12 May 2008

THE Myanmar leadership’s decision to confiscate aid supplies mounts to a criminal act that deserves the strongest condemnation. Even when the people face a catastrophe, a hundred thousand have perished and millions are in immediate need of food and water, the selfish generals can think of nothing better than their own perverted hold on power.

How can the international community accept this any longer? Western powers, particularly America, have taken their tanks and airships to other countries’ shores on the pretext of removing dictatorial regimes. What excuse do they have for tolerating Myanmar’s criminal junta for so long?

12 May 2008

REFERENCE to the piece, ‘America’s shame’ by Aijaz Zaka Syed (Kt, May 08): I’m writing as a US citizen who’s read your opinion piece. Allow me to quote your article and then comment.

“And a damning indictment of the US and all that it stands for.”

Surely, this is true (how easy it is to point out hypocrisy). Equally true is how lazy it is to point out hypocrisy — shall I waste your time with Arab hypocrisies? If I must be lectured by you, then so be it — I will listen, but I won’t be moved by cheap tactics such as this (as if you or I need Hajj’s indictment, damning as it may be, to change our respective opinions of the US). If I translate that sentence to “The US is an imperfect beast” would I be wrong? Would that translation convey anything meaningful at all?
“You would think those responsible for this would at least be repentant, if not offer a sincere apology to Hajj and his family. But as if responding to the outrage in the Muslim world over Hajj episode, a US spokesperson says Al Jazeera man was pretending to be ill when the aircraft carrying him landed in Khartoum. The official told ABC News Hajj was a “manipulator and a propagandist” and was “faking illness” on his homecoming.”

Is there a reason why you don’t name the US spokesperson? I’m a victim of the US media which didn’t cover Hajj’s repatriation (this is why I frequent several other assorted news sources so, actually, I’m no “victim”), so I’d like to know who this is that speaks for me. Who said such an outlandish thing in my name? Why not tell me in your piece? Or was it simply to inflame the fire already in my belly but not provide a coherent direction for my brain?

“And there are still hundreds of Sami Al-Hajjs out there languishing in the biggest gulag of our time...”
The biggest Gulag of our time is undoubtedly in North Korea. Wouldn’t you agree? I’d accept your sentiment if it was written as “the most outrageous gulag of our time” because that would at least be qualitative opinion rather than quantitative fact, as “biggest” dares suggest.

Though qualitatively, North Korea is arguably orders of magnitude more outrageous than what has victimised 500 or so detainees in Guantanamo (three generations of family imprisoned for each convicted “criminal” in their gulag). In actuality, there are probably qualitative competitors on that same island of Cuba where the rule of law is ignored for Castro’s innumerable political prisoners (as Sami Al Hajj must be classified by logical thinkers). This in no way excuses Guantanamo (for that cannot be excused). But how can I take you seriously when you’ve bitten off more than you can chew with a statement like this?

I am receptive to your point of view that Guantanamo represents the worst offense to human decency that my country can perpetrate upon the world. However, my intelligence is insulted by the inherent laziness and/or sheer disingenuousness of the three instances I’ve cited above. You’ve almost got me (and, likely, others as well). But you can do much better. Right?

— Bill, Pennsylvania, USA

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REFERENCE to the piece, ‘America’s shame’ by Aijaz Zaka Syed (Kt, May 08): You guys should thank the United States for not hanging Al Hajj for fighting alongside Al Qaeda. Who are you fooling? Terrorism must be stopped at all costs.

12 May 2008

REFERENCE to the letter to the editor, ‘On paid parking’ by Manu (May 9) in which the writer clarifies his previous position: He must recognise the fact that the public is already allowed free parking throughout the city on holidays and on certain hours during the working days. While it is a good idea to introduce long term parking cards, the same shall be limited to use in only respective areas where particular residents usually live and not throughout the city.

As far as parking near offices is concerned, logically speaking, the employers shall be made responsible for providing free parking or reimburse the parking charges to the employees. But what about those staff members who decide to buy cars on their own? May be, the employees have to ask for parking allowances from their employers like other allowances for car, petrol, etc, along with their salaries as parking has become as important an issue as medical insurance.
The companies, and for that matter, the staff themselves, have to hire their offices or residences, as the case may be, in those buildings where there are parking spaces provided inside the building premises which of course, comes with additional rents. Otherwise, the paid parking becomes handy to them on peak hours.

12 May 2008

I REMEMBER there was a food crisis in India in the year 1972, and at that time many countries used export controls. Globalisation continued thereafter. Under WTO rules, export taxes are freely permitted and even export controls can be imposed after using certain procedures justifying such controls.

The world food crisis would begin to ease once environmentalists and governments accept the need to have genetically modified (GM) seeds and along with India other countries will have to get away from bio-fuels and resort instead to nuclear power.

12 May 2008

REFERENCE to Barkha Dutt’s column, ‘36-Twentytwenty-36; (KT, May 09): Whoever said that the presence of cheer leaders at the Twenty20 cricket matches is a sign of liberation of Indian women? So, it was unnecessary for Barkha Dutt to don the mantle of a self appointed custodian of morality and lash out against the entertainers from America.

For all practical purposes, the enthusiastic crowd at the stadiums where IPL matches are held, have all but forgotten the cheer leaders and have been fully enjoying the sixers and boundaries.

After reading the writer’s hysterical outburst against Bollywood stars, I wonder what she really wants? Ban Bollywood films?

I would suggest her not to waste her time crusading against the so called immorality and concentrate on important matters like the necessity of women to play more important roles in the day to day affairs of the country.

Finally, the 36-20-36 figure is not some thing to be ashamed of. It is a hundred times better than having the starved look female models are yearning to have.