Pulling Down Bridges

This has reference to Tariq A. Al-Maeena’s article “A Mother’s Plea for Schools” (May 24) which noted that the Ministry of Education would not issue renewal of permission for Saudi students to attend international schools operating in the Kingdom.

We are amazed that this is happening at a time when the world is globalizing and we have scholarships to study abroad given by our king.

This move on the part of the ministry comes at a crucial time when all are seeking to build bridges, a time when mutual respect for people of different creeds, races, faiths and mindsets is highly needed, and in a world where many seek to bring harmony and peace. This move negates that trend, as building such bonds begins with the young; separation in any form on the basis of nationality or anything else leads to, and exacerbates, tensions and misunderstandings instead of building cohesion and understanding.

Young minds are more in tune with integration and globalization in its most favorable aspect — that of bringing people together and forming bonds of mutual respect. By making such a decision as mentioned in the article, the ones responsible for the decision are cutting out a vital component of the coming generation’s social and psychological development as world citizens.

Nimah Nawwab, Dhahran published 26 May 2008

Women’s Plight

Thank you for publishing Dr. Angari’s lecture (May 19) in which she attributed the present plight of Saudi women to ignorance. Her speech was indeed pertinent to the situation of women in the Kingdom, touching on the general lack of awareness of the rights of women across the board. Needless to say, the NSHR is doing a great job in spreading this much-needed information. The attention that the talk received from the audience was a clear indication of how much women were thirsting to know about what they were missing. I wonder if Angari’s message can reach beyond the city’s precincts to our sisters living in rural areas. There should be more conferences like this. `And most importantly, it is high time that our menfolk were educated about women’s rights in Islam.

Ozma Siddiqui, Jeddah published 26 May 2008

Halala Debts

This refers to the Sidelights story “Pay Your 24 Halala Credit Card Bill Now!” (May 19). It’s almost unimaginable that this bank is chasing 0.24 halalas. I had a similar experience and, like him, I have a balance of 0.89 on this famous bank’s (a foreign one) credit card bill. When I decided to cancel my credit card, I ignored this balance, thinking that 0.89 was immaterial. In accounting, such an amount is written-off. However, the bank imposed SR 300 as penalty for not paying the balance on time and enabling them to close my account. Although the penalty was ridiculous, I paid the entire SR 300.89, just to get rid of the bank, clear my name and to maintain my credibility with other banks.

Robert Tan, Riyadh published 26 May 2008

Society With Values

While it is understandable why burglary, theft and other crimes for profit are common to all societies, their increasing incidence, as reported in the story “Unemployment, Drugs Behind Rising Crime” (May 19), in a society like that of the Kingdom cannot be explained, which, apart from supporting its own population, is also home to a multitude of expatriates who make their living here. When a society has resources to take care of its needs, has education and a moral value system to guide it and has love and time for each individual, there should not be a case of theft or burglary, unless it is a psychic case. These values need to be inculcated in every child by parents, teachers and clergy — and also in grown-ups by those to whom they would listen.

Creating a society with quality and values, even if they are few in number, is what every person should aim for. In such a society, every parent would have the time and resources to pay personal attention to his or her children and raise them as ideal citizens, contributing to the family and society that they live in. It would further ease the burden on every family as well as the collective onus on the government. A population without quality can only be a burden to societies and nations.

Mohsin A.N., Alkhobar published 26 May 2008

Sri Lankan Politicians

I am not a bit surprised that, as reported in Mohammed Rasooldeen’s story “Visiting Sri Lankan Minister Not to Raise Rizana Case” (May 18), Sri Lanka’s minister for foreign employment who arrived in Riyadh a day earlier, has refused to take up the issue of Rizana Nafeek, the Sri Lankan maid who is on trial accused of a murder charge.

I can understand the situation. Corrupt politicians of Sri Lanka do not care whether their fellow citizens live or die in the Kingdom, as long as foreign remittances arrive, which the politicians misuse and fill their own coffers with. That’s why, in Sri Lanka today, corrupt politicians are constant targets of assassination attempts.

Asif, Alkhobar published 26 May 2008

Growing Diabetes

Mohammed Rasooldeen’s report “Ministry Urges Caution Against Growing Diabetes Threat” (May 20) indicates a serious situation that calls for a deep look at the ways to avoid the onset of diabetes. One of the factors that bring the disease on, I understand, is stress, and there is no lack of it on the Saudi male. In fact, there is too much load on one wheel of the family — the man of the house. It is he who must attend to everything, big and small. Therefore, women’s freedom to drive and independently move around in safety (following all Islamic laws) will greatly reduce stress in men, ensuring more free time for physical movement. Adding to the improvement, the government needs to promote some healthy food establishments to produce good/healthy eating habits. Exclusive salad centers in major malls, addition of diet/tasty menus at major restaurants, better facilities for family recreation, and above all, road shows to increase awareness in a very structured manner.

Arunesh Verma, Riyadh published 26 May 2008

Ziofascist Control

It was nonsensical to claim, as an article did on May 10, that “Obama, Not John McCain Represents Real America”. The fact is that no one represents the American people. No matter who becomes president, the US administration will remain a hostage to the Ziofascists.

It will remain so, until such time as the American nation wakes up — if it ever does — to reclaim America to take it into the collective hands of the whole nation and out of the hands of that miniscule percentage of mafiosis who wield all the power by taking the administration hostage.

Yes, the nation has to come up with a plan so that the majority does not remain silent and politically inactive. For far too long, the American people have left their destiny in the hands of those who were not worthy of such trust. The nation needs to wake up and execute a plan which can give control of the elected into the hands of the electors.

Harry West, United States published 26 May 2008

Ageless Game

This has reference to Syed Rashid Husain’s article “US-Led Capitalist System Headed for Collapse?” (May 19`). It seems to me that all man-made institutions are fruits of our “nature” — our innate characteristics. The relevant characteristic here is our need to dominate, individually and collectively. History is replete with manifestations of this innate characteristic. The popularity and sheer size of Olympic events also point to this. The difference today is only in the scope of dominance. We have progressed to a global scope, facilitated largely by technology.

Communication has always been perhaps the most significant barrier in both conquering and retaining control and power. Today we have overcome so many earlier barriers regarding communication — speed, distance, language etc. The stage is set for the players in the next round of this ageless game. I don’t see the players as nation states. They will be a handful of very small groups of people.

Bruce Morley, United Kingdom published 26 May 2008