Letters to the Editor
Our most powerful tool is education
Education is a benchmark of progress. Education is not just for employment, but for development and progress because it inculcates modern ideas and instils enlightened thinking. Education can bring a nation to great heights. An educated society is well acquainted with their rights and is able to tell the difference between right and wrong. An uneducated society may fall prey to fraud and corruption and people are oblivious to their rights and duties. Education is the power that can change the vision of a person. Education is a treasure that follows its owner everywhere and it is the right of every human being. It is narrow-minded to categorise education according to caste and gender because it is the spark that creates and purifies bright minds. An educated mind holds the most ingenious ideas for the most enlightened and dynamic world. Education is the soul of this world. From Ms Akshitha Unnithan Dubai
Weathering the storm
T he Kerala, India political scenario presents the perfect picture of a theatre of the absurd (‘Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy denies sex allegations’, Gulf News, December 4). Allegations after allegations have made the government of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy very unpopular.
They even say that he had an undesirable friendship with the notorious Saritha Nair, the main person accused in the Solar scam. The coming days are crucial for the United Democratic Front (UDF), the ruling party. It will be hard to stand firm together to face very serious charges, including corruption. The finance minister was forced to resign recently. Things are not very bright for the ruling UDF. From Mr Thomas Matthew Parackel Kerala, India
Education and intolerance
I t is astonishing that in India, which is a secular country, well known for its hospitality and quality of educated and skilled Indians around the world, that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) can generate hate waves and an intolerant atmosphere without understanding the consequences (‘Kinder, gentler Modi as parliament resumes’, Gulf News, December 6). These educated people don’t understand that they may jeopardise the beautiful fabric of Indian culture in which I am born and have seen, living together in harmony, sharing festivals of Hindus,
Muslims and Christians.
Therefore, it is my humble request to all to shun negative behaviour to keep the secularism of India. From Mr Qidwat Uddin Kidwai Abu Dhabi
Selfish crimes
I t goes to show that even educated people get brainwashed (‘California woman suspect pledged loyalty to Daesh’, Gulf News, December 5). How can someone let go of their six-month-old child and commit such a crime? The dead are gone, but the ones left behind suffer the most. Those who do it by choice are selfish people. From Ms Alka Paul UAE Facebook comment
Identifying threats
T he new details emerging about the suspects of the shooting massacre that left more than a dozen killed and many injured, are shocking. It is sad to learn that the young man had links to a terror group.
With this recent incident, it has become even more difficult to identify potential threats and differentiate them from the rest. From Ms Fatima Suhail UAE Facebook comment
Not proving anything
T heir act furthers some people’s erroneous notion about the faith. Is this the way to prove your religion is peaceful? Also, there is no such thing as justifiable revenge attacks in Islam. From Ms Saima Mukhtar Abu Dhabi Facebook comment
Caring for others
T his seems like such a mental sickness, people have forgotten to fear God and the day of judgement (‘US couple kept lid on plans for shooting’, Gulf News, December 4). We need to care about one another so we can become more aware of others and to help them before they lose their minds. From Mr Mughis Naqvi UAE Facebook comment
Misguided and misled
K illing is a grave sin regardless of the perpetrator. Ethnicity, creed, colour and religion don’t make us different. There must be a problem in today’s society causing all this misbehaviour and crime. Sadly, many are misguided and misled. From Ms Tess Gonzales Jarina UAE
Sad state of affairs
W hen the British negotiated the placement of Jews in today’s Israel they did not take into consideration their natural population growth or their distinct lack of integration, which is evident in Jewish communities the worldwide (‘Boycott, labelling have hit Israel hard’, Gulf News, December 6).
Systematically, they are displacing the rightful people of this land, the Palestinians, because of their strength within the financial and political arenas in the US. There is no possibility of a negotiated peaceful two-state solution as time has shown this would require the Jews to give up much of what they have illegally occupied.
In the belief that the Israeli government will not concede any or very little ground and with little international support for the Palestinians, the only hope that the Palestinians have is if the rest of the world were to agree draconian sanctions on Israel to force them to settle in an acceptable way. But whilst Israel holds favour with the US, the chance of this happening is highly improbable. No President or incumbent would wish to fall out of favour.
The result is that Israel wins, Palestine loses and the two-state solution is long gone. From Mr David Woodward Dubai
Establishing peace
L ooking from the historical perspective, it makes more sense to derive a conclusion that a two-state solution is the best way forward. The Palestinians have suffered many losses during the past several decades under the occupation of Israel.
As long as Palestinians have to live under a Jewish government, they cannot expect fair treatment because history has demonstrated this. So, for obvious reasons, the achievement of peace in the region can come only through the establishment of a separate state for Palestinians that does not displace them completely from their rightful geographical location.
Palestinians could benefit from an autonomous territory with a stable government that is representative of their collective identity.
International organisations, including the United Nations, should facilitate sufficient funds to build infrastructure that facilitate the building of schools, hospitals and housing for the displaced people.
The UN and other world organisational bodies must work towards bringing the historical locations that are equally important to the three monotheistic religions under the protection of heritage sites with the power to directly govern in order to avoid disputes. A monitoring committee that oversees the governance may include representative from the three religious authorities. From Mr V. I. Mohammad Sageer Dubai