Responding to Lindh & Sallam [Archives:2004/723/Letters to the Editor]

Michel Dignand
[email protected]
I was in turn shocked then pleased by the two letters in your last issue (719, March 10).
Robert Lindh, in his blunt comments about religion, would have offended many of your readers. While much of what he says is historically true, the way in which he presents his argument is not going to sway many of his readers.
For the majority of religious people of all beliefs around the world, their religion is far more than a matter of logic: it is a way of life. Insulting their religion in the way Robert did is hardly likely to make people think, but more likely to create even more hostility and division.
That, in a way, is why I was so pleased by the letter from A. Sallam Qasem, who wrote with hope that the youth of Yemen might, though cooperation, experience and education lead the way towards a better life.
Sallam is quite right: we all need to open our eyes to the possibilities of change, to 'foster our efforts to alter our environment'.
I note that Sallam suggests that an NGO with no political or religious agenda should be enlisted to help with the cause. I believe that Sallam is on the right track here. So often the politics of state and the politics of religion distract us from real advancement.
Meanwhile, my thoughts and best wishes are, as always, with the people of Yemen.
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