letters@dailystar.com.lb
Mayssam Zaaroura
Thirty-one years on, is Lebanon's unity just hype?
(April 15)
Organized religion is the mother of all evil. It stifles intellects, hardens hearts and oppresses almost everyone. It should be fought, not only in Lebanon, but all over the world. We will never have an enlightened and open society as long as religions and clergy are elevated to a special status above all debates and allowed to "morally" dominate. No one dares to publicly make such socially and politically incorrect statements, though. Instead, we hide behind the importance of respecting all religions when in reality all of them should be exposed for the oppressive shams that they are. Personal faith is one thing. The real problem is in the de facto imposition of religious belief on everyday life in the personal and political realms. Enough already!
Jean Akouri
Tripoli, Lebanon
De-confessionaize - one person, one vote - as Walid Jumblatt has said over and over.
There has not been a true count of the population since 1936. You only have a little time left before you become the next Iraq.
Douglas Martin
Austin, Texas, U.S.A.
I totally agree with your analysis. Loyalty to foreign powers and lack of self-determination based on religious divisions render Lebanon a non-nation. Instead, it is an arena for foreign powers. Truly, pity the nation.
Samir R. Debs
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.
Zaaroura has managed to capture the essence of the country, its contradictions and its faults in a quick-paced and witty article. Sectarianism, dependence on foreign powers, traditional tribalism paraded as modern politics, and undemocratic tendencies among the young do not paint a hopeful picture for a country saddled with debt, economic stagnation and an illberal political system.
Ghassan Karam
White Plains, New York, U.S.A
David Ignatius
Get rid of Donald Rumsfeld, the war is being lost at home
(April 15)
I don't agree with the Lieberman comment - have you ever been to the Middle East? You don't put a Jew in charge of a war with Arabs. Plain and simple. That would outrage the Middle East. That would be a disaster.
Pat Walker
San Francisco, California, U.S.A.
Editorial
The quagmire in Iraq requires a U.S. defense secretary with fresh vision
(April 15)
For Rumsfeld to step down is to announce to the world the bankruptcy and failure of the Bush administration. It will never happen.
Cleve Shearer
Bonners Ferry, Idaho, U.S.A.
Editorial
If the Arab League can't show courage now, it never will
(April 13)
I do so agree! I hope the Arab League will help Palestine. Some think the League just mouths off for Palestine for political points. It must show that it really does care.
Morgalynn Lamberth
Augusta, Georgia, U.S.A.
David Ignatius
Bush should carefully consider his options in Iran
April 13
All the information you can publish about Bush's options is badly needed. I fear he is ready to start another quagmire. What can we do to stop him? He sounds like another Hitler.
Anne F Jones
Shawnee Mission, Kansas, U.S.A.
Michael Young
Shiites need clarity, but no loyalty oath
(April 13)
The Shiites don't need any advice from you or anyone else, nor do they need to prove anything to anyone. Lebanese Shiites have always worked for the good of their country, Lebanon. They sacrificed the most while always being given the least. And their leadership is very intelligent and capable. You're barking up the wrong tree.
M. Chehab
New York, New York, U.S.A
Mona Eltahawy
Unfortunately, strangers on a train
(April 10)
Mona Eltahawy writes: "I reminded them of the many condemnations issued after September 11, 2001, and of the critical Muslim voices that did not always make it into the media they followed." Were Muslims across the world to take to the streets to protest planes flying into buildings, there's no question that the event would make it into the media that her fellow passengers followed. Further, I'm sure it would do much to change negative perceptions of Islam in the West.
Steve Bertrand
Lexington, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Aria Mehrabi
U.S. myopia harms India-Pakistan amity
(March 17)
This article is well-thought and researched and gives in-depth information.
Abdul Majid
Islamabad, Pakistan
The Daily Star welcomes letters to the editor but contributions must contain the writer's name and full address. Letters should not exceed 400 words and are subject to editing. We will not acknowledge or return unsolicited submissions.
Printable Version 
Send to a friend 