should refrain from closing the outside lane in the middle of the Garhoud Bridge with a large truck in order to conceal a radar vehicle designed to trap the speeding motorists, who are obliged to brake, change lanes and eventually crawl past the obstruction on the bridge.
From A Worried Expat driver
Dubai

Concern over Lebanon war
I read your newspaper daily and am very concerned about your reports of the events in Lebanon. I take this opportunity to put the facts right. The recent fighting in Lebanon was between the Arab Deterrent Forces and the Phalangists.

Not the Christians or Christian militia as you keep inferring. Christians is too broad a term, it can mean Roman Catholic, Protestant, Greek Orthodox to name but a few.

In fact, the people involved in the fighting are mainly, if not all, Maronite and are fighting as a political entity - not a religious one - under the name of Phalangists. There are many other Christians who would like to be free from this war and live in peace.

Unfortunately, they are trapped. Many wish to escape but it is almost impossible. If the Phalangists don't shoot them - the Phalangists want the rest of the world to believe it is religion to gain more support - the Arab Forces might, or at least not let them through for fear they are Maronite or sympathisers.

Also, please do not call the west of Beirut the Muslim area. Again you are wrong. In the area of Beirut called Barbir it is mostly Muslim, in the Corniche Mazraa it is mixed, in Hamra - the centre of Beirut - there is a complete mix of religions and nationalities.

All of these people are going about their lives in peace. Unfortunately, it is the kind of information that Gulf News and other news media have been giving out that causes prejudice, violence and eventually war.

Naturally, I am concerned about my country and feel that even such a small effort as writing to you may help others to gain a better understanding. For fear of all the parties mentioned (and more) I couldn't disclose my name or address.
From A True Lebanese, Wanting Peace and Unity in My Country
Dubai

Editor's note: All the reports on Lebanon which have appeared in Gulf News are supplied by news agencies and the terms used for particular groups are as described by them. Whereas we accept that these terms may, at times, be misleading it would be both dangerous and often impossible for us to try and use our own interpretation or be more specific. We have, however, passed on copies of your letter to the agencies concerned.