Racial Stereotyping

While I sympathize with the poor treatment of Saudis and Saudi Arabia in the American media, I think the problem is a common use of racial stereotyping to gain “shock” humor — the viewers are surprised to see that type of portrayal of “foreigners” allowed on their televisions, especially after several decades of the promotion of political correctness in the media. I believe this is just a backlash to that political correctness. It will come back to some balance in the near future.

I also believe that it is not any particular people that is attacked by American writers. As I come from Australia, I am often offended by the portrayal of Australia in “comedy” pieces; apparently we are all uneducated halfwits who live in tin sheds with kangaroos in our back paddocks. The Germans will never be allowed to put aside the atrocities of the last century as they are all portrayed as having ambitions of world domination, and the Japanese are constantly ridiculed for the inability of the American public to understand their unique culture.

I do not think there is anything that can or even should be done. If a particular individual or family is defamed, that is a different story; but unfortunately, at present, this is what is seen as “cutting edge” American sitcom writing.

Glen Richards, Australia published 7 June 2006

Winning Iraqi Hearts

The cold-blooded murder of a number of civilians in Iraq, which the US administration is investigating after media exposure made it a scandal too big for the government to hide, is an everyday occurrence for Iraqis. There have been too many instances of this kind. For them, terrorism comes not from Zarqawi or sectarian militias. It also comes from those who came — claiming to be liberators — and with the same bestial ferocity.

Eleven members of the same family, including women and children, were massacred in their home. The US soldiers on rampage even shot and killed a six-month-old baby. The American people say that theirs is a land of freedom and democracy and that every human being has an inalienable right to life. Then, how could they have sent their sons and daughters to commit cold-blooded murder? Now comes another case — a pregnant woman and her mother shot dead at an American checkpoint: a child killed even before he or she could come into this world. You don’t kill people for speeding. It is only in Iraq, where the US invasion has made chaos the rule, that people can get away with it. This is not the first time. It has been so ever since the Americans brought democracy to Iraq, packaged in “Shock and Awe.” America has a strange way of winning Iraqi hearts and minds — by killing women and children.

M. Khurram Haroon, India published 7 June 2006

For an Inclusive Iraq

Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki should read the Gettysburg Address very carefully. After the bloodiest episode in American history, President Lincoln somehow managed to reach out to both sides and hallow the ground on which they fought. If the Sunni insurgents are not accorded a measure of dignity in any political resolution that lays the basis for a permanent unitary state, the necessary foundation for an eventual peace in Iraq — the sort of inclusive moral greatness Lincoln demonstrated — will not be present, regardless of how justified the claims each side can make against the other might be. I believe this is as important as the oil deal, the ministries, and so forth. Maybe more.

William S. Coffman Jr., United States published 7 June 2006

Indian School, Riyadh

Thanks for the reports on the Class 12 examination results of the International Indian School, Riyadh. However, I am afraid it heaped a lot of undeserved praise on some people. First of all, it must be realized that compartmental results are nothing to crow about. Compartmental examinations are held to give students who failed in one subject in the regular examination a chance to appear for a re-examination, and hence represent failures. Of the total 344 students who appeared for the examination 36 were compartmental candidates and 15 failed ones. That makes the number of the passed students 293 — which is 85.17 percent, not the 95.6 percent claimed by the principal. He was guilty of misinformation when he made such false claims. This is not the first time. He should be sacked for hiding the facts from parents, the press and the patron.

It is sad that the efforts of the parents to give their children a good education are not succeeding because of the failings of one man. He should be sacked.

Azmath, Riyadh published 7 June 2006

Icon of Divisiveness

This has reference to Siraj Wahab’s article on India’s Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh (“Icon of Secularism,” May 31). Objective journalism demands that reporters give both sides of the story. Arjun may well be an icon of secularism but he is also the one who divided India on the lines of caste. So he is an icon of divisiveness too. That was not mentioned in the flattering article or in any of the reports that Arab News carried on Arjun. Arjun’s decision to reserve 49.5 percent of seats in government-funded medical, engineering and other professional colleges and educational institutions for lower-caste students smacks of politics and opportunism.

Rather than working for a cohesive India, Arjun and his party have divided India into various castes. Congress is no different from the British. It also believes in divide and rule. My heart bleeds for India.

Sushil Kumar, Dammam published 7 June 2006

Control of Mahrams

As a Muslim mother of four daughters living in the US, it is so interesting to read Lubna’s articles, such as “No Mahram? Stay at Home” (May 2), on the restrictions that tradition has placed on Saudi women and realize that, if we had lived under the same conditions, my daughters and I would never have been able to get an education or help ourselves and others by working and volunteering as we do now. Since my dad passed away before my eldest was born 23 years ago, the burden on my husband to drive us around to all activities would have been overwhelming. Today, my 23-year old is a social studies teacher, trying to promote Islam positively in her primarily white New York high school. My 21-year old twins are in college, one pursuing her dream of becoming a lawyer and the other of working as a nurse while my 14-year old is just trying to enjoy being a little girl.

I know how much Lubna and others love living in the Kingdom. But, frankly, I would not have been able to survive there — or would I ? Maybe, Saudi customs would be all that I had known and probably would have been quite content to be taken care of. You have to be in the other’s shoes to pass judgment. I do not intend to judge anyone. I simply wanted to share the difference.

Bibi Khan, United States published 7 June 2006

Control of Mahrams [2]

Mody Al-Khalaf handled the same subject a while ago, but in a way that got to the point right away, making it much more enjoyable reading. The impression I get after reading Lubnna’s articles is that she wants things her own way, and does not look at issues as everyone’s problem. Not many women have connections and friends with influence in high places. So Lubna’s solution — of getting someone with influence to circumvent the law — does not solve the problem for ordinary people. The right solution, when any group is unhappy about a law, is for it to lobby the government to change it. Many Saudi laws have their roots in the cultural and tribal system, which is not peculiar to Saudi Arabia. All people base their laws on their cultures which too were tribal, in a distant past. My belief is that the issue of mahram should be left to the family to decide. Prince Sultan articulated a wise principle when he said, while referring to women driving, that the decision should be left to the concerned family. It should be the same for travel also.

I wish Lubna, when writing, would avoid telling us the details of her personal life. If she discusses the topic in plain and easy language, it will make interesting reading. Her readers already know that she comes from a rich family, has traveled a lot, selects good expensive coffee and all that. That is why, when given the same details again, they give up reading her articles.

Rashid Alhomaid, Tucson, Arizona, US published 7 June 2006

March of Civilization

The Manila report “Victim Faces US Marines at Rape Trial” (May 3) tells us that brave US soldiers are bringing civilization not only to Iraq and that they are not delivering it with just bombs. But like Iraqis, Filipinos also are proving themselves to be ungrateful. Why else did the girl object when four US Marine soldiers offered to introduce her to the “American way of life?” Served her right when they used force. No one should be allowed to stop the march of civilization. I am with George on this. “ You are either with us or against us. There is nothing in between.” The girl must have been a terrorist.

Mustafa, Jeddah published 7 June 2006