Fallujah Subdued

Now that the People of Fallujah have been sufficiently killed, American journalists are quick to "spin" the hopes, inner-thoughts, political aspirations, and future of Iraq as well. They gorge on a bloodless feast of dreams spawned within their fertile fantasies. The "T-word" has somehow been laid to rest, as though Arafat might have put it in his pocket, before venturing on his way to heaven. 

Oh, the politics of it all, as if there were no dead bodies. American journalists are so pure of heart and soul that such matters of grieving for loved-ones serves no higher calling, no place in a rosy aftermath of an American outcome. 

American journalists have decided that there were no "outside" fanatic fighters, just the misguided young men of Fallujah. A very necessary concession of confession offering-up legitimacy to a higher plan where bombs do not explode, women and children do not die, homes and hearth remain in tact, and all Iraqi proboscis point only to expectations, rather than the bodies floating down the river toward the sea.  

The Iraqi people, as well as the Palestinians, are somehow unique. Unlike white-people, they never succumb to grief. The dead limp body of a child, alive before the Americans came, is suddenly transformed from unspeakable loss to the renewed sprit of better politics, assigned to articulation by noble American nit-picking bickering scribes. The perfect people for the perfect job.

Before the last Iraqi young man has been killed, American journalists fret about the fairness of upcoming elections. How can elections be fair, yet conclude with a winner that suits their informed judgment? The Iraqis, of course, will be new at this and could wind-up doing as they like, such as asking the Americans to take their bombs and go home.

And does that suggests that the people of Fallujah may not have been sufficiently killed?

Ed Friedemann published 16 November 2004

Let’s Get Our Act Together

Raid Qusti’s article “Cover Your Face Woman” (Nov. 9) forces us to confront some unpleasant realities. It is indeed an irony that our Grand Mosque in Makkah has become a place of injustice and one where the very faith it symbolizes is, in effect, diminished. Culture is obviously taking over religion. The image of Islam has already been damaged by terrorists and the Zionist media. And now these radicals at the Holy Mosque add their contribution to worsen the situation.

Thanks to them, I am afraid to go to Makkah with my wife and perform Umrah. My wife is hypoglycemic. If she gets sick or faints while performing Umrah, I will not be with her to help, thanks to our friends at the gates. I can’t look for her and expect to find her because her face is covered just like the rest of the thousands of women there — again thanks to our friends at the gates. Where is she to get help? From fellow pilgrims, who might trample her with their commonly witnessed Ramadan spirit? Or maybe our friends at the gates again, to whom I am just a ‘Mohammad’ and she just a ‘hajja’? From the ones who would rather let her get stepped over and die, than help her because that might be un-Islamic or indecent in their twisted and undereducated minds — as they did on March 11, 2002, when 14 girls lost their lives after they were prevented from escaping because they were not wearing headscarves and their male relatives were not there to receive them?

What’s Islamic is to acknowledge that men and women are equal. What’s Islamic is to show people respect while driving, at work or buying groceries. Or maybe to show some gratitude to the men who keep our streets clean, who work 12 hours a day, get paid SR250 riyals a month on an irregular basis and live in miserable conditions. What’s Islamic is to show up at work on time. What’s Islamic is to treat and serve people fairly and not on the basis of ‘wasta’. With all this mess around us, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Islam, though a religion of tolerance, peace and mutual respect, is now thought to be hostile and intolerant by many around the world. To change this image, we Muslims will have to get our act together. And, in this case, we can’t pay others to do it for us.

Moiz Rehman • Jeddah published 16 November 2004

Let’s Get Our Act Together [2]

I would like to see a follow-up to the story “Cover Your Face Woman” by Raid Qusti and see what the authorities have to say. In fact, Qusti should have got some answers to why this is going on. The article reported what was taking place and ended with the author “hoping” that the authorities in Haram would take a look at this. That was halfway journalism.

Go the whole way. Call the authorities and get them to give you a statement on this, so that we, as readers, can see that it is a group of people who have taken matters into their own hands. If, however, it turns out that the authorities have taken it upon themselves to come up with “new” rules, never before implemented in 1400 years, then we, as Muslims, from all over the world have a right to hold them accountable for their actions. And, the article should have investigated this further and taken that stand. Umrah belongs to all people and not merely a group of ignorant fools. Whether they are in authority or not, if any changes are to be made, the Muslim world has a right to have a say. What makes them think they can do better than the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his teachings? Qusti should have asked them that.

Jehan Ali • India published 16 November 2004

Let’s Get Our Act Together [3]

Instead of raising scores of questions and trying to invent answers about the separate entrances for men and women at the Holy Mosque in Makkah and the allegation that some people are asking women to cover their faces while performing tawaf, Raid Qusti should have contacted the authorities in the Grand Mosque to verify if such things were really happening or were just guess work. Many times I have seen women being directed to enter through certain doors and in all cases, they were doors that led straight to the sections reserved for women. The separation is done only during the time of the five prayers when there is a big crowd of worshippers in the Mosque. Qusti allowed his imagination to run wild when he saw on TV while watching the live transmission of Maghreb prayers “a bearded man wearing a special suit” frowning at a woman and speaking to her, and he decided that the man had asked her to cover her face. How did he know that? He did not hear the words. The man could have told her any of a thousand other things: To end the tawaf because it was prayer time, for instance. Many well-meaning people advise women to do that.

I request all these feminist intellectuals not to assume things that tickle their prejudices, at least in the matter of religion. They should verify facts before airing their views to the world.

K.J. Haroon Basha • Alkhobar published 16 November 2004

Saudia

S.A. Siddiqui’s letter “Saudia” (Nov. 9) articulated the sentiments of a vast majority of Saudia travelers. I am glad to see someone writing to Arab News to let people know how inconsiderate some Saudia employees can be. About 200 Filipinos headed home for vacation on Flight SV862 on July 1, 2004 were given the same treatment. No one bothered to inform us whether the flight was delayed or canceled or if the aircraft needed repair. No one said anything about accommodating us in a hotel till the next flight. When we sough to get a clarification, the supervisor behaved as though we were imposing ourselves on his time.

Does Saudia teach its employees that its paying customers have no rights and that they are to be treated without any regard for their comfort? Are they taught that if Saudia’s incompetence causes inconvenience, its customers should take it without any complaint?

Joseph Quichocho • Jeddah published 16 November 2004

Radio Riyadh

After reading the report that the broadcasting system of Radio Riyadh is to be upgraded, I have decided to suspend my judgment. Whether I welcome it or not depends purely on how that “upgrading” is done.

I remember Radio Riyadh from the early 1990s. It was a fun station that expats and Saudis alike enjoyed. I still remember one man requesting a song for his family back in the Philippines. I left the Kingdom and returned a few years later to find it had become dry, dreary and dull. It’s all very well spending millions on upgrading the equipment, but what’s the point if the programming remains uninteresting? Talk shows are all very well and have their place on the airwaves but so does music. If there is not enough time on one station perhaps it’s time for Radio Riyadh 2.

B. Aldrick • Riyadh published 16 November 2004

Radio Riyadh [2]

What really needs to be upgraded is the style of presentation. Listen to the English news bulletin and you will know what I mean.

Hafeez Khan • Riyadh published 16 November 2004

Fallujah Cocktail

Amir Taheri’s article “Events That Make Fallujah a Deadly Cocktail” (Nov. 10) should have, in fairness, mentioned the enmity, to say the least, engendered when American troops early in the occupation intentionally fired into a crowd of demonstrators in Fallujah, killing, as I recall, 18 Iraqis. It may comfort you to consider the American/Nazi invasion and brutal treatment of the Fallujahns as some sort of “accidental mistake,” but it betrays intellectual cowardice. To be blunt: The US Military is No.1 in telling all sorts of lies all the time; the second place is earned by the ceaseless mendacity of the Arab media.

Abby Levine • Marathon, US published 16 November 2004

Fallujah Cocktail [2]

An excellent article. I got more background information out of it than I’ve been able to get from the American media during the last three days. Once Fallujah has been subdued, who will remain in the city? The foreign jihadists will all be dead, the Saddamite leftovers will be in jail and the most outspoken clerics will be exiled. What does you see in the city’s future, aside from a huge rebuilding effort?

Shane Bruce • United States published 16 November 2004

Fallujah Cocktail [3]

Very interesting and concise article, as usual. Congratulations to Amir Taheri.

B.J. Turner • United States published 16 November 2004

Kuwait and Arafat

Congratulations to the Kuwaitis on their reaction to their TV’s coverage of Arafat which presented him as a “hero.” That has resulted in the resignation of their information minister. Everyone must be proud of himself there. All democratic people must be impressed with the freedom of speech in Kuwait. I guess when the world thought the funds given to Yasser Arafat were aid to the Palestinians, we now know it was buying favors. When that did not materialize, the Kuwaiti hosts were very efficient at deporting the Palestinian workers who helped build Kuwait. Another instance of democracy at work.

We also learn that to be a hero, one must be a “friend of Kuwait”. Webster may need to update the definition.

R. Othman • Yanbu published 16 November 2004

Kuwait and Arafat [2]

I am surprised by the indignation some people have expressed at Kuwait’s view of Yasser Arafat and at the anger of Kuwaitis at their information minister for glorifying him. Arafat was a man who dedicated his life to the mission of regaining for his people their lost land, freedom, dignity and patrimony. That was why the world — not just the Muslim and Arab part of it, but the whole of it — supported him. He represented, in their eyes, the right of every people to be free. Kuwait was the first country to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization. It was also its biggest financial supporter. It opened its doors wide for Palestinians to find jobs. No payback was expected.

But Yasser Arafat paid back. When Iraq occupied Kuwait, no one had any doubt where men and women who believed in decency should stand — with those who had lost their land, freedom, dignity and patrimony. But that was not where Arafat stood. He stood with the occupier, declaring that Kuwait had no right to land, freedom, dignity or patrimony. The Kuwaitis saw a new Arafat — a man who supported the enslavement of those who had given him money, sanctuary and support to help his people win their freedom.

Why would he be a hero to Kuwiaitis?

Abdul Fattah • Dhahran published 16 November 2004

A Documentary on Arafat

Khaled Almaeena’s article “Yasser Arafat — Reflections on the Man of Palestinian Destiny” gave us an excellent overview of a life dedicated to winning his people freedom and dignity. More must be done to make his life an inspiration for all those who have to face overwhelming odds — from superpower animosity through media hostility to prejudice — in their national struggles. It would be a very good idea to produce a documentary on the life and struggle of Arafat in order to serve as a guide and source of strength to future generations of Palestinians.

Mansoor Khan • Jeddah published 16 November 2004

Waiting for History

You said simple truth when you wrote “US Generals May Deliver Fallujah to Bush and Blair, but Not Fallujahns” (Nov. 11). I wonder what is it that these generals and men in power are thinking. Don’t they know that, when faced with a common enemy, feuding factions will unite? In all his speeches, Bush says “history will show” that we were right to invade Iraq. Well, I am waiting for that history. Come on Arab World, stand up and help your brothers in Iraq. Democracy is about people choosing for themselves, not somebody else forcing a choice on them. It has to be suggested to people, not forced upon them.

Jorge L. Soto • United States published 16 November 2004