Need to take care
I feel that the incident of the teenager dying after completing the ice bucket challenge is extremely tragic (‘Teenager dies after ice bucket challenge,’ Gulf News, August 27). However, the concept behind the ice bucket challenge is to raise money and awareness for a very good charity.
I think that the ice bucket challenge has succeeded in raising awareness and a lot of money and it’s great that people from all around the world are participating. At the same time, I would say that as with everything, people need to take care.
From Ms Leanne Smart
UAE
Our own decisions
It is sad that some people are doing crazy scenarios for such a great cause. The ice bucket challenge’s main purpose is to gather donations for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease. For people to come up and bend the rules to get more noticed or to change its purpose is ridiculous, but as the saying goes, you are the captain of your soul, we are free to do what we want.
It is something personal to do something like this, and I feel that connecting it to a good cause is just not right. We have to think twice or thrice to do such a thing.
Mr Albert Gayo
Dubai
Needs to be monitored
I think that people devote more time to such things so that people take notice of them. This is some kind of attention-seeking tactic that has a certain degree of fun factor for the youth. If someone has to perform a charitible act, you don’t need to advertise it.
This can be done in many other ways. Even if the original intentions are very noble and good, sometimes it takes a dangerous turn in youth - especially those with weak minds. I personally think that these kinds of acts should be monitored and addressed.
From Ms Laxmi Menon
Sharjah
Dangerous and extreme
Sure, pour a bucket of water over yourself, or challenge others, or lie in a bathtub of ice! But only do these things if you connect these fundraisers with meaningful behaviour to make a change, otherwise your campaign, even if it is fantastically successful, could be doing more harm than good.
When the ice bucket videos end, the challenge for the ALS Association will just be beginning. The ice bucket challenge videos raising money for the ALS Association charity have surprisingly saturated Facebook newsfeeds in the past month. It’s easy to participate in the very viral video campaign: film yourself pouring a bucket of ice water over your head, then challenge a friend to do the same within 24 hours.
At first, the dousing would substitute for sending a check to the ALSA, but many participants now do both. Since July 29, the ice bucket challenge has raised over $40 million for ALSA.
To me this is a positive side but when some people take this to extreme and dangerous levels then it becomes scary and the responsibility lies with them solely. They certainly do not set any good example for others.
From Ms Simran Vedvyas
UAE
Practice what we preach
Right now I feel that the challenge that involves a bucket of ice water and some donations is more worth it for the social networking sites and metropolitan citizens. Yes, it’s true that the challenge is creating awareness but what is the point of wasting water and making donations to an organisation that is right now testing on animals for the disease?
As students we are being taught and preached to in schools to save water and we are bound to preserve natural resources for our future generations. However, now the situation calls for wasting a bucket full of water and the energy that was used to convert the water to ice.
Even though this challenge is famous everywhere, not everyone donates money for the disease.
We need to ask ourselves - should we practise what we preach or just accept the challenge and simply waste gallons of water?
From Chris Mariam Jacob
Dubai
Demand is good
The spike in demand for live-in housemaids is good news (‘Cleaning companies see spike in demand as hiring of live-in housemaids gets tougher,’ Gulf News, August 26). I think it is important as some of the full-time maids do not receive enough rest. All humans need to rest once in a while.
From Mr Aristhotle Dungo
UAE
Facebook comment
Caught in the crossfire
I don’t understand what Hamas has achieved after more than 2000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed (‘Palestinians say permanent Gaza ceasefire reached,’ Gulf News, August 27). The conflict has inflicted an economic loss of over $3 billion, and it has displaced over half a million Palestinians. I feel so much for the poor people in Gaza.
From Mr Syed Asad
Vancouver, Canada
Children are a priority
If I was the father of these angels, I would do all in my power to protect anyone who even touched the hair on their heads (‘Saudi girl, 8, ‘tortured to death’ by stepmother,’ Gulf News, August 31). Especially in this situation – she is the second wife, they are flesh and blood.
The issue here is choosing to marry a man with children from the first wife means that you need to love his children as much as you love your husband. As an adult, there are responsibilities of looking after the little ones at home since they are your husband’s children.
From Mr Luis Serrano
UAE
Facebook comment
Not her responsibility
Why wouldn’t they just let the children stay with the first wife or even a mother or sister? You are supposed to take care of your own children at all times, they are your flesh and blood. I don’t think it is the responsibility of the second wife to be the children’s nanny. It would be unfair for her to take care of these stepchildren.
From Ms Bilqis Buchanan
UAE
Facebook comment
Made to suffer
It is extremely painful to hear of how young children are made to bear the brunt of the mistakes of their parents. The biological mother of these children should have fought for their custody instead of leaving them at the mercy of their stepmother.
It is difficult to believe that a woman could be so cruel and heartless towards innocent children who were made to suffer and endure such brutality without any fault of theirs. Hope she gets a tough punishment for her crime. This incident is yet another reminder to couples who resort to divorce and in the process ruin the lives of their children.
From Ms Fatima Suhail
UAE
Facebook comment
Reap what you sow
Mothers should treat their children well and with a compassionate heart. I also believe all women have a maternal instinct. So to this stepmother - you must reap what you sow and you belong in jail.
From Ms Christine Blanco
UAE
Facebook comment
Apathetic
I’m glad this issue was raised because I live in Sharjah and I see these arrogant drivers daily (‘When arrogant motorists block the roads,’ Gulf News, August 27). I’ve taken many photos with the intention of reporting these lazy drivers but what’s the point?
From Mr Osama Rashid
Dubai
Facebook comment
Use the brake!
I get so frustrated when I keep hearing about accidents due to cruise control (‘Cruise control horrors in the UAE,’ Gulf News, August 27). If people don’t know how to react to this simple problem, then they shouldn’t be driving. It makes them a danger to others.
Just because your cruise control doesn’t disengage, doesn’t mean that your brakes don’t work! For those who can’t work it out, you can still slow down by pressing the brake pedal. This will allow you to pull over to the emergency lane and turn off your ignition. Your vehicle will roll to a stop. It’s that simple! Alternatively, don’t use the cruise control!
From Mr Marc
Dubai
Website comment
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