Letters to the Editor
I was both happy and sad when I read the news of Indian carriers trying to set up hubs at Al Maktoum Airport at Dubai World Central to avoid bureaucratic and political red tape (Dubai in talks over India hub at DWC, says Emirates Airline president, March 12).
Happy because Indian carriers are looking at the UAE, which I consider my second home, and sad because if it is Dubai’s advantage to offer an ideal business environment to Indian airlines, it also shows how poor conditions are there.
India misses out on opportunities because of its bad policies. If Indian airlines shift their hub to Dubai, it will be a loss of face for India.
Nina Nagpal, United States
Alienation from neighbours will hurt Qatar
I agree that Qatar has taken the wrong step by separating itself from the rest of the GCC and aligning with Turkey, as you have mentioned in the editorial, Qatar's position ignores realities of geopolitics (March 13).
Qatar’s decision to support the Muslim Brotherhood is foolish, to say the least, because the Muslim Brotherhood is a sinking ship.
It is difficult to understand why Qatar is sacrificing its relations with neighbours and choosing turmoil over peace.
Qatar has a vibrant economy and it certainly doesn’t want to move backward by succumbing to forces like the Brotherhood. This relationship might tilt the regional balance in a way that would hurt Qatar the most.
Iris Smith, Abu Dhabi
Parents set the right example
This refers to the report, Father discovered flatmate's sexual assault on daughter from her phone call to friend (March 13).
This is an example of good parenting: paying attention to what children discuss with their friends, and getting this girl emotional support, which she will need for years to come.
She constantly needs to be told that what happened was not her fault, and that her family loves her unconditionally.
She needs to feel safe again, which will be especially challenging as she grows through her teens. I hope she will get the support she requires, and that the judge in this case throws the book at the pervert who violated her.
Elan Fabbri, Dubai
Muslims need to focus on peace
This is in reference to the opinion article, One cleric's war on radicals is the hope for moderate Islam (March 13).
It’s disturbing for peace-loving people to see wars and sectarian strife ravaging so many Muslim countries.
The Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies conference, sponsored by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed and aimed at building a united front to spread the message of peace, is both timely and laudable.
The ideology that advocates overthrowing governments and establishing Islamic states by violent means is too dangerous.
It has destabilised many Muslim countries and distorted the image of Islam and that is why Abdullah bin Bayyah, deputy head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars’s efforts in countering extremist ideologies should be supported by all.
Violence must be replaced with a culture of dialogue and negotiation. Western societies have realised the worth of these virtues, which is why they are prosperous.
This is high time that the advocates of peace come forward and underscore the benefits of tolerance and unity.
Muneer Ahmad, Dubai
‘American’ school a bitter experience
I am commenting on the news report, American-curriculum schools in the UAE may not give advantage for study in US (March 13).
I spent a week teaching at a private school that had the word “American” in its name. Nothing about the school was American.
I was shocked to learn that not only were most of the teachers not American, but they had never taught in their home countries and had graduated from college and come directly to teach in the UAE.
So, not only had they not attended American schools as students, they had also not taught in the American system.
The principal was new and the guidance counsellor were not familiar with any American universities and had never visited the US, let alone studied, in America. The curriculum was outdated and teachers planned lessons day to day rather than having a long-range lesson plan.
Meanwhile, the parents were paying dearly. The students were bright but knew they were being cheated.
I left after a week because I could not work in a for-profit environment that had no idea about what it was trying to do.
Name withheld by request
