Your article about divorce cases in the UAE, especially among Emiratis, offered much food for thought (Changing society pays price in divorce, April 24).
There are many attributing factors to the phenomenon of high divorce rates, which include issues such as ego problems, professional differences and above all, a lack of understanding between young, newly married couples.
This can be eradicated to a certain extent with good dialogue and patience.
That this is not happening, however, is not a healthy sign.
K Ragavan, India
Give young local men more credit
The article A dilemma for brides-to-be: where are the Emirati men? (April 23) by Reema Al Ahbabi, was bold, refreshing and point-blank about the reality of this particular aspect of modern Emirati culture.
But the issue is something which just needs evolution, not something which can be fixed overnight. People have their own mindsets and it will take several generations before men and women are qualified, smart and successful at the same level. Currently, women are ahead and men are slightly behind.
Good luck to all women, Emiratis and non-Emiratis.
Moiz SA , Abu Dhabi
With all due respect to the columnist who wrote this piece, it is insulting to all hard-working, young and successful Emirati men to suggest that success only arrives when men reach their 40s.
I would encourage your writer to reconsider her views, because it is clear she does not understand how many young female - as well as male - Emiratis are already making it in society.
Name withheld by request
A young reader turns to B1 first
I would like to commend the Business editor for doing the right thing with the section.
My youngest son is only 12 years old, yet he reads the Business section almost daily.
Young people usually associate Business pages with boring and irrelevant content. But your newspaper is smart to provide articles that young people can relate to.
My son is interested in IT and things to do with airplanes. I believe he is interested in reading business articles and columns because the writing is reader-friendly, thus it is easy for him to grasp the knowledge.
As a homemaker, I enjoy the Business section too, and often find many human-interest stories and practical articles on personal finance. My husband reads everything in The National.
Deanna Lee, Abu Dhabi
A unified France benefits Europe
I refer to If Sarkozy loses, is Turkey the winner? (April 24). It is hard to guess the result of the presidential elections as Nicolas Sarkozy received 27 per cent of the vote while Francois Hollande received 28 per cent and Marine Le Pen received a surprising 18 per cent in Sunday's first round.
If Mr Sarkozy's competitors are able to unite a country divided by his failed policies, then it would be good not only for Turkey but also for France and its neighbours.
I have doubts whether or not this will happen but the French people at least have the chance to decide.
France's Turkish citizens probably voted for left-wing candidates on April 22 as relations have been strained over the French attempt to criminalise the denial of the "Armenian genocide", although the Turkish community have traditionally voted for conservative or right-leaning French parties.
The bill passed under Mr Sarkozy's rule violated the principle of freedom of expression for sure and if he loses then it will be one of the reasons.
Ali Sedat Budak, Abu Dhabi
Iran provoked into taking first strike
The game is clear: Israel is doing everything it can to provoke Iran into retaliating so that Israel has an excuse to go to war (Iran's oil ministry and main export terminal disconnect internet after hacker attack, April 24).
Russia and China have told the West that a first strike on Iran is off limits. Iran is waiting to get totally ready militarily to start its offensive strategy.
Dangerous, perhaps, but it's hard not to marvel at the way Iran is playing this chess game.
Bob Malo, US
An easier way to conserve water
If the GCC is truly serious about water conservation (GCC countries 'must look to sun for sustainable water', April 24), I think the first thing authorities should do to conserve this precious resource is to stop watering the imported grasses and ornamental shrubbery between the lanes of traffic in Abu Dhabi.
Alan Branson, Abu Dhabi
