Letters to the Editor
Fatal policies
Sir-- Spain's Prime Minister Aznar knew that he was exposing the people of his nation to terrible danger by supporting Bush's attack on Iraq -- and yet he took that risk. It is a tragic irony that it was the very people who massively opposed his pro-Bush policies who have paid so cruelly for Aznar's anti-democratic politics. Who will be the next innocents to suffer? The people of Italy because of Berlusconi? The people of Japan because of Koizumi? Imperialism no longer kills only the "natives", and the sooner we eliminate it from our world, the safer and happier we shall all be.
Zeljko Cipris
California
USA
Not a game
Sir-- My husband pays very high taxes ($40,000 per year) which is indirectly paying for the rebuilding of Iraq. We would like to see this accomplished as quickly as possible. No one wants this to last any longer than it should to see that Iraq and the Iraqis have better lives. Responding to the terrorists by blaming the US instead of ferreting them out is stupid, shortsighted and ignoble. If the Shias want to be pawns in another power game and have another leader like Saddam, they should continue to react in rage. Is it more palatable for a tyrant like Saddam to rule just because he is a Muslim? If that is so, then we can forget the hundreds of thousands murdered.
Julie Them
Sayre, PA
USA
Time for confusion
Sir-- I feel you are in for a huge disorder; you don't know how to resolve the problem and the Americans don't know either. What to do in Iraq? The invasion of Iraq was a big mistake as we can see from the aftermath. I feel the best thing to do is to calm down, and give time to the mind to understand what is happening and what is the best course to take. By increasing confusion, the end could be that all will suffer and there could be no solution, only more chaos and disorder.
Alfred Noblot
Paris
France
Concise opinion
Sir-- Regarding 'Indefinitely indefinite?' ( Al- Ahram Weekly, 26 February - 3 March), I believe the US has no rights in Cuba in the first place. It's lack of respect for a free nation. Second, there is enough history to have no trust in the US.
Raul I Sais
San Deigo, CA
USA
Utter failure
Sir-- It is now nearly one year since the war on Iraq started. The justification for that war, the alleged weapons of mass destruction and the threat that they would be used, which was never convincingly proved, turns out to be totally false now. International right has been violated, the public has been lied to, many people have been killed, a country has been destroyed and has fallen into violent anarchy.
The ditch between the Arab world and the USA and their allies in war has increased, the world certainly has not become a safer place and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has not been solved -- the opposite is the case. All in all, the foreign policy of President Bush and his neo-conservative cabinet has completely failed, if its goal was to improve the security of the USA and of Americans.
History has taught many leaders the lesson that violence only generates more violence and hatred, so maybe it would be better to first think before one pulls the trigger.
Dabor Molenskow
Berlin
Germany
Easy labels
Sir-- The word "terrorist" is a label; the phrase numbs our ears and our conscience. In the wake of the Israeli raids in the Gaza Strip, Ha'aretz wrote on 7 March that Israeli government spokesman Avi Pazner said that "Terrorism is pouring out of this refugee camp, and we have to stop it. We believe that by doing so we have prevented acts of terror in Israel and saved many human lives." "This is a pinpoint operation against the terrorist infrastructure in the central Gaza Strip," an Israeli military source said.
Palestinians said that some 80 people were injured in the raids, some of them in critical condition. Among the dead were at least three children -- a 10-year-old boy, a 12-year-old and a 15-year-old. The IDF said that at least three Hamas militants had been killed in the operation. No Israeli casualties were reported in the raid on the Bureij and Nusseirat refugee camps.
The "pinpoint" operation was kind of sloppy, wasn't' it? It killed innocent people. Again, the implication is that it is alright to have caused the death of three children because terrorism was involved with their deaths. Murder is the definition for the killing of innocent human beings -- society used to recognise that. But, we wouldn't feel very comfortable reading about innocent children being killed unless the dead were labelled "terrorists", would we? Or knowing that the third most powerful army in the world is engaging daily in military manoeuvres with tanks, rockets and helicopters against a captive population -- Palestinians in refugee camps, walled inside a perimeter with no army, no tanks, no helicopters, no planes with rockets.
So murder gets another label, but the label doesn't seem to cover it all and I find myself asking why, after nearly 50 years of Israel being a nation, there are still human beings there forced to live in refugee camps? Oh well, not to worry, they will find a label to put on that, and I'll feel okay when I read it. Innocent Palestinian children, school kids, families, old men and women, who cares? Jewish law says they don't count.
"Terrorist" is a good label. While the world sits idly, Israelis can stick it to anybody.
Jerry Walker
St Louis, MO
USA
Important words
Sir-- Jonathan Cook's article 'No Arabic at McDonald's Israel' ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 4-10 March) cites how Abeer Zinaty, who was recognised by the Israeli American employer as an "excellent worker", was fired from her job because "she was caught speaking Arabic to another Arab employee." This spells the future domination of Hebrew over Arabic in the region, which once upon a time was known as the Arab world; Arabic is not even recognised as a second language in its own home. What happened to the roadmap for two states with two languages?
Gloria Bunker
Chicago, IL
USA
No fair
Sir-- In 'No Arabic at McDonald's Israel' ( Al- Ahram Weekly, 4-10 March), you pointed out the "discrimination" that occurred in Israel when an Arab spoke Arabic at McDonald's and was subsequently fired. What discrimination do you mean? When was the last time a Jew in an Arab country had the most basic rights? Land was stolen from them, yet reparations are only heard for the Palestinians; do the Jews expelled from Arab countries have this right to self- determination?
Also, let me remind you and your readers that the "occupied" lands that Israel controls is land won in a war. When was the last time another nation ceded land to its former enemies? This is complete double standards that only applies to Jews/Israel.
Brant Strunin
New York, NY
USA
Salvation in peace
Sir-- Until recently, in every political conflict among states there is always one side which seeks peace. That side has traditionally been the same throughout history; it is always the weaker side that desires peace the most. It is ludicrous that the Israelis paint themselves as victims of terrorism when they use helicopter gunships to fire rockets into apartment buildings to assassinate their political opponents, and have snipers murder mothers anonymously inside a family home without acknowledgement or responsibility just for the thrill of it. The Israelis have no moral standing whatsoever.
The experiences of the US in Vietnam, and the USSR in Afghanistan established a new paradigm of victory. In these cases, both superpowers had vastly superior force of arms, and yet left with their tails between their legs in ignominious defeat. The difference was the willingness of the weaker side to continue to die for their cause for as long as it took. The superpowers lacked the will to continue to die in a fabricated conflict. And so, the weaker side won.
The neo-Nazi leadership in Israel will never cease their atrocities and have no regard for the safety of their own people. It is in their best interests to let their people suffer bombings and the like in order to justify their own ends. Their power is derived from the deaths of their own kind; more deaths equals more power and fear becomes their political currency. It is a state supported by hatred.
The strength of the Palestinians lies in their continued willingness to sacrifice their own lives for their cause. In the end this sincerity has the capacity to defeat their enemy; their dead bodies are their ammunition. Like the Vietnamese and Afghanis, the Palestinians will eventually prevail while warmongering political leaders will fall into disgrace.
Israel, unlike many Arab states, at least has an elective process. Possibilities of peace breaking out are therefore in the hands of the Israeli electorate. Military superiority is meaningless, since it won't be until the Israeli population sickens of the constant parade of atrocious death that the tide will turn for peace. The Palestinians should develop a peace movement in unison with Israelis of the same mind. Such a combined peace movement would have the capacity to run for office, sway hearts and minds along the way, and break the cycle of violence justifying more violence.
Peace is our only salvation.
Jennis Strickland
Potomac Falls, VA
USA
Whose fight?
Sir-- This simple question is addressed to Zionists who say in their propagandas that Israel is fighting for its existence. Is there Palestinian occupation of Israeli territories or is the case the opposite?
Ahmed Negm
Alexandria
Egypt
Alternative perspective
Sir-- May I suggest that you present to your readers the Israeli viewpoint. It can, in principle, be a non-formal viewpoint of Zionists who are also peace-supporters. As an illustration of that, let me ask one simple question: If Israel behaves so badly with its Arab citizens, why do the people of Um El-Phachem -- an Arab Israeli city -- refuse to become part of Palestine as part of a territory switch?
Yoav Ben Dror
Nes Ziona
Israel
Free flow
Sir-- In his article 'Asserting home-grown reform' ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 4-10 March) Gamal Essam El-Din tells us that there is general agreement between all parties. Marc Grossman, undersecretary for political affairs at the US State Department, is reported to have said in Cairo that "Reform cannot and will not be imposed from outside. The best ideas will come from you." President Mubarak in Riyadh agreed that "imposing a certain model of reform on Arab and Islamic states from the outside is unacceptable." President Bush is reported to say that Washington had no plans to impose the initiative on the Arab world. Colin Powell asserted that "I agree with the Egyptians and the Saudis that reform cannot be imposed from outside, and that it has to be accepted from within. The initiative must be acceptable to all the countries in the region."
What remains to be seen, therefore, is whether any reform will result from this consensus of opinion. As an Egyptian, well accustomed to the rhetoric common in our region, I find the following official Egyptian-Saudi statement to be evasive and unpromising: "progressing on the road to development, modernisation and reform, but in a way that is compatible with the needs, interests, values and identities of their peoples".
I suppose that time alone will tell whether this is a genuine attempt to move the region down the road of reform, political, social and economic, or if it is yet further empty talk. When President Mubarak said on 1 March that "It is unacceptable to be content with receiving initiatives from abroad," I wonder if he was considering the alternative: to allow the free flow of ideas and initiatives to come from within.
Raouf Zaidan
Broomfield, CO
USA
From within
Sir-- Listening to the speech of President Mubarak relating to Egypt's official response to the Greater Middle East initiative, as declared by Bush's administration, I felt very proud as an Egyptian citizen. The US, having no knowledge of the circumstances in the Arab world, has a hankering to impose a certain pattern of initiatives aiming at promoting economic ties among countries, according to the US president. However, first and foremost and in reality, the plan achieves its own interests regardless of any other considerations. Thus, America ignores the fact that each country knows how much reform it needs according to its economic, political and social circumstances -- whether they be international formulated or imposed from abroad.
Some Western intellectuals who are promoters of Americanism believe that such an initiative, when applied on the ground, would lead to much more security and safety. Yes, security and safety are the goal of all peoples, not just the ones living in the Arab world, but the American initiative neither manages to achieve security nor safety.
I appeal to the leaders of the Arab world countries to close ranks, not only to express a united viewpoint but also impose their own initiatives.
Mahmoud Shafik
Cairo
Egypt
Temporary corrosion
Sir-- I think when Mr Fergany in 'Democracy without freedom' ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 4-10 March) calls the Patriot Act a grave attrition of civil rights, it is a bit strong. Our rights of speech, press and assembly, indeed all the rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights are as firm as ever. The government has been granted some temporary additional powers with regard to investigation and subpoenas. I do not make light of these things. I believe -- as with the alien and sedition acts and the McCarran act -- that these erosions will prove to be temporary expedients. I speak from the perspective of an American left-liberal.
The real danger to American political process lies in television advertising and the emergence of a degraded and cynical political rhetoric aimed at playing to the emotions of mobs. Nonetheless, I thank Mr Fergany for his comments. We need every voice here and abroad reminding us that eternal vigilance is indeed the price of freedom.
Richard Mulliken
Jefferson, NY
USA
Forbidden conduct
Sir-- I have just finished reading 'Not just the Queen Boat' ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 4-10 March) and I want to say to the US administration that before they seek the rights of gay men and lesbian women, they should seek the rights of the Palestinians, Iraqis, Afghans, Muslims and Arabs in Guantanamo. I'd like the US administration to know we are Muslims and homosexuality is prohibited in our religion, as it is in Christianity and Judaism.
Ahmed Galal Mahmoud
Qena
Egypt
Under wraps
Sir-- I liked your article 'Not just the Queen Boat' ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 4-10 March) about the problems of systematic torture of homosexuals, and I find it important that these problems are raised and published. After nearly seven years living in Egypt, I am still surprised about the partiality of the system. I lived in Luxor for six years where homosexuality and homosexual prostitution is common and done quite openly. As a single foreign man, you can't walk the streets without repeatedly receiving offers (some veiled, some quite open) of homosexual services by local boys.
There are also quite well known places where these people meet and where the young boys are trained. I have known cases of several gay foreigners who were lured by such boys into spending a lot of money for building a house for their "common life", etc. The openly shown affection between men in Egypt (holding hands, embracing) gives foreigners the (wrong) impression that homosexuality is quite common and tolerated.
But in all these cases, the police obviously ignores the problem and doesn't intervene. Why? One gets the impression that all means are good to cheat the tourists of their money, they are just khawagas, so this isn't something bad, isn't it? The same is obviously true for the gigolos who go after older single ladies. Only that they have the legal excuse of the civil marriage. An officer of the tourist police once stated that it is normal that the woman pays everything for her "husband", foreigners are all rich, aren't they?
It would be interesting if the press once reported about these issues.
André Chappot
Cairo
Egypt
Fair trade
Sir-- In 'Systemic corruption' ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 26 February - 3 March), Osama El-Ghazali Harb considers taxi drivers' fares as the ultimate corrupt transaction. Quite to the contrary, I have always perceived this as what a proper commercial transaction is all about. Two people, one has a service to offer (the taxi driver) the other one needs this service (the passenger) and together they agree on a price. None of the two parties is obliged in any way to get into that particular transaction. It is the same system used on the general job market, including in Europe.
To me this cannot be in any way confused with a corrupt deal and since Harb mentions the Qur'an, I will quote from a text on trade in Islam, based on the Qur'an, fiqh and Sunna, published by WWF: "A just commercial transaction is an agreement for the exchange of goods established with equity and acceptance by both parties. Equity means that a value is put on the goods when they are being exchanged and that this is done in a market that is not restricted. Equity guarantees that equal amounts of goods or money have been exchanged." It is further explained that altering the equity of a transaction is introduced by controlling the market and therefore destroying the freedom of the market; and by imposing a condition in a transaction that is unrelated to that particular transaction and therefore destroying the equal balance of the value of the goods in the transaction.
Dominique Krayenbuhl
Cairo
Egypt
Rightful owners
Sir-- I just wanted to lend my support for the reclaiming of stolen Egyptian artefacts. I was appalled to discover that Ramses I's mummy was here, in my home country of Canada for so long, but I am thankful that they willingly gave it back. I have long held the opinion that all these items were taken by grave robbers, Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter being among the worst, and I believe that it is every nation's responsibility to help track down such items and formally return them to their respective rightful homes.
Some people might believe that we all have the right to see such items but you know you can enjoy a replica just as much as you can the original. If you want to see the real thing, go to Egypt and experience it where it should be, while you are there you can see the Pyramids too and only then can you truly appreciate the magnitude of this wonderful ancient culture.
Greg Bondt
Alberta
Canada
Different taste
Sir-- I enjoy reading the Al-Ahram Weekly, however in the recipe section it seems that every week there is a recipe that includes wine. It is ironic that a newspaper representing a Muslim country would have this on a weekly basis. Please look into it.
Soumaya Khalifa
Georgia
USA
Correction
Sir-- We would like to thank you for 'Heritage goes high-tech' ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 11-17 March) concerning the training workshop that UNESCO organised in Cairo from 18 February to 4 March. However, we would like to draw your attention to the following points. The workshop was implemented by UNESCO in collaboration with the SCA and CULTNAT; in December 2000, the 24th session of the World Heritage Committee was held (not World Heritage Organisation); the Arab States Unit is one of the units of the World Heritage Centre (WHC) not WHO; the Libyan site of Cyrene is not on the World Heritage List in Danger; and finally, World Heritage Site and Periodic Reporting must always be written with capital letters.
Karim Hendili
World Heritage Centre, UNESCO
Paris
France
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