Premature Advise

For once I agree with something your columnist, Jonathan Power, “Letter to the Young in Europe” (June 20) has written. The European Union does have many positive aspects.

Firstly, for the first time in our history we appear to have stopped killing one another (although 60 years is a short time on which to judge and there is still the stain of the Balkans conflict to be resolved) and we have also stopped killing others — non-Europeans — and taking their land and property away from them.

Secondly, we have become prosperous and life can be extraordinarily comfortable and pleasant for most citizens in most countries of the European Union. Public health has also improved dramatically and even the much-derided British “Anglo-Saxon” social model provides generous welfare benefits for its citizens.

Thirdly, and surprisingly, in view of our history, the countries of the European Union through their development aid and their NGOs are a force for peace and development in many parts of the world.

Fourthly, most Europeans appear to be making a genuine and sustained effort to reject their racist past and Europe has become, on the whole, more tolerant and accepting of a variety of views and beliefs.

All this would have been unimaginable just 60 years ago and Jonathan Power is right, therefore, to warn us, and especially our young people, not to take these achievements for granted and also to remind us that the optimism of Europeans in 1913 was a terrible and catastrophic delusion.

Nevertheless, the question of Europe’s future remains. How will Europe adapt to the changing world it is part of? How will it earn its living in the future? How will it support its aging population?

Europe has many assets especially in the area of skills, knowledge, technology, engineering and design etc. But it is clear that we are falling behind the United States in important fields such as education, research, industrial development and the generation of wealth, while, on the other hand, we cannot compete with the new economic powers of Asia in terms of price and cost.

These concerns need to be debated openly and then addressed realistically by the leaders and people of Europe if the European experiment is to continue successfully.

Jonathan Power’s advice to “tell your friends” about Europe’s success may be somewhat premature.

Jeffrey Jameson, Dhahran published 29 June 2005

Good Move

This is in response to the article, “Shoura Proposes Tough Measures to Preserve Coastlines” (June 20). The article is of greater significance than the subject matter so well covered in this article.

1) It shows a very important exercise of prudent evolutionary democratic consideration and processes within the Kingdom equaling and in some ways surpassing, attention to the vital world environmental issue by other democratic parliamentary institutions in the free world.

These deliberations of the Shoura reported by Arab News contrast totally with the pollution of the environment sanctioned and perpetrated by the Communist Party ideologues in China.

2) The most thoughtful deliberations by the Shoura members provide a concrete refutation of the demonic ideologues of all stripes who say that democracy and Islam are incompatible. There is no greater figure in preaching basic democratic principles in the history of the world than the Prophet (pbuh) himself.

The democratic deliberations on the environment by the Shoura of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have not gone unnoticed by the future leaders of China.

Jon Speller, New York, US published 29 June 2005

Prejudiced

This is in response to the article, “Democracy Won’t Be Imposed” (June 21). How dare Condoleezza Rice refer to the detainees at Guantanamo Bay as “dangerous people!” Apparently she has a doctorate. I certainly hope that that doctorate isn’t in law.

She could be accused of the gross betrayal of the process of law by swanning around the world and making illegal comments that unfairly prejudice detainees awaiting trial.

For an American secretary of state to imply the guilt of a person awaiting trial by a US court (military or otherwise), prejudices any trial cases brought about in relation to the Guantanamo Bay refugees in the future. One would think that she would abhor prejudice and “pre” judging in all its forms. Apparently she feels that prejudice is only prejudice when used against Afro-Americans or against women.

All people kept in detention awaiting trial in the US are surely entitled to a fair trial. David Hicks, the Australian national who has been illegally detained in the US-administered Guantanamo Bay facility (for over two years), it seems, may never even get a trial.

Any hope that he will get a fair trial has been completely undermined by Rice’s stupid and undemocratic pronouncement in relation to the Guantanamo Bay detainees. If she wants to be judge and juror, maybe she should resign from the exalted post that she holds now, join the military and attempt to become a judge in the trials of Guantanamo Bay detainees.

She has no right, short of this, in making pronouncements on the guilt or innocence of detainees awaiting trial, in any other context.

Albert Delaunay, United States published 29 June 2005

Surprised

I am surprised at the news that the settlers’ homes in Gaza will be razed and this move has been endorsed by the US and Israel. These are houses and not military installations that need to be destroyed before they leave.

What a waste in today’s modern world dominated by the US — the so called human right champions.

Any infrastructure left over will be of great help to the new Palestine nation, where people are living in refugee camps for decades due to the suppression of Israel and endorsement of US.

There is still time to save these houses for those who suffered for generations and I raise this issue to the world at large to save this uncivilized act.

Tariq S. Alvi, Riyadh published 29 June 2005

Get More Seats

This is in response to the article, “Women Fight Over Seat in Shopping Mall” (June 20). If a polite request was not respected when asked to remove a bag from an unoccupied seat at the mall, then the seat was not worth raising the level to an argument.

One might want to ask again. But clearly the need to fight for a seat was not there. There might have been another possible solution...it was to offer a cool drink or a coffee...and chat together until one or the other had another desire to shop. The mall could place many tables and chairs in a cafe that shoppers of both genders can stop and take a break from all that shopping. In pleasant surroundings that include more seating with refreshments, the mall could have more happy customers, in the right mood to shop.

M.J. O’Gara, United States published 29 June 2005

Get More Seats [2]

May I suggest the Arab News not publish such idiotic articles as “Women Fight Over Seat in Shopping Mall?” This is not only demeaning to women, it lowers the standard of the Arab News greatly. Why report something this frivolous previously reported by the Al-Watan newspaper...let it stay there!

Hind Al-Sindi, Dhahran published 29 June 2005

Eye Opener

This is in response to Iman Kurdi’s article, “Changing Definitions of Masculinity and Femininity”(June 20). The article is an eye opener. The problems of the Saudi Society are: Too much money and time and nothing to do.

You all have to go back to the basics of Islam: Simplicity and hard work. Do your chores, donate more money to the poor of poor countries. Hope it’ll put you’ll back on the track.

Salman Afridi, New York, US published 29 June 2005

Eye Opener [2]

Just a comment about this section of the article, regarding Noah’s interest in wearing red lace underwear: “They asked Yannick Noah, the former tennis champion and French superstar, whether he would wear it. No, he answered, I couldn’t do that to my kids.”

What a hypocrite! He would not wear red lace but he is happy to be the model for Sloggi (a French maker of lingerie) in their new ad campaign. He appears in billboards wearing a slip that leaves nothing to the imagination regarding his “athletic build”.

And his wife appears next to him. I see this ad everywhere, including public bus stops used by children. I guess he is not embarrassed to have his family see him and their mother half nude in front of everyone in Paris, as long as the underwear is not red lace?

Patricia Philbin, United States published 29 June 2005

Congratulations

This is in response to the article, “Saudi Women Are High-Fliers”(June 19). I just want to extend my appreciation to Capt. Hanadi for having the courage and the support of her parents and Prince Alwaleed to become the first Saudi female pilot and urge other females in the Kingdom to emulate her. Once again congratulations.

Umar Ahmad Tijjani Bala, Jeddah published 29 June 2005

Not a Priority

This is in response to the article, “Women Need Jobs, Not Driving Licenses” (June 14). Thank you so much Dr. Nora Al-Saad for that well-written piece. I am relieved to find that there are still people who think like this.

Women’s driving is not essential nor is it a priority in Saudi Arabia. Like the writer said, only upper class women complain of not being allowed to drive.

They want to drive only because they could then go to their friends’ houses or to the malls to show off their new “Benz”. Most of the women who complain of not being allowed to drive usually don’t have a very reasonable explanation for it. I hope that the other important issues will be tackled before this issue is even considered.

Fahda Alkhairy, Jeddah published 29 June 2005

Lankan Problem

This is in response to the article, “Kingdom Rejects Higher Wages for Sri Lankan Domestics” (June 17). Yes, Sri Lankan authorities did make a mistake in not consulting or discussing the wage issue with their counterparts in Saudi Arabia.

Furthermore, it was correctly pointed out by the Saudi authorities about the poor quality of maids being sent here. Sri Lanka authorities have done nothing to address this issue. I don’t blame the Kingdom for rejecting this proposal.

Perry Walden, Jeddah published 29 June 2005