Not everybody loves Oprah

Readers also write about sharing their unexpired parking time and about Paul Simon, boyat and jaywalking.

Surrounded by celebrity guests, Oprah Winfrey gestures during the taping last month of her "Farewell Spectacular". Millions around the world love her, but a letter-writer today offers a different opinShow more

I was struck by One man's ticket to happiness (May 31).

Are we living in such miserable times that we need to create a Facebook page for a little act of kindness such as sharing a parking token? What's next, a page created for those people who share their food with a hungry man? Or for those people who gave water to somebody dying of thirst?

I have been sharing parking time since parking meters were launched in our locality but never thought it was an extraordinary thing to do. It is the natural thing to do, isn't it?

Bhawna Verma, Sharjah

I make it a point to give away my remaining parking time when I can.

At most places where I park I need a maximum of 30 minutes for my errand or business, but the ticket is for two hours.

I simply drive over to the nearest meter and wait a few minutes for someone to come along and give them my ticket. It's a good feeling to help out someone else.

That said, I do think it's rather short-sighted of the authorities to make the minimum ticket two hours. I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that.

Donald Glass, Abu Dhabi

Questions about animal smuggler

Many questions arise from your story Police say wild animal smuggler has fled Thailand (June 1).

How has this man escaped Thailand? Wasn't his passport held by the Thai authorities?

Will he now be arrested, or at least questioned, by authorities here in the UAE?

These wild animal smugglers are no better than human traffickers. They need to be dealt with just as seriously, and not allowed to flout the rule of law, including the CITES treaty, to which the UAE is a party.

Anne McAdam, Abu Dhabi

Boyat campaign may be helpful

At first glance I was dismayed by your story Campaign targets cross-dressers (June 1).

But as I read the story I realised that this is more than mere officiousness. If this new campaign helps find and punish cases of sexual abuse, or helps prevent future cases, it will be well worth-while.

I don't want to venture too deeply into psychology, abnormal or other. And I'm sure most "boyat" girls are simply having fun with their wardrobes. But if there are cases in which "boyat" is a symptom of some wrong, then the police are on the right track. But they must remember to respect everyone.

Name withheld by request

Fan still misses Simon's partner

Thank you for Paul Simon is still going strong at 69 (June 1).

While Simon still strikes an emotional chord with listeners, it's hard not to miss his work with Art Garfunkel, such as the exquisite harmonies of The Boxer.

Jensen Lee, Aba Dhabi

… but some won't miss Oprah's show

I refer to Swan-song for talk show queen Oprah Winfrey (May 27).

Finally this brain-numbing programme is off the air. I found Oprah to be patronising. It is like being lectured about the most common thing we already know of. Perhaps the programme target audience was simple naive non-critical viewers.

I used to cringe every time Oprah aired her wishy-washy "words of wisdom" which pandered to those who live their lives watching TV. Why do so many US TV programmes insult our intelligence?

Joe Burns, Abu Dhabi

It's about time for jaywalking ban

Your story Interior Ministry lays down law for jaywalkers to foot the bill (May 29) is good news.

This is a great initiative. Too many pedestrians cross the road instead of using the nearby crossings and tunnels.

Many can't judge the speed of oncoming traffic correctly and put themselves as well as other road users in great danger.

Having said that, I want to add that the many of the pedestrian tunnels are quite unpleasant for pedestrians to use (for example under 7th street in Khalidiya in the capital) and urgently need to be cleaned.

And many of the city's zebra crossings are badly located so that vision is blocked, for example by street furniture or signs.

Anita Calcraft, Abu Dhabi

I have read your very interesting article about jaywalking.

As a pedestrian who often crosses Khalidiya Street near the Noor Hospital, I find it very dangerous even when using a pedestrian crossing.

Drivers arrive so quickly and, when you are lucky, sometimes they stop in the very last moment. Don't they see the designated crossings? In my opinion, all these crossings should be repainted in a bright colour which would help drivers and pedestrians.

Ursula Perlwitz, Abu Dhabi