American mediation on Kashmir

Riaz Ahmad Khan in his letter (June 26) is asking for American mediation on Kashmir. Khan and others of his thinking appear quite confused about the role of America in world affairs, specially the Muslim world. When Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan a large number of Muslim countries and their people were hand in gloves with the Americans in fighting the Soviets. When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, America was welcomed with open arms to fight the Iraqis and liberate Kuwait, but when the same American forces entered Iraq to oust the regime of Saddam Hussein (but on the false pretext of destroying the WMDs he did not have), the Americans were labeled expansionist and “Great Satan.” We simply forget that America or any other world power does not intervene in another country’s affairs unless there is a treaty or a strategic advantage for them.

Now in Pakistan, the people hate the American intervention on their western border but look forward to American mediation on their eastern border with India. This smacks of double standards. You have to decide: Do you want to see America meddling in other country’s affairs or want it to mind its own business? You can’t have both. Either you have Americans breathing on your neck or you keep a distance from them. Whatever disputes between India and Pakistan exist can be resolved only by dialogue in a congenial atmosphere, which means complete absence of state-sponsored terrorists or nonstate actors or even a third party.

Dr. S. Riaz Mehdi, Riyadh published 28 June 2009

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson fired the imagination of music and dance lovers all over the world. He was a vibrant, creative personality, whose influence spanned continents, and will now span time. He had a profound impact on music in the last 35 years. He will continue living in his music and songs. It is sad that he passed away so soon. His death has saddened me immensely.

Rajendra K. Aneja, Dubai published 28 June 2009

Anti-burqa campaign

I do agree with your editorial (June 24) that banning burqa is an attack on individual liberty — the freedom of Muslim women in France to choose to cover their faces and not be seen. You have very rightly said that Muslims, when in France or any other non-Muslim country, should accept the laws there — providing that those laws do not impinge on their faith, nor do they stop them from exercising their beliefs.

In view of the above, burqa wearing by Muslim women in France ought not to be objected to. It is indeed sad that more often than not European countries place obstacles on the path of Muslims following the teachings of their religion freely. As you rightly said, it has come as a bit of a shock to some that France wants the burqa banned. I hope they would rethink their decision.

Alhaj Badarul Islam, Dammam published 28 June 2009

Anti-burqa campaign 2

When black students in the US were allowed to attend schools in white majority areas, there were signs of opposition from several white quarters but it soon died down as it was a step forward toward national integration. The election of Barack Obama as US president is another example of the way the US society has moved forward over the years. In the same way the European countries are trying to assimilate the migrants in a multicultural society. But that should not give migrants a right to impose their cultural values and ask the host societies to accept them or face widespread riots and disturbances. According to my understanding, burqa is not a religious requirement; otherwise it would have been adopted by Muslim women across the globe.

Burqa is part of tribal traditions in a few countries in Asia and Africa. Islam asks its followers to dress modestly, not to attract uninvited attention from the opposite sex. And this is applicable for both males and females. Just imagine a man walking in Bermuda shorts accompanied by his wife clad in burqa! Opposing the European societies’ efforts to integrate different communities for the sake of tribal traditions will not help the migrants in the long run.

Masood Khan, Jubail published 28 June 2009

Women’s booth at airport

After the painful and demeaning experience at the airport immigration last March, the relaxing time spent at the ladies section of Al-Tayyar Travel Agency was an inspiration.

Sitting back and letting the polite, cheerful women staff go through my request with patience and care, I wondered why there could not be some women-only areas to cater to the women passengers at the airport. Watching and appreciating many efficient and cheerful women workers at banks, some institutions as well as the travel agency made me realize it would be so much more relaxing and less embarrassing to be dealt with by women staff in a curtained-off area. Given training and practice, an all-women immigration staff will make airport immigration so much more bearable and “respectable”.

Raina Abu Zafar, By e-mail published 28 June 2009

Nuclear blackmail

North Korea’s occasional cash cow and supplier of armaments, mostly made in China, Russia, has not been helping with cash, crude oil, or anything else, lately.

So, the North Koreans have but one thing to sell — the threat of “nuclear war”. Financial aid is the real goal here. Hush money, of sorts. But I don’t think hush money, or financial aid, of any sort will bring this situation to an end. Fear is for sale in North Korea and they roll it out, when needed. On first observation it looks like this government is on a suicide mission, with no help from Vladimir Putin in the form of armaments, cash or crude oil. They are desperate. And desperate people do desperate things.

Emil J. Kovach Jr., By e-mail published 28 June 2009

‘All-white’ Britain

It is very easy and convenient to call out for “an all-white Britain” after years of using and abusing blacks and Asians. Those clamoring for it now were quite silent at a time when the blacks and Asians were doing the menial jobs that they were not willing to do. Nobody, not even the racists, can deny that without the efforts of Asians, Britain would not be what it is today. Manual workers, mainly from Pakistan, were recruited to cope with the labor shortage that resulted from World War II. Indians were recruited to build the railway infrastructure.

During the same time, medical staff from the Indian Subcontinent were recruited for the newly formed National Health Service (which I am sure “all-white” brigade has used on numerous occasions).

British Asians now contribute around six percent to Britain’s GDP though they are just 4 percent of the total population. Given that the Britain’s GDP is £2.13 trillion this equates to £127.8 billion. Do the BNP and its sympathizers want to lose £127.8 billion of contribution to their GDP? For the record, I am a British Asian but am very proud to be associated with Britain that I think is one of the fairest countries in the entire world.

Mahmood Hussain, By e-mail published 28 June 2009