Linda Dahdah's article "French scientist bikes the salt route along the Mediterranean coast" (April 3)
Thanks for your article. We must protect and save the salt marshes in Anfeh. For three years we have helped Hafez Jreij obtain real environmental protection of this area and create new developments for young salt producers. My organization carries out the same work in France.
Benoit Poitevin
Loix, France
The letter "LAU journalism students respond to the responders" (April 23)
Being an LAU graduate myself, I was very proud to see the reply by my fellow LAU senior journalism students supporting their classmate, Ghinwa Yateem. This is what LAU students are like; we are always there for each other.
It is true that the communication arts school at LAU has produced some of the biggest names in the Arab media today. Hopefully Ghinwa is on her way to becoming one of them. I am also following her work in Al-Hayat.
Frankly, I was one of the people who commented on her article, and I was really happy that she tackled such an important issue, but I had some arguments regarding her use of words.
First of all, it is unacceptable for a journalism student to be unaware of the difference between "Islamic" and "Muslim," when describing Arab countries.
Second, saying that Lebanon is liberal because it is not a "purely Islamic country" is an incorrect claim, which gives the impression that it is only the Christians who are leading a liberal way of life. Many Lebanese Muslims, both Sunni and Shiite, engage in acts that are labeled unacceptable in other countries in the region, such as drinking, having premarital sex and wearing "liberal" clothes - and they are fine about it.
I also think Ghinwa's writing has an us and them tone in the way she describes Lebanon and "Arabs." Lebanon is an Arab country and she can't generalize by including all Arabs in her argument.
I would have liked for her to say "some or most Saudis ... some Kuwaiti's ... some Egyptians ... etc.," instead. She also could have conducted some interviews on the street with tourists or visiting students to get more opinions.
Faisal Abbas
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Majdoline Hatoum's article "Hariri's comments on citizenship issue provoke criticism"
(April 23)
This is just another reason, in my opinion, to finally eliminate the position of prime minister and have an executive president.
Of course, this means eliminating sectarianism in all politics. I, as a Shiite Muslim, do aspire to be president of Lebanon someday.
Hilal Krecht
San Francisco, California, USA
Tania Tavoukjian's article "Family-owned businesses key source of growth" (April 23)
I can't say anything against statistics, but I do think that family-owned businesses should allow employees to own stocks in their businesses to encourage bourses and employee loyalty and to eliminate the fear of losing your job, getting fired or even accepting a favorable pension plan that is early retirement.
Also, one doesn't experience as much professionalism in small family-owned companies as you would in a large corporation with multiple owners and a board of directors.
Marwan Abdul-Malak
Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Habib Battah's article "Pumped-up prices at the pump" (April 23)
I firmly believe that gas prices are ultra-inflated so that they can be lowered before the US election in November. This will allow President George W. Bush to take credit for an improved economy and lower prices.
Bush is not to be trusted, and neither are Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld.
Thomas C. Martin
Anmoore, West Virginia, USA
Kaelen Wilson-Goldie's article "Students unite to remember the 20th century's first genocide" (April 24)
While laudable to remember the first genocide (the term was coined in 1943 - holocaust is proper) of the 20th century, to focus only on Armenians is incorrect.
Assyrians and Pontic Greeks suffered as much and more, especially the Assyrians who not only lost numbers, but also their hopes of creating those secular institutions that had begun to place the Assyrians in a position to gain political rights, especially in northwest Iran.
See works by novelists Kemal Yalcin, Seninle Guler Yuregim ("You gladden my heart").
Atom Egoyan, unfortunately, in Ararat, is as myopic about focusing only on Armenians (and a mention of Greeks) as most Armenians. This is unfair and untrue and a theme that perpetuates the wounds from which Assyrians continue to suffer.
Eden Naby
Cambridge, Maryland, USA
Sara Sadik's article "Birth order can seriously mess you up" (April 26)
I'm sorry life was so tough for you, being the youngest child. But be assured that being the oldest child was also quite a pain. Especially when you work so hard on knocking down your parents' barriers, only to watch your younger brother effortlessly enjoy the free ride.
If you have two kids crying at the same time, chances are that the elder one started it and gets punished. I think people should stop looking back nostalgically at childhood and keep in mind that it was definitely no breeze back in the day.
Clementine Kruczynski
Montauk, New York, USA
This was a nice article. Being an American-Lebanese and living most of my life in the US, with a few years in Saudi Arabia, I can relate to what Sara is saying, as I was the eldest.
It was an interesting article. I wouldn't mind seeing more pieces from Sara. I also wouldn't mind sitting down with this girl and picking her brain. She seems like an interesting person to talk to. Keep it up, Sara. I'll be looking out for your next article.
Tarik Solomon
Beirut, Lebanon
I am chuckling for several reasons. The first is that I know all of her assertions to be fact. The second is that there actually have been studies on birth order (of course), and not only how it affects our lives, but those of our children.
Traci Gary
Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Patrick Seale's commentary "Many things wicked this way come" (April 26)
This is one of the worst anti-Semitic and hate-filled articles that I've read in years. According to this writer, the only logical step is another Jewish Holocaust and the destruction of Israel. Only that will solve the world's problems.
It's not the corruption and dictatorship of Muslim regimes, not the Palestinian assassins who send a mother of four to blow herself up and kill more mothers; it's the small Jewish state in the heart of 22 Arab countries.
Does this make sense?
Jamil Harush
Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Bravo. This is the best article I have ever read regarding the Middle East and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in particular. You managed to tackle an enormous amount of topics in such a small space.
Enjoy your brand as anti-Semitic or prejudice because that is what they will try to do to you, if not already. You have done an excellent job. Thanks.
Patrick McCarthy
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Omar Karmi's article "Armenians, Jews mark genocide in Jerusalem" (April 26)
This was a great article, it tells the story of the Armenian genocide in an unbiased way and provides the reasons why it's forgotten today by most of the world.
John Arutyunian
Los Angeles, California, USA
Of all people, Jews should not take a subjective perspective on the Armenian genocide issue. Israel should not let the word "genocide" be used improperly for what happened in 1915. This would do nothing but degrade the word.
Being a direct witness to the horrible times that the Ottoman Empire went through, Jews should continue to support Turkey in this matter. Why do you think that out of all the different nations and cultures that lived in the Ottoman Empire for hundreds of years, Ottomans chose only Armenians to eliminate, and decided to do so after close to 600 years when it could have been done a long time before?
Please also remember that Ottoman emperors never believed the lies of some ill-minded Ottoman Greeks and Armenians about the Jews - lies that were designed to undermine their important role in the Ottoman society.
Pala Forasi
Sacramento, California, USA
Agence France Presse (AFP) "Iraqis to hold consultations on interim government" (April 27)
As an American, I find your viewpoint interesting and informative. I am impressed with your objectivity on these matters. It is hard to find sources that are not filled with hate, one way or the other.
Jon Christopherson
Tacoma, Washington, USA
Muafac Harb's article "Al-Hurra seeks to stir up a little dust in the Middle East" (April 27)
I take exception to the statement that US viewers get a balanced and accurate picture by watching various cable and satellite channels. First, one has to be able to afford cable and/or satellite. The majority cannot.
With basic cable access, the most affordable option, one gets the most censured and biased picture possible. The author of this article must surely be joking. I have watched television for many years in Lebanon, France, the UK and now here.
I get my information in the written press and online, not on TV, and certainly not on CNN-US flavor. Al-Hurrah is another lame attempt at public relations by the US administration. Arabs are no fools.
Nayla Rathle
Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
Matthew Ziegler's article "El Salvador: Central American Palestine of the West?" (April 27)
There are lessons to be learned from this story. And, it doesn't stop at El Salvador. Look to Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama and Nicaragua and you will find numerous Arabs and Persians, all highly successful.
Their success and integration did not surface under the brute force of dictators or communism, but the freedom of democracy. Iranian exiles, along with Jewish immigrants play key roles in banking, politics, education and commerce in Costa Rica, the second oldest democracy in the free world that eventually served as the model for the rest of Central America.
President Reagan, at the height of the Cold War, called this small country the "bastion of freedom" and just perhaps this is the dream Bush seeks for Iraq.
Now if we could only transplant this tolerance and human freedom to the Middle/Near East, the world could see what a wonderful people Arabs and Persians really are.
Dick Fowler
Houston, Texas, USA
Diana Elazar's article "Split identity: Lebanese shame and pride" (April 28)
Everyday in my prayers I thank God for three things. One of those is for allowing me to be born Lebanese. Being Lebanese is not about who the current politicians are, or whether our people have a bad name or not. It's about a unique way of living.
Julianna Rahme
Sydney, Australia
Jessy Chahine's article "A tragic end for a beloved pet is a cautionary tale for those who travel with their animals" (April 28)
How very tragic. It is very true that the bond between people and their pets is not unlike that shared with a child. To lose a loved one (human or animal) in the manner described must be doubly difficult to bear.
James C. Samans
Annandale, Virginia, USA
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