‘I didn’t vote for a war’

am an American and, yes, I voted for President Barack Obama both times (‘US Senate backs $1-billion weapons sale to Saudi Arabia’, Gulf News, September 23). I was under the impression that he would not go to war. I did not vote for a war. I pray for the people in Syria, and I am deeply saddened by what is happening there. And not just there, but in the Palestinian Territories, Myanmar and other countries, too. I am really worried for my country this election and not just mine, but the future of other countries and how this will affect everyone. I am truly ashamed. From Ms Mel Hossny UAE Facebook comment

Weapons for peace?

T he period the world is going through, leaders only seem to understand the language of weapons. Even a peace-loving country is forced to keep weapons so that another country will not create unwanted problems. From Mr Syed Efthikar UAE Facebook comment

Not a justification

Firstly, there is no justification in your statement about holding an arsenal for peaceful means, Mr Syed Efthikar. Secondly, none of the countries on the map of the world is forced to keep arsenals. It’s a bad excuse for a very dangerous slippery slope.

Yes, there are conflicts and tension in regional territories, which I suppose can only be eliminated by peace talks rather than cutting budgets from the public sector and spending it on defence! From Mr Tahir Baloch Dublin, Ireland Facebook comment

Don’t take murder lightly

I f one of your relatives was mistakenly taken by police at a checkpoint and the next day you found them killed, you would be upset (‘How the Philippines fell into vigilante violence’, Gulf News, September 23). We all need to read the news. One Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) mistakenly killed due to a misguided drug war issue of the current administration.

Don’t dream, open your eyes. If one of your relatives had been a victim of mistaken identity, what would be your reaction?

Nobody’s against anti-drug campaigns, but killing has been taken too lightly now and how sure are you that those killed are so-called pushers? From Mr Rey Hicalde UAE Facebook comment

Safer streets

T he death of that OFW is under investigation, it is still premature to conclude that it’s an extra-judicial killing as we don’t know yet what was the motive of those police officers.

We also can’t presume that they were innocent, after all the Philippines is now safer than before. From Ms Rose Narzabal Dubai Facebook comment

Justifies murder

M r Rey Hicalde, nobody can be sure if all the cases are really drug warrelated deaths. Anyone can just kill someone they want to get rid of and call it what they want.

They simply put a piece of cardboard citing it’s a drug war related case. Are our minds even working? From Ms Starlyn PelayanRocimo UAE Facebook comment

Where to point?

T hese aren’t vigilante killings. I think that these crimes are being done by people within drug rings, silencing the people around them and stop them from naming them to the authorities. They obviously made it as if it were carried out by vigilantes so that they don’t get the blame. From Mr J. R. Leto UAE Facebook comment

Many angles to consider

C ould it be because they are not really vigilante killings, but rather criminals trying to cut loose ends to avoid being investigated?

Could it be because the pushers can no longer remit the proceeds of the drug sales to the drug lord because it is very hard and dangerous to sell drugs now?

Watch out for Australia

T he opinion of Australian cricket coach, Darren Lehmann, that sledging is likely to be part of the mix when they confront South Africa in the One Day International (ODI) series after the Aussie captain, Steve Smith, lamented that their shy approach cost them 3-0 in the Test series against Sri Lanka clearly proves that the Aussies could never win a Test match without sledging. It is time the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the match referees take note of this and be alert to spot such sledging not only during the South Africa ODI series, but also in each and every game in a series played by the Australian team. From Mr N. Viswanathan Virugambakkam, India

This isn’t pocket change

I can never understand these stories of people losing such large amounts of money (‘Sharjah cabbie returns bag with Dh1.7 million’, Gulf News, September 23). Who carries Dh1.7 million in cash with them like it’s some pocket change? Well done to the cab driver. From Mr Mubasher Shaikh London, UK Facebook comment

You never know!

I thought the same many times, Mr Mubasher Shaikh. How can someone forget so much money? Maybe it truly is just pocket change for them. From Ms Umme Meeran Syed UAE Facebook comment

Honesty is everywhere

T he amount of money doesn’t matter, but the honesty does. The world is full of honest people. We all must appreciate such acts of truthfulness.

One of my relatives lost his wallet two months ago. Whoever picked it up from the roadside returned it to a nearby hotel. A few hundreds were missing, but rest of the money was there. So we thought maybe he needed that money or he kept it as a prize.

Last year in a busy mall I was standing near the sitting area waiting for a place to sit when a gentleman offered me a seat and started walking. I saw his wallet in between the armrest and seat of the sofa so I immediately called him and pointed out his forgotten wallet. His gratitude and smile made my day. A little

A culture of trust

W hat an honest man. It’s about the culture you live in and the UAE has created a culture of trust and clarity. I have seen drivers returning things on various occasions in the UAE. No money is worth losing your prospects in the hereafter. May God bless him. From Mr Abdullah Zisan Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Facebook comment

Laptop returned

Ileft my laptop when I was in a Dubai airport taxi on my way to Sharjah at midnight. He came back after dropping me to give me my things, but I paid him extra for that. The driver returned all the way back to drop off my laptop. From Mr Tamal Mukherjee Dubai

Lucky surprise!

S ome of these drivers are great. My friend lost his passport and realised three days later when returning to the airport for his flight back home. The good surprise for him was that he found out that he left it in a taxi and that driver had returned it to the airport. From Mr Pablo G. L. UAE Facebook comment

Doesn’t make sense

T his is unbelievable. Who walks around with Dh1.7 million and forgets it in a taxi? It doesn’t make sense at all. From Mr Grishon Ng’ethe Dubai Facebook comment

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