Readers' corner
Face covers
Sir-- When the prophet said to "guard your modesty," he was also referring to men ('A witch-hunt for our times' Al-Ahram Weekly 11- 17 January). My experience in Egypt showed that if I did not wear the veil, I was a sex object and harassed by men. Sadly, an unveiled woman in Egypt will be hit on and thought of as loose.
It is what the veil symbolises that seems to be the question here. We in the West see a veiled woman as a Muslim, since they are the only ones who wear veils. Most people in the West couldn't care less since we have many, many religions here. Actually, a woman who covers herself and only shows her eyes looks scary to most Westerners. To many Westerners, it symbolises the need to be different rather than religious. Notice that robbers tend to wear masks over their faces and the wearing of any face cover is a sign of a need to be hidden. We believe in freedom here and see the veil as an affront to women. If it is so important, notice that you are not allowed to veil during your visit to Mecca. In fact it is the opposite; you show your face before God.
Islam has gotten a bad press since 9/11. That is unfortunate since it is really a beautiful religion. Allah looks at the heart rather than the face.
Khadija Hammond
California
USA
The true enemies
Sir-- President Bush is caught between a rock and a hard place ('The decline of empire' Al-Ahram Weekly 11-17 January). We here in America realise that no matter what he does, he has failed. If he pulls our troops out, he is a failure. If he sends more, he is also a failure. This war cannot be won, especially when you realise that the Sunni and Shia factions have always hated each other and disagreed since the time of Ali. They will never agree.
I am not in the least sorry that Saddam is gone. He was an insane tyrant and evil man who murdered his own innocent people. Anyone who saw photos of the Kurds will agree with that, especially the photos of dead mothers trying to shield their babies.
I do not envy Mr Bush for the mess he is in. But neither can I forget 9/11. I fly for a charter airline and can only imagine the horror of those people looking out the window as the World Trade Centre loomed before them.
Unfortunately, there will always be wars no matter what we do. Look at Israel and its arrogance. It whines about a homeland but refuses to recognise the people who were there before it, Israel, was created.
I am part Cherokee Indian. I would like to have back the lands taken from my people, too, lands now owned by the so-called white man. And so it goes on and on, fueled by greed, lust and avarice. These are the true enemies of humanity.
Peace? I doubt it will be achieved in my lifetime. My heart breaks for all the people of Iraq and the Palestinians without homes, and with dead family members haunting their lives and souls. Hopefully you can deal with your anguish and move on with your lives. And our brave soldiers fighting and dying over there? We want them to come home to their families.
We all want peace... then why do we continue to plot wars? Unfortunately it seems to be human nature... a Jihad that we all need to wage within ourselves. One by one... maybe some day we will see the true insanity of war. Hatred is a pus- filled sore upon the face of this earth, fueled by ignorance.
Sherie James
Washington
USA
Doing America's work
Sir-- It is truly a shame that a distinguished professor such as yourself would publish such a superficial and shallow analysis and use that to recommend that Arabs should be careful and in other words stand aside and not take part in what is happening in the Middle East ('New Year imperatives' Al-Ahram Weekly 11- 17 January). This is symptomatic of Arab politics of the last four decades: lack of leadership to stand up for the people of this region and submission to the American will. To state that Iran should not be supported because of Shia influence is to do America's work for her, and exploit these false divisions to change the focus and prevent a united front, ie divide and conquer. A divided Iraq and a civil war does not benefit Iran. It serves the purpose of Israel and the US and by Arabs taking sides which is what your article implies in its language. Instead of trying to create peace inside Iraq it only makes the matter worse (or better if you are Israel).
George Siddiq
California
USA
Might be wrong
Sir-- This is a typical American operation, with a typical American attitude ('Sins of omission' Al-Ahram Weekly 11-17 January). First they get someone to do their dirty work, then they ignore the ethical implications of killing hundreds of civilians in order to kill three people who MIGHT be terrorists.
Alvin Nesmith
Florida
USA
Unhappy with home
Sir-- I am an American of Egyptian descent and a Muslim ('Balances of power' Al-Ahram Weekly 28 December-3 January). I must tell you after recently visiting Egypt and seeing the decay of the society, the apathy of the people, and corruption, I am ashamed to call myself Egyptian.
As I look at the headlines of Western papers, the news of Egypt is corruption and torture of the citizens by those who are supposed to protect them. You must fight this as an affront to Muslims and human dignity. While having grown up in the United States, I long to return to Cairo, but only to a country that inspires its people, not debases them.
Omar Islam
Illinois
USA
Good guy
Sir-- Thank you for the information ('Obituary: Saddam Hussein' Al-Ahram Weekly 28 December-3 January). I am participating in a school debate and the subject happens to be, "Do you believe Saddam's execution was just?" My answer was a big 'no'. So it was a great relief to find information that did not focus on the ugly side of an ambitious man.
Kimberly Phakati
Lusaka
Zambia
Word change
Sir-- In 'End of the neocons' ( Al-Ahram Weekly 28 December-3 January) Mr Bishara writes in part: "American democratic evangelism ended because the policy was a complete failure". On one point Mr Bishara is incorrect. The article should have read: "American demoniac evangelism..."
Lawrence Starr
Ohio
USA
Highway study
Sir-- A newly-established company announced in December that it would begin construction on an $8 billion Borg Al-Arab-Aswan highway. Future projects will include a new railway network connecting Hurghada to Safaga, Qena, and Luxor; new passenger ferry lines between Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and a seaport in Port Said. Please tell me that the right hand knows what the left is doing, and that such a highway, if true, will incorporate all the other studies that were previously made, and reap their benefits.
Osama Shadi
Wisconsin
USA
Baha'i injustice
Sir-- Having just read 'Rendered faithless and stateless' ( Al-Ahram Weekly 21-27 December) I feel I must protest the inhumanneness of this decision. This action of the Supreme Administrative Court of Egypt, against those cited in the article, ie Buddhists, agnostics, Baha'is or atheists alike, is archaic and very disappointing, to say the least. My wife and I have been researching vacation opportunities in Egypt, for next year, specifically to visit the Valley of the Kings. However, we are now seriously rethinking our plans. Our desire to visit a country that discriminates against minorities has little appeal to us, especially when that county violates its own laws, and those of the UN charter of human rights, of which I believe Egypt is a signatory, on a purely bigoted basis. Egyptians are wonderful people; it's unfortunate that they are being ruled by those who seem to want to return them to the dark ages.
Robert Russell
British Columbia
Canada
Not as many
Sir-- Malaysia is not an overpopulated country as mentioned in 'No jobs no ideas' ( Al-Ahram Weekly 21-27 December). The population of Malaysia is about 20 million. Indonesia is 207 million, Philippines (89 million), Thailand (43 million), India (one billion), Egypt (78 million).
Linda El-Gezawi
Vienna
Austria
As far as Panama
Sir-- Just wanted to let you know that you have readers as far as Panama. It's hard to find an objective opinion in the Western media today, so your weekly publication has been a sort of dwelling place for me, when looking for another view of the current situation of the world, other than that of the tycoon- controlled Western media. Thanks for providing that chance to people from our hemisphere.
Frank Rodriguez
Panama City
Panama
Al-Ahram Weekly reserves the right to edit letters submitted to Readers' Corner for brevity and clarity. Readers are advised to limit their letters to a maximum of 300 words.
Al-Ahram Weekly Online : Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2007/828/letters.htm