With regard to your editorial, Bullying needs a policy of zero tolerance (July 27), my view is that on the first occasion, the bully should be warned but if it continues, they must be suspended from the school.
If this is not done, bullying will continue. The research about the extent of bullying here has not only revealed the ugly face of bullying in schools but is also a wake-up call for society.
Many still seem to be in denial. Even if the magnitude of the physical violence is not high, the emotional scars left behind are often long-lasting. Schools should be a safe, secure environment in which the educational and emotional needs of the child are met.
Mathew Litty, Dubai
I believe all children need to be taught to stand up for themselves – without, of course, resorting to violence.
However I also think they must be taught self-defence. Martial arts are not simply violence. They teach a whole lot more than that.
I plan on teaching both my sons some sort of self defence.
Sajjad Rizvi, Saudi Arabia
Education is the key to retaining culture
Your story about Hamad Saeed Al Ketbi (Elderly Emirati wants younger generation to preserve UAE's traditions, July 26), makes an important point.
In my opinion, for identity and culture to be preserved it must become a compulsory component of the education system – not just for state schools but for international private schools too.
Many expatriate schoolchildren hope to graduate and build careers here, which is why it is necessary for them to be aware of Emirati cultural traditions.
Even though we are in a technological era, the future is based upon what has happened in the past.
Name withheld by request
I disagree about the importance of heritage. For a society to evolve and survive, it needs to adapt and change.
This requires giving up things in the past to take up things in the future. This is not possible if we keep things the same.
Gere George Kuruvilla, Dubai
UAE banks ‘throw money at you’
Your editorial (Whose fault is crippling debt? July 25) ponders where the blame should lie for people taking out loans they cannot pay back.
My experience in other countries is that one must approach the bank and prove that one can repay a loan. No bank will call and throw money at you like they do in the UAE.
Loans or credit cards should be within the means of the person taking them on. Of course, some will be OK with high levels of debt but I know people for whom loan repayments take up a large percentage of their salary because of loans that no responsible bank should have offered because the customer’s wages were insufficient.
As professionals, the banks rather than the borrowers should make the decision on what level of debt is reasonable. Surely this should be done on a case by case basis.
Samantha Attfield, Abu Dhabi
I think both the banks and the borrowers have to share the blame for people getting into unmanageable levels of debt.
It’s human nature to seek an easy way out by taking a loan to obtain something you really can’t afford, but banks in the UAE take advantage of this.
I have no liability with banks and I get at least three calls a day from agents trying to convince me to take a credit card.
I am fortunate to be in a comfortable position financially but many people here are not. If the banks won’t take responsibility, neither will the people to whom they offer credit.
The government should put in place laws and codes of conduct to protect people because high levels of debt could eventually impact on the country’s economy as a whole.
Madina Kortoeva, Dubai
Public transport is still lagging
In relation to your news story, UAE fuel prices to be deregulated from August (July 22), I wish they had done this back in 2005 and used the money saved to create a very effective public transport system.
The roads would be emptier, with fewer traffic accidents.
Name withheld by request
Turkey should heed this proverb
Your story, Turkey expands air campaign, striking both ISIL and PKK (July 25), reminds me of the proverb that a man who chases two rabbits ends up catching neither.
Tim Davison, UK
