Blair and Deportation

“I have traveled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar or who is a thief. Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values & people of such caliber, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage.”

This is from a speech Lord McCauley delivered in British Parliament on Feb. 2, 1835. 

Mr. Tony Blair, before you raise the subject of deportation, you need to look in the mirror, and remember that the entire episode of migration started approximately four hundred years ago when your ancestors arrived on our shores, without a visa, without invitation and without anything to offer. They (the East India Company) arrived claiming to be traders, but constantly plotted and eventually colonized the entire continent and plundered its resources. At that time India was a fairly prosperous nation, but by the time your people left in 1947-48 it was one of the poorest.

Likewise, in South Africa, all the gold and diamond mined were stolen leaving the native Africans very poor.

Now, Mr. Blair, you threaten to expel second- and third-generation Muslims who have lived peacefully in the UK. What about the Anglo-Saxons in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, America, Caribbean, South Africa, Zimbabwe etc? They have not integrated, they have refused to learn the language despite living there for years, and they have refused to accept the desirability of the indigenous peoples’ culture and practices. Would you favor their deportation from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, America, Caribbean, South Africa, and Zimbabwe etc?

Yamin Zakaria, London, UK published 26 August 2005

A Biased Article

This has reference to Molouk Y. Ba-Isa’s article “Curse of the Demon Contractors” (Aug. 19). The write-up shocked us. The writer does not name the real estate owner where she bought the house, but singles us out as the sole target. This has tarnished our reputation.

Having been in this business for 27 years we have maintained a good standing in the industry. And we have always welcomed constructive criticism. But your article was biased.

In 2004 we were awarded a contract from Al-Suwaidi Real Estate to supply and install kitchen cabinets and bedroom closets for their Bait Al-Umar Project-Phase 2 comprising 56 villas. It was satisfactorily completed and accepted in compliance with the approved design, colors and specifications of the contractor. In fact Phase 3 of the same project comprising 91 villas were too awarded to us. This proves our capacity to deliver in accordance with specifications and schedule along with competitive prices.

The writer’s complaint on the color, design and quality of the kitchen cabinets should be addressed to the real estate company where she bought the house. If the writer was not satisfied with the size of her kitchen why did she come to us for additional cabinets? If her premise that the kitchen installed by us is of poor design, quality and unattractive color is true, how illogical of her to purchase the additional cabinets from a supplier she criticized. Moreover, during the installation the writer was unreasonable in her demands.

We have established our name not by criticizing our competitors but seeking ways to satisfy our customers. Arab News should check the stories before publishing it.

Vice President, Al-Joaib Furniture Factory published 26 August 2005

I Am at Home

I completely agree with Sarfraz Mansoor (Aug. 22) when he says that Bengali restaurants, Pakistani doctors and Indian shop owners are now part of Brutishness.

I am a British Muslim and I know that Britain is my home and there is no other country or place in this world that I would even consider home. My parents originate from India and Pakistan, and I respect their cultures and traditions. However, I am truly British. I was born, bred and educated in Britain and there is no way I would ever tolerate a comment such as “Go home”. Why? I already am at home!

It should also be taken into account that many British people have knowledge that it is only a minority of Muslims that are extremists, and for this reason many British Muslims are still highly respected.

Faeeza Moosa, UK published 26 August 2005

Not a Favor

This refers to your editorial of Aug. 22. I must comment on the illusion all Arabs harbor over who owns Gaza and the West Bank. As I have read the events of the last three decades, two wars were fought over this land and in both cases Israel gained and then retained it. So while I completely agree that the land was acquired by force, part of losing is well losing! Had Arabs won both conflicts, don’t you think the proverbial shoe would on the other foot?

So please give your readers a little credit for reading and understanding recent historical events. Even an Arab has to admit that the winner of a violent conflict gets to set the outcome. Isn’t that why wars are fought?

Mike McDermid, United States published 26 August 2005

Aqaba Attacks

This is regarding the report about the arrests in Jordan over Aqaba attacks. I have absolutely no idea what your motivation is in not mentioning the katyusha attack on Eilat. At least you accounted for two of the three missiles; maybe some of your readers will put things together and wonder where the third missile went.

Robert Fattal, United States published 26 August 2005

Conserving Water

Please refer to the report, “New Phase in Water Ministry’s Conservation Drive Kicks Off” (Aug. 23). To reduce the use and waste of water I would like to offer the following suggestions:

• Install meter and billing system in every flat like electricity meters;

• Allocate an average quota based on the number of people living in a flat.

If the quota exceeds during a month, then the charge should be double for additional quantities used. When people realize the cost involved they will try to control the use.

Ummer Polamtarakkal, Saudi Arabia published 26 August 2005

Pay Raise for Govt Staff

The government employees in Saudi Arabia are to get a pay raise according to a decree issued by King Abdullah. I am so impressed with the very kind gesture from the king. If only all the leaders of the world thought about the welfare of their people! I can see that this country will be achieving more progress because of him. God give him good health and long life.

Cynthia, Saudi Arabia published 26 August 2005

Substance, Not Form!

This is a rejoinder to “Value Not Cost” by Mohamed R. Sufi Dole (Aug. 21), in response to my letter Sawa vs. Mobily (Aug. 12). Mohamed’s experience is totally different from ours. When it comes to India and Pakistan, Sawa services are not to the expected level, especially on Thursdays and Fridays unlike the one to Sri Lanka. Ask any Indian or Pakistani national. I am neither against Sawa nor in favor of Mobily. In fact, I have been using Sawa since its inception and have enjoyed the services. My concern is such a huge company like Sawa is unable to provide better services to consumers. I believe that all network problems are temporary and could be substantially resolved with proper coordination with the respective countries. Wisdom is that a stitch in time saves nine. As for the problem of connectivity, overseas “Gateway Provider” back in India, one cannot ignore the fact that India is on the top-rung of the ladder in Information Technology (IT) that could easily accommodate the capacity of current usage levels. I am optimistic that Sawa would rise again to the expected level and provide “value added service” to its consumers.

Syed Mahmood Hussaini, Dammam published 26 August 2005

Terrorist Preacher

We were shocked to note a US Christian preacher, Pat Robertson, calling for the assassination of Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela. Isn’t this terrorism of the highest order? It is a well-known fact that Robertson has been one of President Bush’s staunchest allies. He is accusing that Chavez is making Venezuela a launching pad for communist infiltration and Muslim extremism all over the continent. However, all what we know about Chavez is that he is doing his utmost to help the downtrodden masses who are below the poverty line. Poverty is a dirty word in a capitalistic system like in the US. Whoever fights for the poor is labeled a communist and preacher Robertson wants to banish Chavez from the face of the earth.

The whole world is waiting to see what action the US administration will take against the evangelist preacher for this murderous call he made in his TV program ‘The 700 Club.’

S.H. Moulana, Riyadh published 26 August 2005