Look Who Is Talking

The West’s recent threats against Iran because of its alleged ambitions to become a nuclear power are sheer arrogance. The US, France and Britain, the three nations that are most outraged by these ambitions, all possess nuclear weapons. What right do they have to point fingers at other states? A colonial we-are-better-than-thou mentality seems to shape their attitudes. The message is: We are superior and morally responsible and, therefore, are better able to deal with the possession of nuclear weapons.

Look who’s talking. It is not even a case of the pot calling the kettle black. The US is the only country in the world which actually unleashed nuclear monstrosity on the world when it dropped bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. That was 60 years ago. One can only imagine the nuclear stockpiles in its possession today. And one can be sure that America’s moral values have not improved a bit so as to stay its hands from doing the same thing again.

Further, it is almost laughable for the West to expect the world to believe the same lie again. The justification for invading Iraq was the same: The unfounded claim, propped up with fabricated evidence, that Saddam was pursuing a nuclear weapons program. The same claims are being made again, supported by the same warped logic and accompanied by the same ominous threats directed at Iran. Bush has the audacity to claim that he will consider force against Iran as a last resort “in order to secure the country” (this coming from the most powerful nuclear power on the planet) and “provide opportunities for people to live in free societies” (the “people” of course being those of the West whose societies will be free only if Iraqis, and now apparently Iranians, are bombed).

Add to this the West’s blind and blatant support for Israel, which has still not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty though in possession of between 100 to 200 nuclear warheads. The double standard defies belief. Israel is rated sixth on the nuclear power list and it continues to develop its weapons with continued financial and technological support from the West, primarily the US, the self-proclaimed champion of a nuclear-free world. The US claims that the unanimous approval of the European Resolution “made it clear that the world was united on the issue of preventing Iran from getting the bomb.” Read: The unanimous approval of the European Resolution proves that the West wants to maintain its hegemony — nuclear and otherwise — over the Arab world. A British Foreign Office spokesman further asserts, “This (the European Resolution) sends a clear message to Iran on what it should do. We still believe there is a non-confrontational way forward, if Iran wants to take it.” Does it not mean, “We own the bombs. It’s our club. Get out, or else...”?

S. Imran, Jeddah publishe 17 August 2005

Passport Errors

This refers to the report “Passport Errors Causing Serious Problems” (Aug. 11). Every individual is responsible to check that all data entered into the passport are correct before accepting it. However, the passport department is wrong in charging us again and again for reissuing passports that have to be corrected especially if the error is the result of their carelessness. We had to correct our children’s passports twice. The attitude of “mafi mushkila” is be abolished, especially when dealing with official documents.

Loke H.C., Jeddah published 17 August 2005

Those Who Incite Violence

Dr. Mohammed Al-Rasheed asked the right question: “What’s Wrong With Throwing Out People Who Incite Violence?” (Aug. 11). Nothing. Tony Blair has the right idea. Throw out of Britain all those who incite terrorist acts. Imams in mosques should be monitored and if the mosques are aiding young people to make problems, they should be closed down. Further, the cases of all people waiting to enter Britain as immigrants or asylum seekers should be put on hold, since there is too much to contend with at the moment with terrorists in Britain. The police force is strained and overworked. The government needs all the available force to monitor crowds and transport systems. Another thing: Britain has been very welcoming of Muslims in general, but they have just spat in the British face. Enough is enough. No more. Send these ungrateful people back where they came from. They don’t deserve anything more than a big shove out of the country.

Margaret Griffin, Canada published 17 August 2005

Those Who Incite Violence [2]

My belief is and always will be “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” In other words, live by the laws of the land, support your new country and protect its sovereignty and people. For too long we, in the UK, have been the whipping boys of the world; we let people into our country that no one else wanted, we provided food and shelter for them, we looked after their health and then they seem to want to do us an injustice by acts of terrorism.

Garry Hopper, United Kingdom published 17 August 2005

Those Who Incite Violence [3]

It may have escaped Mohammed Al-Rasheed’s notice but the United Kingdom is a civilized democracy with the principles that we hold so dear, namely freedom and due process of law. It is not a dictatorship where the rulers can do as they please. Therefore, it is not necessary to look British to be British, nor is it necessary to speak the Queen’s English to be British. Al-Rasheed may wish to note that there are many dialects of English in the United Kingdom, as well as Welsh, Gaelic and other indigenous languages. The United Kingdom is ruled by the people, for the people, not by a dictator.

Bilal, United Kingdom published 17 August 2005

Those Who Incite Violence [4]

When I became an Australian citizen, I unconditionally accepted the way of life and rules that were there. I also work with Muslims, some religious and some not so. But we never get in each other’s way. We laugh, we play, we enjoy life and each other’s company, then go home and look after our families. No one wants to forcibly convert the other or thrust his beliefs down someone else’s throat. Be free and smiling.

M.A.R., Australia published 17 August 2005

‘Don’t Punish Us’

Marc Perkel’s plea “Don’t Punish Us” (Aug. 9) is an indicator that ordinary Americans are in no better state than others — except that they have not been invaded by a foreign country. The boast proclaimed time and again that it is the “world’s leading democracy” is just that — a boast. It is no democracy, in the true sense of the word. It is but a false front. As my late uncle, who spent all his life in America, used to say, “There is no democracy in America; it is a hand-in-glove nexus of the affluent class and the military, who decide who the president of the country should be. And they ensure that the most obedient puppet is elected to keep their interests above everything else. Opinions, policies, strategies are evolved to suit those interests and implemented to realize them.” If one views the current and past scenarios that have been happening in the world, it is easy to recognize that his assessment is true.

As for the second part of Marc’s letter — “How could we have a better, peaceful world...?” — well, I am afraid there is no comfortable way to achieve that — simply because no people will continue to suffer oppression for all time. When suffering gets tough and unbearable, people decide either to fight to achieve peace or die fighting for it rather than continuing to live in perpetual misery. “Peace” is proving to be too good and precious a word to long for, vis-à-vis the deteriorating situations across the world. It looks as if there are no more peaceful days ahead, so long as man’s selfishness knows no bounds. Mahatma Gandhi used to say, “There is everything in this world for everybody’s needs, but not enough for the greedy.” Unfortunately, it is not the people of Mahatma’s mettle who are running the world, but the other kind. I think it was Leo Tolstoy who said “When wicked people gather around and plot evil things, so should good people do good things.” The only way out seems to be for the good people of the world to come together to beat the wicked. It is a tough job — but there is no other way.

Marx Envi, New Delhi published 17 August 2005

Independence Day

Aug. 15, marking India’s 59th Independence Day, is an occasion for all Indians to salute those who sacrificed their lives for their nation’s freedom and also to pledge themselves to preserve the values their forefathers gave their blood for. It is because of their tremendous sacrifices that we are living as men enjoying full liberty in a free and sovereign land. In these years, we have moved far from the past; we have committed ourselves to a life that proclaims the truth that there is no differences between man and man, that untouchability is wrong and that all human beings are equal. We have also traveled far on the road to progress. We have laid a strong foundation for industrial progress. Our country’s development and future are in our hands. There is no substitute for hard work to make our country a superpower. Let us not think of what India can give us but of what we can give India.

Basha Nawaz Khan, Jeddah published 17 August 2005