Readers' corner
Their eyes
Sir -- I write to you after reading the beautiful obituary for Samer Kassir written by Rasha Salti ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 9-15 June) that touched my heart and prompted me to say that I have always had a notion that Lebanese people have very beautiful and very sad eyes. I do think the reason for this is because there is something in their souls that has made them have to endure the pain and agony of such violence. How can any of us teach peace to our children when such violence prevails?
I know of an incredible Lebanese sculptor who sculpts exquisite figures of women from trees that grow in Lebanon -- one in particular of a woman with her body and hands outstretched towards the sky.
A figure carved from a burning tree left by a grenade outside his window.
Is this the legacy we wish to leave for our children?
Joanne Tawfilis
Vienna
Austria
More talk
Sir -- In 'A swirl in a cup?' by Shahira Samy ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 9-15 June) the writer has cleared up a lot of confusing issues with her systematic exposure of the relevant events surrounding the AUT boycott of the Israeli universities.
The article gives a balanced view of the pros and cons of the Palestinian-Israeli quandary over the extent of communication on different levels and sensibly ends with a non-judgemental stance, allowing the readers to think about the issues and make up their own mind.
I believe that dialogue on all levels is necessary. We must not burden the military and the politicians with the total responsibility of negotiating on our behalf. Civilian and academic opinions must also be heard and listened to by officials on either side of the negotiating table.
The boycott was indeed useful in stimulating debate on what is an important aspect of Palestinian-Israeli differences. Let us hope that other non-aggressive ways be found to carry this debate forward in a positive and constructive manner.
Mike Robinson
London
UK
Lowering the bar
Sir -- One has to feel sick by the attacks on Amnesty International, one of the noblest and most effective organisations in the world. For decades, it has bravely exposed the most horrific acts of repressive governments across the globe. And it has successfully campaigned to free many political prisoners.
For its work, day in and day out, it deserves our thanks.
And we must applaud it now for having the courage to blow the whistle on the Bush administration.
Alas, the administration can't stand criticism. And so it is attacking the messenger, as it has in the past with Richard Clarke and Paul O'Neill.
The administration wheeled out its three biggest guns: Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Bush himself. Each of them seized on the word "gulag" which Amnesty International had used to describe the US detention facility in Guantanamo Bay.
Cheney said he was "offended" by it. Isn't he offended by the reports of torture there?
Rumsfeld said it was "reprehensible" and "cannot be excused". But what is really reprehensible and inexcusable is Rumsfeld's directives that gave the green light to specific torture techniques.
Bush said it's "absurd", but the absurdity is Bush's claim that his administration has not exported detainees for torture.
Now you can quibble with the word "gulag" and William Schulz, head of Amnesty International USA, has acknowledged that the Bush policies are not nearly on the scale of Stalin's. But it's no great accomplishment to say that Bush's Guantanamo is better than Stalin's Siberia.
Can't they aim a little higher than that?
Nadhir Dean
Ontario
Canada
Long before
Sir -- As a Sudanese there is something I would like to convey regarding 'Untying every Sudanese knot' ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 9- 15 June).
The article seems to suggest that religion in Sudanese politics (specifically Islamism) began with the imposition of Sharia by President Numeiri.
If this is so, then this assumption is uninformed and could not have been formulated with any profound knowledge of Sudan's history since before the foreign invasion of Mohamed Ali in 1820.
Religion as part and parcel of the Sudanese state has been the norm in Sudan since the adoption of Christianity as the state religion of Nubia in the sixth century AD.
This historical status quo was persevered until the 13th century when Islam creepingly supplanted Christianity as a source of jurisdiction and moral guidance for indigenous Sudanese governments.
Therefore far from being an alleged milestone in Sudan's modern political scene, Islamism has been a cornerstone of indigenous Sudanese governance since the early 13th century.
Salim Jammaa
Dongola
Sudan
Responsible
Sir -- The ruler is responsible for the ruled. However, the latest UN demographic data show this is not always the case. The occupying coalition has been associated with a post-invasion under-five infant mortality of about 0.3 million in Iraq and 1.2 million in Afghanistan -- 1.5 million in total, 0.4 million per year and over 1,000 under five-year-old infant deaths everyday
Gideon Polya
Melbourne
Australia
Not the only meaning
Sir -- It is disappointing that the writer of the profile section on Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 19-25 May) defines jihad as a religious struggle (only) instead of striving to do what is right and good. In North America we work hard to educate the public that the word jihad has different meanings. Going to war for religion is one of many meanings of jihad. It is not in our benefit as Muslims to misrepresent the meanings of good words such as jihad. This only benefits the enemies of Islam.
Sayed El-Sohemy
Ontario
Canada
Thank you, Egypt
Sir -- I just returned from a 12-day visit to your country. I am a travel professional in the United States, and was participating in a trip with others in my industry, to educate us on the tourism experience of Egypt. I must say, as someone who travels frequently, internationally, I have never been as positively affected by a visit as I was to Egypt. The Egyptian people encountered during the trip were extremely helpful, considerate, polite, friendly and professional. Furthermore, pride of country was very evident.
The security procedures in place for tourists were consistently applied, yet not intrusive. I felt completely safe and secure while sightseeing throughout the country.
The historical and cultural sights of Egypt are well known, of course, but they were further enhanced by the Egyptian people I met along the way who expressed appreciation of our visit. Further, whether in hotels, restaurants or on the Nile cruise, our comfort and enjoyment was the genuine goal of the service professionals we encountered.
So I thank the Egyptian people for a wonderful, memorable visit to your country. I look forward to promoting Egypt, and sending American clients over to provide them the opportunity to experience the wonders of Egypt for themselves.
Staci Fialkoff
California
USA
Recommend
Comment
Printer-friendly
