Readers' corner
Hamas responsible
Sir-- The blame should be directed -- if we are to be fair -- at the militant gang who killed and threw innocents from the roofs of buildings in Gaza ('Drifting apart' 21-27 June). No error in Egyptian policy if this has been condemned and Hamas was boycotted. What has been witnessed in the extremist-run Gaza Strip is a pathetic coup against the dream of establishing a viable Palestinian state.
Since Arabs wish for Israeli politics to be run by moderates, why do we panic when we see the whole world discouraging this latest bloody grip of power?
The danger of a contagious wave of Islamic extremism which mixes things up is real if we did not pay it the necessary attention as Mr Salama wrote.
Osama Ismail
Cairo
Egypt
Computer monster
Sir-- I read with great interest Hadeel Al-Shalchi's insightful article 'Internet shadows' (10-16 May).
Despite all the things that can be said in favour of the Internet, it is true that it has presented an unprecedented challenge and, unfortunately, the attitude of most parents in Egypt is one of indifference and apathy either because of ignorance or because of being oblivious to the danger.
As a parent I am very concerned about the risks our kids are taking when they use the Internet. I do believe that the Internet is doing more harm than good to our kids. The fact is that many people are unaware that our value system is being infiltrated by new-fangled ideas and beliefs that are likely to undermine our morals and ethics for generations to come.
I feel that the challenge is getting tougher day by day, and that the situation is almost out of control. Unless we do something to help our poor kids, this horrible monster called the Internet will eventually devastate our whole society.
Essam Wahba
Assiut
Egypt
Not liked
Sir-- As a tourist who just came back from Cairo, I wanted to comment, not on your articles but rather on the unpleasant time I had in your country.
I've learned at my own expense and that of my husband's that Sub-Saharan Africans are far from welcome in your country. Ethiopians in Addis know how unwelcome they are in Egypt (I am Ethiopian by the way). Did you know that in some cafés we wouldn't get served? Staying at a five-star hotel, we even had a security guard asking to check my bag, and no one else's. Plus, people laughing at us in the street. We have also found that some educated Egyptians don't even know that the Nile has two sources -- one in Ethiopia and one in Uganda.
Needless to say that despite our efforts to appreciate Egypt, we would never advise the destination to any Sub- Saharan African. We came back saddened and decided not to return to Egypt. It seemed obvious that Egypt wants only to attract more tourists from the North, not from the South, unless you are South African or African-American. Why do you call yourselves Africans when you think so little of us?
Believe it or not we are human beings, too, and deserve respect.
Tsigue Shiferaw
Addis Ababa
EthiopiaCaption:
Al-Ahram Weekly Online : Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2007/851/letters.htm