Is there really a crisis of legitimacy in Washington or is the talk overblown?

Readers weigh in on the White House, fire safety, Bollywood and more

There are more incidents of bigotry and racism in the US since the new White House administration took over, says one reader. Jewel Samad / AFP

In reference to your article, There is no crisis of legitimacy in Washington despite what some would have you think (August 23), sadly, there is a surge in blatant racism. These groups do not represent a majority.

Tanya Milbourne, Abu Dhabi

The arguments made by the author, Sholto Byrne, are quite old. Several analysts had similar positions before Trump's presidency. He is making it impossible for people to work with him. What is in Mr Trump's heart can stay there. It is his words and actions that count. Sadly, there are way too many incidents for them to be slips.

Omar Jaramillo, Germany

All buildings should be fitted with smoke detectors

With reference to the report about the Emirati man who saved 100 men from fire in Ajman (August 23), why do buildings still not have smoke detectors? It is lovely to read about the rescue, but fire safety matters must be addressed.

Aiysha Hurley, Abu Dhabi

The three movies that revolutionised Bollywood

In reference to the article, Bollywood has more talented stars than three Khans (August 21), this is the 60th anniversary of three ground-breaking movies from India, one of which was on the list of Time magazine's top 100. They are classics that have revolutionised Indian cinema. Pyaasa (Thirst), Mother India (Oscar contender for best foreign film) and Naya Daur (A New Era), were all post-independence films that mirrored India's thirst for a new era, after the pain of colonial rule.

Whilst Pyaasa was more a personal journey of the broody Guru Dutt, the other two, in the hands of the top directors of the time (BR Chopra and Mehboob Khan), showed India in its raw state, attempting to start afresh in nation-building. Sixty years on, the trio of classics remain the benchmark for Indian cinema and directors, some of whom, like Bimal Roy, became great directors with socially themed movies.

The current wave of film makers, buoyed by India's resurgence as a world player in business and technology and a rising middle class that want to blend in with the West, are producing films that especially cater to the youth – an eclectic mix of decadence and modern themed material that is a far cry from the black-and-white era of the fifties and sixties.

AR Modak, South Africa

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