Gazans — a brave people

This refers to Arab News editorial, “The Gaza ghetto” (June 30). Gazans, confined to the world’s largest makeshift jail, are forced to live without food, drinking water, medicines, electricity and other basic amenities. No words can express their pain, grief and the ordeal they are undergoing due to Israeli occupation.

It is regrettable that the protagonists of democracy and freedom have put in all their efforts in trying to confront Iran and have squandered billions of dollars on wars, but when it comes to Israel they are silent. They are not only allowing Tel Aviv to brazenly carry out human rights violations, but also equipping the country’s armed forces with weapons that are used in perpetrating war crimes.

It is sad to see millions of people, among them children, women and the elderly in pathetic conditions being ignored by the international media that are very particular in reporting rocket fire by Palestinians that barely matches the Israeli war machines that kill and maim innocent people.

Attempts by the UN and its affiliated human rights organizations have failed to ease the blockade and alleviate the miseries of the Gazans. European Union leaders, who frequently visit Gaza, have been unable to confront Israel and force it to end its atrocities.

Some people say differences among Palestinian factions are to blame for their woes. But that is not correct. Israeli atrocities against the Palestinian people have been going on for decades.

In the first week of June, US President Barack Obama told Muslims from Cairo that the world community was with them. He had so many good words for Muslims. But in reality US-led military actions in Afghanistan, Iraq and in the tribal areas of Pakistan are leaving hundreds of innocent people dead. The obligations of the world community remain to be seen, but it is high time the world acted to help Gazans.

Abdul Hannan, Jeddah published 3 July 2009

Coup in Honduras

Troops in Honduras have ousted democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya and exiled him to Costa Rica over his plan to change the constitution so that he could run for president for a second term. Zelaya wanted to have a referendum to obtain the approval of the Hondurans, which was perfectly according to democratic principles. Hondurans are angry that their elected president has been kidnapped and taken away to another country. The army’s action drew strong condemnation within Latin America. Now the entire world community has joined Latin America in condemning the army coup. The EU has urged the release of Zelaya and his reinstatement. There have been very strong words from the US administration too.

It is the duty of every country in Latin America to condemn the army's action and not to recognize the unlawful president installed by the forces. Zelaya was reportedly doing a lot for the poor people who had voted him to power and now they are out on the streets demonstrating against the army and the newly installed president. Robert Micheletti, who now serves as the interim president, it is said, will hold this post until the new elections are held. What is feared now is whether the army action in Honduras contributes to the revival of the old “coup culture” in the region. Let's hope that does not happen.

S.H. Moulana, Riyadh published 3 July 2009

Burqa issue

Huette’s letter “You forbid, we forbid” (July 2), smacks of racial prejudice. Wearing a burqa is not linked to cultures and countries. The burqa is recommended by the religion and aims at safeguarding the modesty of women. We are not against people wearing mini-skirts in France. Also what about the “freedom and liberty” of an individual who wishes to protect her modesty with a covered gown? Is annulling a self-preserved dress code not an infringement on freedom and personal liberty? Can anybody force a Christian nun to remove her head scarf in the streets of France? Secularism is about mutual recognition and respect of cultures, not about disgracing the concepts. Sorry to say: This is not about “freedom and liberty,” but rather racial intolerance against a part of your society.

Sijas Vayal Purayil, Alkhobar published 3 July 2009

Schoolteachers’ protest

This refers to the protest by teachers of the Indian Embassy School in Riyadh who were seeking a raise in their salaries — Arab News report, “Indian school teachers walk out to press for salary raise” ( June 30). Their demands are reasonable because all schools run by the Indian Embassy are making huge profits. The schools charge up to SR250 per student and in Riyadh alone there are more than 10,000 students.

They take not only tuition fees but also get other miscellaneous charges that the schools collect from students. So, if the teachers are demanding an increase in salaries they are justified and the school management should accept their demands without further delay.

Syed Ishaq, Thuqbah published 3 July 2009

Which tribe

In the letter, “Which tribe?” (June 30), Betty Wiggins did a splendid job in demonstrating not only the contradictory nature of the American mind, but provided us with a grand illustration of the proverb of how one can’t see the forest for the trees. Betty took exception to my contention that America was dissolving into a primitive, Stone-Age tribal society. Betty must understand that when Americans identify themselves by an association with wildly diverse other lands and not by the constitution and the bill of rights; then the country has indeed begun its descent into tribalism.

Which is to say, a Mexican-American could have no more in common with an Asian-American than a Serbian could have with a Croatian or a Hutu with a Tutsi. Since Americans have opted to degenerate into tribalism and to put their tribal associations above that of other groups, then America must now prepare itself for becoming a giant Rwanda or Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Those two regions represent the blood soaked legacy of tribalism. America was not founded as a haven for tribal groups, but rather to get away from them in order to allow the individual to flourish and progress as that individual saw fit to do; and to do it without any interference from any tribe. Americans must understand that America is based on the freedom of the individual and not upon some misguided loyalty to some ancestral tribe in some far away and forgotten land. Betty consulted me as to which tribe the author should belong to. I can only answer, None! Be an individual independent of the tribe. Be an American.

Steven M. Corcoran, Alkhobar published 3 July 2009