May I suggest that these people are stopped from performing these dangerous and reckless stunts in this country (Skyscraper daredevil 'arrested' for climbing Dubai high rise, March 6)?
There are too many copycats out there. These daredevil acts could end in tragedy and I wonder who will be held responsible in that case.
Jean Francoise Ng Lewis, Dubai
A bold move by Omar Ghobash
A brave walking of the tightrope by Omar Ghobash (UAE Ambassador to Russia's book is a guide for young Muslims, March 6). On the one hand, conservative traditionalists will be pointing to the degeneracy in belief in the Christian West when modern criticism of religion is embraced. On the other, young people doing the splits between dogmatic tradition and freewheeling western culture infesting families through the internet can easily yo-yo into irrational extremism masquerading as "pure Islam" if the delights of facile "freedom" wear thin. There is no immunity from this risk.
The UAE must surely be one of the few environments on Earth where broad-minded rational discussion can and does take place to examine the underlying issues involved in a way that will impress and engage a youth who is often not easily amenable to either. Mr Ghobash should take heart that where this has actually been successful in the West, young people have been able to independently claim a religious faith as their own, rather than the faith claiming them.
This path is far from easy, but surely must be the right way forward if irrational extremism on one hand and facile faithless degeneracy on the other are to be disarmed. And ultimately this is the real religious battlefield in the 21st century.
Mr Ghobash has made a brave start. He should be supported by all who want to see youth involved in their faith.
Name withheld by request
Chaos could be avoided
The Guns N' Roses concert was indeed remarkable (Despite chaos, the concert was memorable, March 6), but I wonder why the organisers did not inform the Roads and Transport Authority of an event of this size. I spoke to the RTA many times since the event to make it clear that such a situation was unacceptable. The representative told me they had not been given a heads-up, so they didn't have extra taxis ready to handle the crowd.
Had we had an organised means of departure (and 15 buses were nowhere near adequate), then many of us would have forgotten about the gridlocked traffic on the way in to the venue.
I will never again attend an event at that arena, or an event organised by this company.
Kathryn Conrad, Abu Dhabi
When I looked at the location of this arena, it was clear that this would be an absolute traffic and parking nightmare. So we left from Abu Dhabi at 4pm, arrived at 6pm and had no issues. However, we were also stuck for two hours in the parking area afterwards. The location is ridiculous. Why bring Guns N’ Roses to such a place when we have other fantastic venues close by?
Martina Venus, Abu Dhabi
A few points on Pakistan
Two things are missing from the appraisal Differences must be set aside to defeat extremism (March 1). One, the power of the Pakistani army, which is independent of corrupt politicians and religious ideologues. Two, the synergy between Salafist funding of over 1,000 madrassas and mosques, and current extremist activity in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s army is one of the most powerful and professional in the world. Once they get into gear against the Pakistan Taliban and other fellow travellers, there will be a brutal reckoning in which the extremists will lose badly. The politicians in Pakistan should close down Salafi madrassas and mosques and shut down funding from wealthy Salafi sponsors into Pakistan to cut off the money supply and the ideology, which is actually alien to Pakistan.
Name withheld by request
