Readers' corner
Price of freedom
I lived in Egypt for nearly 10 years. No words can ever describe how much I love your country. I am wishing you the best in your emerging fight for Democracy. I hope to return there someday to live out my life. I am an American Muslim Woman who voted for Kerry. A lot of us wonder what happened to our elections too and a great number of us do not agree with the carnage that is taking place in Iraq.
But we are not the majority, it seems.
Freedom is had at a great price. You will pay dearly for the chance, but it is worth it.
You should have the freedom to speak your minds and follow your hearts, and for that I pray to Allah that you get the chance.
May Allah Bless your efforts.
Madam Khadija S. Hammond
Pompano Beach, FLorida
USA
Saner minds
Sir -- I have no doubt President Bush wishes Sharon would stop the settlements. There are few policies on the Israeli side that would do more to move the peace process than putting the brakes on those settlements and pulling down what's already there.
While too many Palestinians fail to move towards peace, so Israel seems blind to the impediment to peace created by its settlement policy. Someday, we can only hope saner minds will prevail on all sides.
Michael Shelton
Arizona
USA
In denial
Sir-- Before I left the United States I saw one of George W's judicial nominees being questioned on TV. He denied knowledge of the wrong person being convicted, sentenced and executed in America recently.
Armed with such observations, perhaps the American Democrats will be forgiven for quibbling about the quality of people they are forced to consider.
Jeffrey Marck
Lyneham
Australia
Bush reminders
Sir -- In response to your article 'It will never be just' ( Al- Ahram Weekly, 19-25 May) I have this to say: at the White House, Bush probably told Mahmoud Abbas he cannot have back most of the West Bank, nor the right of return nor share Jerusalem nor be truly free to control borders, seaports, airports, the sky nor Palestinian's destiny.
But were I a Palestinian leader, which I am not, I would tell Bush and Sharon that both Israel and America are signatory to the laws, treaties and UN Charter of the 6,379,152,361 souls (CIA census) of the 191 nations of the world and that neither they nor any Palestinian leader nor their people would accept anything less than return to the 1967 lines, full right of return, Jerusalem as a shared capital of both nations in return for full recognition, cooperation and peace.
And I would remind Bush and Sharon that they are bogged in the quagmire of Iraq and Palestine surrounded by an enemy they cannot beat by force. Further I would remind Bush and Sharon that numbers do count when Islam is 1,902,095,000 (CIA census) angry souls, a large percentage of whom are willing to fight to the death to be alive, thrive and live free and equal.
I would explain to Bush and Sharon that they cannot win by force but only by law.
I would further remind Bush and Sharon that they can and will get no help from the rest of the world which is forming new strategic, diplomatic, commercial and military alliances already moving in to take over where America and Israel failed.
So much for my non- leadership "brinkmanship" diplomacy. It is sort of like Bush's "bring them on", "make my day" or "try me!"
John Willmott
Florida
USA
Working together
Sir -- I'm from Brazil and I would like to congratulate for the excellent report about the summit between Arab and South American countries.
It's true, we found a little arrogance from several Arab leaders for not taking part in the meeting. Why didn't they want to take part? Is that because we are from the same continent as the USA and everybody from South America is American? Are their countries wealthy enough? Have they got everything -- foodstuff, medicines, tourism and technologies?
We've got to understand that what Arabs have a lot of, we (South Americans) have little and vice versa. We need to look for new markets, new outlets.
Today there are about 10 million Brazilians out of 180 million people who are of Arab ancestry. We in South America have much in common with the Arabs. We appreciate your food, we have cable TV and enjoy your music, your culture, your people and of course we suffer as much interference from Americans, the World Bank and IMF as you do.
Just an example: It is transparent that Condoleezza Rice came to Brazil for a short visit to our president just to check the issues that would be discussed in this summit. Is this not an interference in our country?
We should strengthen alliances, work together to build the foundation for a bridge of solid cooperation between South America and the Arab world.
Daniel Navarro
Sao Paulo
Brazil
Another time
Sir -- I was born in Alexandria in 1939 and went to (the then) Victoria College and British Boys' School, and left my beloved city in 1963 to take up residence in Australia.
I came across your issue ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 26 September-2 October) and I am very sorry to have read that the two hotels I used to frequent (Windsor and Metropole) have changed hands, and have lost that rustic look and feel about them.
Nicolas Sampson
Queensland
Australia
Palestinians disunited
Sir -- The interview done by Ian Douglas with the leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyr Brigades in Nablus, Nasser Jumaa, is quite revealing. The lack of unity within the Palestinian leadership has plagued them since the beginning of the Zionist movement and has been the main reason Palestinians have not been able to reach any meaningful goal -- even this is not clearly defined by the leadership -- in their quest.
The picture Jumaa depicts of the current state of the Palestinian society does not give any hope for a near ending of the bloodshed and a solution to the conflict. Blaming Israel for the failures of the Palestinian society will only make matters worse.
Marcos Peckel
Bogota
Colombia
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