Handle credit cards with care

A reader says credit cards must be used responsibly. Other topics: road safety, Arabic language and pavements.

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, August 05, 2012. STOCK IMAGES of VISA and Mastercard credit cards shot at MAKE Business hub located in JBR. (ANTONIE ROBERTSON / The National)
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Horrified by poor attitude towards road-safety rules

I am writing in reference to New laws on seat belts and child seats 'would save lives' (May 22).

I remember my first experience of driving in the UAE a couple of years ago.

I was being tailgated, so I moved out of the way for a white Land Cruiser doing about 40kph above the speed limit.

The driver was texting while a baby was standing in the lap of a woman in the passenger seat with his head hanging out the window. A slightly older child (maybe 3 or 4) was lying across the dashboard.

I was horrified.

John Adams, Al Ain

This article raises a few good points. However, until the laws are enforced, fatalities will continue happening at an appalling rate.

A speed limit of 100kph should be just that, not have a leeway of 20kph.

Seat belts should be required for all, with safety restraints for children. Also, no child should be allowed to travel in the front seat.

If the authorities used hard-hitting TV advertisements and posters such as those used in the UK, motorists might think more about road safety.

S Moore, Dubai

Ways to preserve Arabic language

I am writing in reference to Arab youth move away from their native tongue because they feel superior when using English (May 14).

Today, English influences all other languages. But what is English? It is a mixture of words from older languages adapted and incorporated into the "English" language.

I have seen an enormous number of English words come into Danish and German, but that is the way languages survive.

Arab speakers should not fear the import of English words into Arabic. But they should hold on to their rich linguistic heritage. How?

They should speak Arabic at home, with family and friends. They should send their children to Arab language nurseries and schools.

They should not leave it to maids who speak no Arabic and often poor English to take care of their children.

Perhaps it could be an option for young, well-educated but unemployed Emiratis to spend a year as "house teacher" with another family.

Elena Braestrup, Abu Dhabi

Credit cards must be used carefully

Regarding Five credit card traps to beware of (May 25), I believe credit cards can be a disease.

It is simple logic: how can you ever pay for something you can't afford?

If you earn Dh5,000, and you buy something with your credit card worth Dh15,000, how are you going to pay back the balance?

I have two credit cards, and I only use them for zero-interest instalment plans and movie discounts.

Use cards wisely, and you will have the best benefits and savings.

Moiz SA, Sharjah

Reasons to be a proud Emirati

I was mentioned in the article Many Emiratis remain open to marriage with non-nationals (April 6), and I would like to add clarity to the published comments.

While I do agree that nationalism, in the form of a forced, exclusionary national identity, is not necessarily conducive to a harmonious society, I do believe that a national identity is important.

We are historically people of the desert and not of a particular nationality, and therefore trying to formulate an identity around being an Emirati, while simultaneously ostracising those individuals who may be mixed or of a certain ethnic background, is not going to be truly reflective of who we are as a people and nation.

We need an identity, just not one that is exclusionary.

I am a proud Emirati and I am unbelievably proud of what the UAE has accomplished. We are moving in the right direction in so many areas and, in some cases, outpacing the world with how we evolve.

Our culture is changing and we are embracing that change far more receptively than others have in the past.

From women's rights to economic development, we are building the right infrastructure and governance to be a world leader.

Tariq Bin Hendi, UK

Dubai pavements are also a problem

The problem described in Making the capital pedestrian friendly (May 26) isn't isolated to Abu Dhabi.

It is just as bad in Dubai.

I moved apartments specifically because there were no pavements where I was living and it was impossible to negotiate the area with a pram.

Elsa Baxter, Dubai