Cause vs. Effect [2]

Great article. I have always maintained that this “war on terror” is due to our staunch support for Israel. Israel has treated the Palestinians as second-class citizens in their own country. We will have a new administration in 24 months. Hopefully things will change. But it will be difficult. The Israeli lobby is very strong — too strong for average Americans to defy.

Richard Kingsbury, United States published 5 September 2006

Real Racism

Barbara Ferguson’s report “Saudi Gets 27 Years to Life for Enslaving Maid” (Sept. 1) was amazing. As soon as a judicial system other than yours passes a sentence on a Muslim, that system is wrong and racist. In fact, it is Muslims who are racists. They refuse to obey the laws of other countries, thinking that they can commit any crime because of their religion and nationality.

The real enemies of Muslims are Muslims themselves. If you have committed a crime and there is proof, you are guilty — whether you are Muslim or not. The blame is not the system’s, but yours. When you live in cultures that are different, do not judge them wrong just because they are different.

Raf Schyvens, Denmark published 5 September 2006

Jeddah Airport

Abdul Aziz Al-Nahary wrote “Lack of Facilities at Jeddah Airport” (Local Press, Aug. 31) with all the benefits of a local who must have used the airport a number of times and had an insight into what makes it tick. My view is that of a visitor. I have visited the Kingdom four times — in 1996, 1999, 2002 and in 2004 to perform Umrah. My first impression of King Abdulaziz International Airport at Jeddah was that we had landed on an oilrig. The smell of diesel was everywhere.

There were other surprises: Why are they still using buses instead of escalators to move passengers from one point to another, like other international airports throughout the world do? The airport is the gateway to the Kingdom, and a modern airport with up-to-date facilities will boost its credibility as a nation that can cater to millions of visitors in the future.

The only way to improve the situation is for the government to institute an in-depth study by experts on how to improve the existing facilities. There are many areas which need a thorough review — such as the immigration counters, arrival and departure lounges, luggage and customs clearance areas, check-in facilities which still use obsolete equipment, waiting areas outside and inside the terminal, areas and facilities for handicapped people and so on. Perhaps more important is the need for a change in the attitude of officials and workers. The monopolistic behavior of trolley/baggage handlers and even of toilet attendants needs to change.

Saudi Arabia is a beautiful country, with Islam’s two holiest sites located there. There will be a never-ending influx of worshippers coming to perform religious rituals throughout the year, spending money and revitalizing the economy. Improved facilities and services will create a more conducive environment for all concerned.

Alhadi Abdul Karim, London published 5 September 2006

Public Parks

In his article “Need for Public Parks” (Local Press, Aug. 31), Abdullah Omar Khayyal made a powerful appeal to the Jeddah mayor to consider the need of the people for some free areas to relax in. But will it have any effect? I am not optimistic. Unlike in other parts of the world that Khayyal pointed out, Saudis want to commercialize everything — even Makkah and Madinah. Slowly, everything is becoming more and more expensive and costly and moving beyond the affordability of the common man. Why can’t they realize that this is not a country exclusively of five-star and four-star people?

Patel Muhammad Ishaque, Jeddah published 5 September 2006

Oman’s Way

I read Essa bin Mohammed Al-Zedjali’s report “Oman: On the Road to Progress and Development” (Sept. 4) with interest. The writer has gone straight to the heart of the issue. For a nation to progress, it needs excellent infrastructure. And that’s what the ministries here in Oman have been doing. The planned development of the roads, and with it other ancillary projects, has been systematic and sustained. The writer rightly points out that despite the emphasis on modernity, the authorities have respected traditions by retaining originality amid the modernization of different towns and cities. This is evident as one traverses the modern roads now linking these towns and cities. As the writer rightly concluded, I too hope that the authorities keep up the good work.

Arvind Kumar, Muscat, Oman published 5 September 2006

Mission of Compromise

In your editorial “Mission of Compromise” (Aug. 30), you said great words about “lasting peace.” But what kind of lasting peace do you have in mind? Obviously you think you will have peace if you sell Lebanon too to the Zionists. You are wrong. They don’t want peace.

They are in the conquering mode, not the peace mode — all because of the Arab inability to retaliate. They will accept peace only when they see a little of their own blood.

J.M.B., Jeddah published 5 September 2006

Mission of Compromise [2]

You are deluded. Nobody hates Hezbollah for what they have done. We won this war. And if I were you, I would get my facts right. We the Lebanese stand by Hezbollah and will stand by it until death. They were the ones who saved our people, not the government, which just stood and cried like the wimps they are. They only know how to steal from our people. Don’t believe me? Check and see. Half the money that has been donated is going to find its way into their pockets and not to the people.

Rasha Ghadban, Lebanon published 5 September 2006

Natwar Scam

I read the report “Natwar Singh and Others Served Showcause Notices” Sept. 4, and was appalled by the shamelessness of our politicians, of any hue or party. I had expected the Congress to have learned its lessons and at least practice some sort of clean governance which they have been preaching.

Natwar Singh’s role in the food-for-oil scam has already tarnished the party’s image and his repeated profession of innocence amid overwhelming evidence is another blot on the party. As for his son, Jagat, saying that he is ashamed to call himself a Congressman, it should be the other way round. But most Congressmen and also members of other parties are no different from Jagat. But the difference is that they have not yet been caught.

So they can still spout from the moral platform all the platitudes in public while practicing their shenanigans in private.

Ashfaque Ahmed, Bombay published 5 September 2006

Cause vs. Effect

In her article “Fighting Terror: Treating Only Symptoms Will Not Do” (Sept.1), Lubna Hussain put her finger on some obvious points — obvious to all except those who are terrorizing the world in the name of fighting terrorism. She is right, as were thousands of other writers from the non-Western world who made the same point: The treatment of any disease should target the cause not the symptom. But, no matter how many more articles they write about the senselessness of the Bush war on Muslims, they will not get their point across to American and British minds because there is a clear misunderstanding about causes and effects. It is a question of perception.

We — not just Muslims or Arabs, but all the browns, blacks and yellows who have known the pain and humiliation of Western heels on our backs for over three centuries — consider the atrocities Lubna listed as reason enough to get sick of it all and strike out — with fists, stones, human bombs or hijacked planes. Why not, we reason? If they can kill us, why can’t we kill them? If they can level our hovels to the ground with their bombs, why can’t we give the same treatment to their towers? That, we believe, is the law of justice, the basic law that was there before any human laws. But Bush and Blair and the rest of their people, barring a few enlightened souls, don’t see it that way. For them, justice began when their race occupied the land of the non-whites, robbed them of their resources and kicked them around as they pleased. This was the situation which the likes of Fukuyama called the “end of history.” Humanity had its mission accomplished when the white men took control of the world and hence history had no business to carry on, they believed. They see no injustice in this, no reason for anyone to get angry, let alone explode planes. Yes, Palestinians are getting killed, their land stolen and their homes demolished. But it is white men who are doing it, isn’t it? True, Jews were given Palestinian land for them to build Israel on. So what? It had been done before. They had built “their way of life” in lands belonging to others — in America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Rhodesia and so many other places, had they not? No one objected. Why should the Arabs object? That, they genuinely believe, is terrorism. Bush, Blair and their neocon warriors see Arab reaction as the cause, not as the effect. Worms should not turn. If they do, it is terrorism.

Abdul Khalique, Sharjah published 5 September 2006