Letters to the Editor [Archives:2002/31/Letters to the Editor]
Criticism is not the answer
I realize that you are doing a good job and working hard as Yemen Times in trying to nationalize Yemeni issues throughout the world and promoting human rights. But although the cause is great the way is wrong. The only human rights you should be fighting for are the human rights recognized by Allah in his religion Islam and not the human rights that are put by people coming from the West. Im also sure you know that the Yemen Times is read by westerners who want to get an idea about Yemen and Yemeni culture. Correcting wrong practices is not through criticizing your own government in front of the whole world by using imported descriptions of how civilization should be. We might be considered by the UN as the trashcan of civilizations, but pointing that out in the way you did two weeks ago will not change the reality and will not make the world care about us. Sincere work will, while harsh descriptions will not help our countries develop. Sincere advice will definitely do us good.
Frankly, what I would like to say is: dont hang your dirty laundry for the whole world to see. I live in the USA and I can tell that Americans are not impressed with your cause for human right using the putdown effect, they rather look down to us even more and they get even more assured that looking down to the third world countries is more justifiable because their own citizens approve this. Please try to take it easy on your harsh criticism because criticism alone never changes reality.
Lamia Sobhi
USA
[email protected]
We want to come back, but
I and a lot of other Yemenis living abroad are still waiting from the time when our country will start enforcing law and have order established for us to go back and live like anyone who loves to live in his own country with dignity and pride.
We want to deliver this message through you to tell the Yemeni politicians in the country that we have the qualifications and funds but we lack the feeling of security to go back to our original country. Just look at the neighboring countries and see the peace they are enjoying. We are not a poor or illiterate country by nature, but we can not stand idle while our country is going down the drain.
Yasin Al-Sananee
[email protected]
Please address the water issue
I would like to thank all the staff at Yemen Times for the hard work in enabling us to know what is happening in Yemen in a credible manner.
However, I would like Yemen Times to produce some articles n the future about our most valuable resource: water.
This limited and valuable resource is being used in vast amounts to produce qat, this evil plant that is paralyzing our developmental process. Most producers of qat do not feel responsible in addressing this problem. As a matter of fact, the more they earn from this plant the more they expand its growth. The end result will inevitably be catastrophic for everyone. No amount of money will compensate for the hardships that some communities in Yemen will face as a result of water shortage. I hope you could work on promoting awareness about the forthcoming dangers as a result of the abuse of this important resource.
Abuamin Al-Muraisi
UK
[email protected]
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