With regard to Taniya Dutta's report Fanfare for President Trump on first official visit to India (February 24): there are several expectations from the US President's visit, including trade deals and India's expectations on the H1B visa. Above all though is the need to nurture the good bilateral relationship India shares with the US. Whether or not the expectations are met, this is a historic visit.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru
Through the years the people of Iran have endured a great deal
With reference to Shirin Ebadi's op-ed Iran's revolution has failed its women (February 22): this was a good read. I went to Iran some time ago and met lovely people. It's just sad they don't have the freedom. Interesting country though.
Margaret Bootsman, Dubai
What we need is actual gender equality not more polarity
This is regarding Gemma White's article A woman's place: Inside the UAE's all-female workplaces (February 20). The article misses an important issue: are we looking to create polarity or equality? Women face much of the same issues I faced 25 years ago – balancing career with motherhood, etc. Nothing much has changed. We need to create conditions, environments and processes that enable both genders to participate equally in all roles.
By being women-only companies we are reversing the roles which men-only companies play. This social 'evil' is not about negating one bad with another. How many women-only companies can be formed? As a counter, should there be men only companies? The argument can go on. Two hands are needed to clap and each hand is different to the other. Let us strive for a world of equal opportunity and equal employment.
Indu Varanasi, Dubai
You know which ones: proliferation of embarrassing cards
My son in the first grade made me write this letter. We step out in the morning at 6.30am for him to board the schoolbus. En route he sees cards on the street and asks why the ladies take such pictures and throw them on the roads. How is littering allowed, he asks me.
I have seen people slip these cards into car windows or throw them on pavements. In Al Nahda 2 it used to be a few cards every now and then but in the last couple of months, there are hundreds around the Al Salam school. My daughter too has told me that she and her friends feel embarrassed looking at them. It is a nuisance for residents, cleaners and even the municipality. My request to you is to help end this practice.
Ashif Nasarulla, Dubai
