I am writing in response to your editorial Safe driving is everybody's responsibility (October 17).
Sadly, bad driving seems to be infectious in the UAE. We have great roads, fast cars and too many bad drivers.
We are all familiar with the scene: cars, clumped together, are speeding down arrow-straight highways, bumper to bumper, oblivious to physics and probabilities.
Suddenly, flashing lights appear in your rear-view mirror from a vehicle doing at least 50km/h faster than you when you are already using the 20km/h grace margin.
The car is dancing across lanes to the tune of outraged car horns.
Then there are the straight-faced queue- and lane-jumpers who consider indicators a beginner’s tool and a “thank-you” signal demeaning to their prestige.
The solution is a nuanced and persistent education campaign – not photographs of the worst outcomes, since we all know it could never happen to us – using all available media, backed up by a “chase and stop” programme.
Prodeep Mookerjee, Dubai
Act of kindness was appreciated
I went to Al Warqa Post Office recently to send a registered letter to the United States. The fee was Dh11.50.
I only had Dh10 in change; the rest of my money was in larger denominations.
The Emirati lady at the counter accepted the letter and made up the shortfall from her own purse.
I was greatly impressed and dumbfounded. Nevertheless, I ran to my car and brought back Dh1.50 in change.
Her gesture is truly appreciated.
Kanwar Hayat, Dubai
India must act on dengue outbreak
I refer to your story Doctors say Delhi's hidden epidemic is getting worse(October 21).
India has had many previous epidemics of this mosquito-borne disease, yet the government has not taken concrete steps to eradicate this menace.
It is known that mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, often linked to the lack of proper sanitation facilities.
Once again, India is lagging behind the rest of the world in the area of public health.
K Ragavan, India
Shoppers are too close for comfort
I refer to Spanking accused blames narrow aisles at shop (October 13).
I am sorry to say that I have observed this behaviour on several occasions.
Some people deliberately try to get close to cause “unintentional” touching while shopping.
Moiz SA, Sharjah
Divorce laws vary from state to state
I am writing about the financial advice given to a US expatriate by Keren Bobker in Does my ex-wife have the right to my pension money? (October 18).
While generally speaking, as Ms Bobker says, assets accrued during marriage are considered a marital asset and will be divided equally between the parties, there are exceptions to this rule.
Each state in the US has its own set of civil rules which will govern how particular assets accrued during marriage are divided.
The expatriate should find an attorney who specialises in divorce in his state of domicile.
Cora Yanacek, Abu Dhabi
Malaysia is right to protect language
I refer to the editorial Word 'Allah' is not exclusive to Islam (October ).
Your comparison between Arab non-Muslims who use “Allah” in everyday speech and what is happening in Malaysia, where Arabic is only used by Muslims for liturgical purposes, is incorrect.
The Malay language already has it’s own word for God, “Tuhan”. Why don’t Malaysian Christians use this word?
Furthermore, Arabic is not a liturgical language for Malaysian Christians, who could have used the Aramaic, Hebrew , Greek or Latin word for “God”.
The correct decision by the Malaysian court in safeguarding Muslim sentiments has to be applauded. When a word is incorrectly used, history does not become evidence for its continual usage.
For hundreds of years Europeans – especially the British – referred to Muslims as “Mohammedans”. Does this make the term acceptable?
The use of the word “Allah” is not fundamental to the Christian religion, but it is to Islam and all Muslims.
Name withheld by request
