letters
Unspeakable horror
Sir-- Thank you for 'Iraq: free for all' ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 9-15 September). I had no idea of the extent of suffering that has been inflicted on the Iraqi people, and I am appalled and deeply ashamed on behalf of my country.
We count each American life as if it were the most precious thing in the universe, but as one US journalist recently said without any shame, there's no "official body count" for Iraqis. Not only do we not keep track, there isn't even an acknowledgment that each of those Iraqi "bodies" was an irreplaceable human spirit of absolute value to self, family and God, and certainly equal in value to any American soldier.
The only reason anyone -- Iraqi or American -- is dead is because Bush invaded Iraq. His reasons for doing so were lies; he has totally destroyed a country that posed no threat, and while Saddam's regime was not good, the situation now is far worse. And as you rightly point out, even if Americans were safer -- and we are not -- did we have a right to buy our safety at the cost of all those innocent lives? No ethical person can condone what the United States has done to Iraq.
Bush has made me ashamed to be an American, and I have never felt that way before. Thank you for opening my eyes, even though it was only to look upon unspeakable horror.
Allegra Chesnut
California
USA
Guns for hire
Sir-- I watched a very interesting -- and alarming -- SkyNews programme recently on private armies of mercenaries in Iraq. According to the report, there are no less than 20,000 mercenaries in Iraq today, each earning something like $15,000 a month. They are mainly recruited in Britain, and although they call themselves security guards for individuals and private companies in Iraq, they are really no more than "guns for hire" and will do whatever it is they are told to do -- from murder to attacks on the civilian population, etc.
There are, we are told, frequent gun battles between them and Iraqi "insurgents", and they usually come off worse. Around 100 of them have so far been killed. They are recruited in Britain by former SAS officers who have no other means to earn a living.
What I find very strange is that Britain, which harbours international terrorists on its soil, allows the recruitment of British ex- troopers and thugs as mercenaries like Sir Mark Thatcher's lot, should be so concerned by one Egyptian allegedly wanting to hire a thug to kill four Egyptian cabinet ministers in Egypt.
Mamdouh El-Dakhakhni
Alexandria
Egypt
Degrees of tyranny
Sir-- 'Woe betide Najaf' ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 26 August - 1 September) was a very nicely written article, with several bits of information that I did not have before. I also appreciated the balance of opinions contained in it. Thank you for the diligent work in reporting the news.
I have only one question regarding the last sentence in the article: "What will it take to heal the wounds of Iraq, a country traumatised equally by Saddam Hussein and now Iyad Allawi?" Do you really consider that Allawi has traumatised the country to the same degree as Saddam? Is this your opinion or are you relaying the opinion of the people you met in your research? It seems like quite an unfair judgement considering the documented human rights abuses by Saddam and his sons.
Under similar circumstances, my research has led me to believe, Saddam would have given a much harsher response to Sadr's uprising, and may have shown less respect for Shia holy sites than the current Iraqi government. Certainly Sadr would have been killed, without regard for collateral loss of life.
Jonathan Lynam
California
USA
The body count
Sir-- It always seems ironic that wherever one looks, reads or watches the news or current events, the US is lamenting over their 1,000 dead soldiers in Iraq.
They have every right to do so, with all the associated media hype, brimful of interviews with the soldiers' families and documentaries about their "honourable" service.
On the other hand, not so much as a peep is heard or seen concerning the death toll of the Iraqis, which is estimated between 10,000 and 30,000 deaths.
Shereen Sadek
Montreal
Canada
Time for healing
Sir-- Regarding 'The limits of loyalty' ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 9-15 September), throughout the Israeli threats and bombardments in recent years, I have never seen Syria defend Lebanon -- not once. Instead, it uses our citizens as bargaining chips to pressure Israel into withdrawing from the Golan Heights. Why doesn't Syria create a resistance force of its own and take the battle to Syria?
We, the Lebanese, have had enough of regional states and international powers using us and our country as a site to settle old scores. Syria is a cowardly nation, always hiding behind us. As for Hizbullah, when they were fighting Israel in southern Lebanon they would always quote UN Resolution 425, calling on Israel to abide by it. Now, that Israel has done so, they don't seem to be sticking to their word.
I am distrustful of Hizbullah because they always change the rules and are not consistent. We, Lebanese, feel threatened by Hizbullah, especially that they have all those weapons. During the Lebanese civil war, Hizbullah wanted an Islamic state in southern Lebanon. I believe they would want to seek independence because they believe that since they liberated southern Lebanon, they are the authority there.
I believe we don't have to become best friends with Israelis, but we need the guns to fall silent in order to allow the healing to begin. It will happen some day, so it may as well start now. This conflict has gone on too long, and I would love for my children to see Lebanon as a diverse nation, and respect all those around them.
Majid Alameddine
Beirut
Lebanon
Unity not occupation
Sir-- Regarding 'The limits of loyalty' ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 9-15 September), Syria is not occupying another country. Unity is not occupation.
Hamad Al-Ali
Kuwait City
Kuwait
Educating Moore
Sir-- In 'Dude, where are the Arabs?' ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 2-8 September), the writer concludes that "we know that the Arabs and Moore are against Bush for very different reasons." This is very true.
However, Moore is for the underdog, and if you were to "educate" him on these issues instead of just criticising his omissions, perhaps you could talk him into a much needed documentary about the Palestinian plight.
Today, the American public gets its information from a biased media which means they rarely get both sides of the story. The public is further brainwashed by way of alliances made between right-wing Likud supporters and churches in the bible belt.
Moderate Arabs and Muslims in general have to make an effort to get their story out through eloquent intellectuals, who can communicate their side of the story.
Hepi Armen
New York, NY
USA
Out of sight
Sir-- Amira Howeidy's review of Fahrenheit 9/11 'Dude, where are the Arabs?' ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 2-8 September) proceeds from the assumption that Arabs loom large in the American world view.
In fact, despite all that has happened, the only Arab that most Americans could care about is Omar Sharif.
J Lenihan
St Paul, MN
USA
Apportioning blame
Sir-- This refers to your 'Partners in crime' editorial ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 9-15 September). I am quite perplexed at your argument that a third party, such as the United States, is responsible for the cowardly act that took place in Chechnya, along with a whole host of other events that have taken place recently in the same region.
Yes, the US trained these fighters and provided them with arms and ammunitions during the Soviet-Afghan conflict, just as the Arab countries trained supporters of the Palestinian cause, but they certainly did not train them to take a school full of innocent children, hold them hostage and shoot them in the back as they were trying to flee. If one is trained as a fighter, does one also lose value for an innocent child's life that has barely begun his journey in life?
The fact is that this violent act of terrorism did nothing to deter Putin's stance on Chechnya. If anything, he has taken a tougher approach, which is actually contrary to the objective that the hostage- takers were initially seeking to achieve. As well, this tragic event has forced Russian authorities to look into improving the Special Forces to better tackle future acts of terrorism.
What has taken place here is that once again, a group of people has managed to tarnish Islam's message -- which seems to be happening a lot these days. If one is going to play the blame game here, blame is to be attributed to those hostage-takers who are cowards, using mostly children as bargaining tools and many of whom actually fled in the face of a losing battle.
Just as a criminal is convicted for his crimes and not his parents who may or may not have played a positive role in his upbringing, responsibility should lie in the hands of the real criminals, who in this case are the hostage-takers.
Rupa Subramanya
Ottawa
Canada
Reaching out
Sir-- Regarding the recent article by Dina Ezzat entitled 'Two to Tango' ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 9-15 September), I must concur that we Egyptians have missed the boat as far as South America is concerned. Having travelled extensively in Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Brazil and Argentina, I was struck by the large expatriate Arab communities that call all those countries home.
We have a golden opportunity to foster closer relations culturally, politically and economically. A concerted effort needs to be made to improve ties between those two areas of the world. The image that is held by a large segment of South Americans with regards to the Arabs is often distorted and not unflattering.
The foundations and cornerstones for better cooperation are in place. If we are to bridge this artificial cultural divide, a comprehensive policy needs to be put in place to promote better understanding and appreciation of each other's cultures.
Galal Baki
Overland Park, KS
USA
Rules of nature
Sir-- Religions are purely meant to provide moral guidance for those who are unaware of good and bad, right and wrong. They are not meant to be used to establish new natural laws or force nature into submission, nor coerce mankind and condemn them to an early death. That would be totally contradictory to nature's unchangeable eternal laws.
Christianity, for instance, calls for the love of one's neighbours and enemies, but that would be impossible if one has been physically subjected to systematic harassment or inhumane acts of brutality. In the extreme circumstances, one would be forced to defend himself and cause harm than show love. The love alone wouldn't stop a man pointing a gun to one's head from committing murder, which is forbidden. Therefore, Christian teaching of love was meant as guidance, rather than directive of how to govern the unpredictability of human nature.
In Islam, the saying: "you have your religion, and I have mine," is another clear indication that there is a complete acceptance of human nature's free choice. Logically, God wouldn't say these words, had He wished to enforce one law or one religion.
But mankind was formed with diversity, and the saying has affirmed that. Nevertheless, this saying, as it stands, clearly deprives Islam from any rights to enforce its will on any human being, or give it any legitimate rights to call or accuse anyone of being an infidel or a believer in polytheism.
This reminds us that religious sayings were not meant to be rigid rules set to govern mankind; they only offer moral support. All mankind are naturally born subject to and governed by the rules of nature, not by religious sayings or its preachers.
Makael Bartholomew
Preston
UK
Brain drain
Sir-- It stands to reason that the creative gifts of any society are the heart that pumps life into that society, the torch that provides that society with light, the mind that keeps dark thoughts away from that society, and the muscles that keep the peace and prosperity of that society. What do you think will become of a society bereft of its heart, mind, eyes and muscles? Inevitable loss, no doubt.
From time immemorial, Egypt has always been home to talents in all branches of knowledge. This is not sheer exaggeration on the part of an Egyptian proud of his homeland. Rather, it is the truth that no one can deny. The number of Egyptian scientists and scholars who have added, and continue to add, to humanity are innumerable indeed.
Unfortunately, Egypt today has been afflicted with the defection of so many of its talents to other countries in search of better income and facilities. If it is material interests which have driven these Egyptian talents away, then it would be a case of disloyalty to the homeland.
Egypt, this great land, is in dire need now more than ever for its creative citizens to help it overcome current hardships.
Sayed Youssef
Minya
Egypt
All means of death
Sir-- Pope John Paul II said that terrorism is, and always will be, a show of inhuman ferocity that, precisely for this reason, will never be able to solve conflicts among human beings. Only reason and love are the valid means of surpassing and resolving disputes between people. No situation of injustice, no feeling of frustration, no philosophy or religion can justify such an aberration.
The recent chain of blind violence we are witnessing around the world is the result of scandalous injustices and imbalances, that create conditions favouring an uncontrollable explosion of the desire for revenge. When fundamental rights are violated, it is easy to fall prey to temptations of hatred and violence. Nonetheless, we must keep in check our base impulses and together work to build a global culture of solidarity, that restores hope in the future to the young.
I am thinking not only of the obvious economic scandals that need our attention, but of the various governmental laws which, under the guise of justice, violate the fundamental rights of individuals like the unborn and the aged through abortion, genetic manipulation and euthanasia and which need to be corrected. Such laws do not lead to freedom, but are rather catalysts for aggression. They work to assault our moral sensibilities, leading us subtly unaware into corruption.
Many are shocked at the recent massacre of innocent children in Russia, but few seem concerned that millions more children -- the most innocent of innocent -- are being lawfully killed each day, through abortion in ordinary hospitals and clinics around the globe -- and in the most gruesome manner.
Terrorism is not only to be found in places like New York, Spain, Iraq, Israel and Russia, but in our own hometowns and in our families. This, ultimately, is where terrorism begins and where it must be curtailed.
Paul Kokoski
Ontario
Canada
Across the spectrum
Sir-- Congratulations to Mr Shukrallah, the new executive editor-in-chief of Al-Ahram Weekly. I hope that you will use your influence at the Weekly to allow for voices that not only disagree with the general Arab point of view, but also allow some serious and enlightened commentaries that occasionally challenge the Arab/Muslim line of reasoning.
Even though I disagreed with Edward Said 95 per cent of the time, he was a sincere champion of Arab critical introspective thought -- a rare quality in the Arab/Muslim world today.
Shep Fargotstein
Memphis, TN
USA
Recommend
Comment
Printer-friendly
