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Al-Ahram Weekly 31 August - 6 September 2000 Issue No. 497 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 31 August - 6 September 2000 Issue No. 497
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Out at the roots
Sir- In "Upstream [actually, downstream] on a midsummer night" (Al-Ahram Weekly, 17-23 August), we can read that the word "luxury" derives from Luxor. In fact, it derives from the Latin word luxus: extravagance, luxury, excess.Paolo Lombardini
Zamalek
Sing, or your supper
Sir- I wonder if you would kindly permit me to ask our learned minister of economy, Youssef Boutros Ghali, to explain to us music lovers why there is a tariff barrier against classical music CDs imported from Europe.We all know that tariffs are applied only when there is a local product to be protected. And Egypt, alas, does not produce classical music CDs at all.
Music lovers are being charged more than LE10 per imported CD, which, I think the minister will agree, is outrageous.
In two years' time, when Egypt becomes a full member of GATT, all tariffs will be abolished (with detrimental effects to Egyptian industry). But do we music lovers really have to wait that long?
Mamdouh El-Dakhakhni
Alexandria
Experiencing tolerance
Sir- Egypt and the United States, each the greatest in its hemisphere, are partners in brokering peace in the Middle East. The greatest civilisation of the Arab countries, the awe-inspiring freedom of the West. Compassion and understanding, safe passage and understanding, brotherhood where there was hatred and animosity: universal accord and nothing less. Indeed!I think that Mr Clinton and Mr Mubarak have failed to look into their own countries and educate for the same goals.
Forty-two years ago, my 20-year-old friend killed himself because of harassment as an inductee in the US Army in Missouri. Last week a small group of Muslims were denied the purchase of an old unused church to be used as a mosque in Chicago. They are five per cent of this small population, but suddenly there was fear that this group would move into the neighbourhood (many Muslims had lived there for years) and one man was sure that Islam was a phony religion (half the world is Islamic). These incidents occurred in the gentle Midwest.
I am a retired American paediatrician and came to live in Egypt. My flat above the Corniche on the Mediterranean in Alexandria borders a lower to lower-middle class area. Virtually each day I experience some sort of insult or abuse from some of the security or some of the attendants of the restaurant and cafés that engulf the area at the base of the apartment complex. Welcome America!
I fault the media for not educating these less than intelligent people. If Walt Disney could portray two animals who are natural enemies holding hands, then surely American technology and the remarkable Egyptian artistry could portray Arab and American as friends. Americans need to know more about the wonderful Arab heart and Egyptians should be able to experience the open friendliness in the United States. Yet because of insularity, ignorance and lack of cultural exposure, blind hate continues.
The various forms of media could broker peace better than any diplomatic treaty. If people love each other there will not be war. Anyone knows that!
Martin H Platt, MD, FAAP
Alexandria
