Message for peace
I am a grade seven student with, I believe, a solution for world peace. For starters, we have to learn to be positive towards each other.
We have to do away with any form of aggression and spread the message of love and peace. Start from home and straighten out conflicts with family, friends, neighbours and countrymen.
Live and let live. As fellow human beings we should have respect for each other without any regional or cultural prejudices.
From Mr Moeid Javed
UAE
Can't have it all
I believe that teaching is possibly the most important profession ("UAE school teachers see red over stagnant salaries", Gulf News, May 18).
However, at the end of the day it is a profession that comes with up to four months of holidays in a year.
If your working output is 30 per cent less than that of other professions, it stands to reason that you should earn considerably less than others currently in the work force.
If a teacher wants to earn more money, they should make better use of their time off and take on additional child-related work such as tutoring, camp co-coordinating or childcare.
You can't have the best of both worlds unfortunately.
From Mr Mark Coady
Dubai
Laws to educate
It is absolutely ludicrous to blame the authorities for all our traffic woes. The fact of the matter is that no organisation can legislate and control a person's attitude on the road.
Tragedies occur, if courtesy or concern for the lives of fellow human beings is absent.
We should also remember that certain safety laws that are in place for children travelling in cars are meant to educate us.
Parents who have no sense and ignore such laws should be fined and jailed.
From Mr Rick Advano
Dubai
Not all bad
Not all driving institutes are bad. I have been driving in the UAE for 20 years and have never been involved in a serious accident.
Yes, I have had many near escapes but the rigorous and lengthy process involved in getting my licence has stood me well.
From Ms Mary Doyle
Sharjah
Damaged reputations
A short while ago, I read a report in Gulf News about a gang of Ethiopian thieves who trip victims and steal money.
As Ethiopians, my friends and I have heard such stories before and it always surprises and angers me.
It's disappointing to know that our clean and peaceful reputation is damaged because of few such Ethiopians.
I am now very cautious when walking alone on streets or whenever I go to an Ethiopian restaurant.
I wish the authorities would take serious measures to deter others form repeating such crimes.
From A Reader
Dubai
Name withheld by request
Surrogate parents
As a US citizen and a former public school teacher, the news of a father being jailed for his daughter's failure in an exam, comes as no surprise ("Jailed dad's freedom tied to test in Ohio," Gulf News, May 18).
If you walk into any public school in America, you'll find that many, if not most teachers are frustrated by parents' lack of involvement in their children's day-to-day studies and what goes on in a classroom.
Needless to say, this problem exists at a greater capacity when parents of a child are separated or divorced.
While there is no clear definition that schools should serve as an extension of the home, America possesses social problems that beckon schools to act as a surrogate in the absence or event that parents are unable to perform the duties themselves.
From Mr David Ribott Bracero
USA
A challenge
I would assign police patrols on every street and give instructions to issue a traffic fine for the simplest driving violation.
All traffic violations should be recorded against the person's driving licence and not the vehicle.
Insurance premium should be calculated according to the person's driving record based on whichever insurance company he or she chooses.
From Mr Sahir Safi
Sharjah
Reduce fares
Why cannot the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) be efficient and reduce bus fares? This would make commuting more affordable for people.
If given a choice, I would like the fares to be between Dh1 and Dh5, as opposed to the present fares of Dh5 - Dh25, charged for travelling to the Northern Emirates.
I urge the authorities to do the needful.
From Mr Nanjundanathan Manoharan
Dubai
Underground solution
I really appreciate the ongoing Metro project. However, no initiative has been taken to solve the traffic problem on the Dubai-Sharjah highway.
Although there is a bus service between Dubai and Sharjah, it does not have many stops and the number of buses is not many either.
Another alternative, which can be taken into consideration is building underground trains. This will be a very effective solution.
I hope the authorities will consider this idea
.From Ms Evan
Sharjah
Full name withheld by request
Dangerous trash
It's highly infuriating to watch some drivers throw burning cigarette butts on the road.
It's a heinous act that endangers the lives of fellow motorists. Such people should try and understand the importance of road ethics while driving.
The onus lies with the driving institutes to ensure learners know of this.
From Mr N. S. Masoud
Dubai
