The world has lost a true inspiration

A reader reflects on the death of Muhammad Ali. Other topics: child safety, parenting, sugar diets and student housing

A reader remembers the great Muhammad Ali. Jorge Nunez / Reuters

I am writing about the sad passing of boxing great Muhammad Ali (Boxing legend Muhammad Ali dies at 74, June 4). The demise of Ali is a great loss to the entire world.

He was known for his records and incredible achievements in the boxing arena. But it was his positions on difficult political and social issues that the world will miss most.

Tributes from all corners of the world, including from politicians, have poured in for this legend. He was one of the greatest Americans of his generation.

Like many people around the world, I pray for his departed soul and his grieving family members.

K Ragavan, India

When parents need to do better

Regarding your editorial about parental discipline in Japan (Parental discipline, June 4), the child's parents have stepped over the line in this case. They put their child in danger and ran the risk of losing him in the woods.

This event will certainly affect the child emotionally in the short term. I bet there will be long-term damage as well. These parents have psychologically damaged their child.

Chrissy Smith, UK

Let's put things in simple terms. The child's parents lost him. The chances of something tragic happening to the child or even the child dying were very high. This is not parenting, it is something else.

Rebecca Mermod Trostel, Dubai

I think that these parents are not fit to the task of parenting. It is disgraceful and the state should intervene.

Mikael Schonberg, Austria

Students need housing

Your editorial about the lack of student housing addresses a critical and sometimes overlooked issue (University students in the UAE need housing options, June 4). The lack of affordable housing affects more than students. Workers of all stripes rent out bed-space because they are not able to afford their own room or flat.

If we start with reforms to student housing, hopefully there will be ways to remedy the larger housing market challenges so that everyone has a place to live.

Jeffrey Martin, Abu Dhabi

Is peace and quiet possible?

Having just returned from a brief trip to London, I was pleased to see that a campaign to get rid of loud music in public spaces is gaining a lot of support.

Abu Dhabi should follow suit. It is almost impossible to go into a restaurant, a hotel lobby, a lift or a shopping mall and not be assaulted – I use the world advisedly – by the completely unnecessary, unwanted and raucous blaring of mindless music. Thankfully, things willbe quieter during Ramadan.

A visit to a beautiful seaside restaurant for an evening meal this week was completely spoiled by the relentless thump, thump thump of this ghastly modern phenomenon.

I wonder if we will ever get to a stage when we can just enjoy a bit of peace and quiet.

Damian West, Abu Dhabi

Enforcing child safety laws

I am writing with praise for a new child safety law (UAE law is just first step in ensuring child safety, June 4). This law is a good step in the right direction towards better child safety protection. We must, however, remain aware that no law can ensure child safety.

Laws can only help punish when bad things have happened. They also serve as deterrents when they are properly enforced.

Society needs to be vigilant, and willing to involve authorities when there is the slightest suspicion of wrongdoing. When it comes to our children, this is paramount.

Wiltrud Matthes, Sharjah

Don't forget about the sugar

Healthy living has long been a concern for many people living here. While there are many ways to live healthier, diet is the best but I am not sure that cutting out salt is the only way forward.

Regarding your report on the matter (A salty debate in need of hard facts, June 4), we need to focus more on sugar-laden diets than salt in this country. Yes, excess salt is directly connected to heart disease, but sugar-heavy diets pose the greatest risks for our young people.

Cara Lee Tabron-Rashed, Dubai