Need for more politeness
Dear Sir,
As a new expatriate in Qatar I had to undergo medical check-up as part of the resident visa procedure recently. I had the check-up at the Industrial Area clinic which is run by the Qatar Red Crescent Society.
As a newcomer to Qatar, I have great hopes mixed with a tinge of tension. Qatar is known as one of the most hospitable places in the world. Qatari nationals are courteous and honest, true to their traditions and culture. Humanitarian values are held in high esteem in the local society. All these give me great hope and confidence.
But unfortunately my experience at the Industrial Area clinic was not an encouraging one as I witnessed the way the clinic staff, most of them expatriates themselves, dealt with people visiting there. Visitors to the clinic were made to line up close to the X-ray section somewhat rudely. This, I feel, could have been done in a polite way. Most of the workers in the queue were ignorant of procedures like these. But that doesn’t mean they could not be dealt with in a better way.
The staff, I felt, should undergo appropriate awareness sessions and frequent in-service training to improve the way they interact with workers visiting the clinic for their health checks which are mandatory for all newcomers to Qatar. It is especially so since the clinic is associated with a renowned charity doing exemplary work in many parts of the world.
I hope the authorities concerned will look into the matter and take necessary steps to make the place more welcoming.
Thufail M K, (e-mail address supplied)
Root out radicalism
Dear Sir,
Many people and states condemn the Islamic State (IS or ISIS) group for its barbaric activities yet no one seems to speak out about the way it functions and recruits new members. Not much has been published as to why so many youth, especially from developed countries like the UK and Australia, have become a recruitment target for forces like IS. Even at the level of the UN, the only focus that is being considered is to how to tackle IS militarily to destroy the group.
Common sense dictates that just trimming does not solve the problem of a diseased tree; it needs to be eradicated from its roots.
Radicalisation of people has mainly two aspects: religious and economical.
Let’s look at the religious aspect first. It is abundantly clear to Muslims and non-Muslims alike that forces like IS have no roots in Islam and are mis-representing it on all fronts. Anyone who reads the Holy Qur’an with focus and understanding can never be radicalised.
Second and perhaps the most fundamental reason why many educated young people are joining forces like IS, is the rise of unemployment in Western nations. Young people who have high education, sometimes even with doctorates, cannot find jobs. This has caused frustration among youth who become an easy recruitment target for militant forces like IS.
One has to address fundamental causes like these which will eventually uproot this diseased tree.
Muslims must grasp the true teachings of Islam. The Muslims states in specific and the world in general need to learn to act with justice. Muslim states should denounce sectarian violence which is being fuelled indirectly by some states in order to generate revenue through promoting warfare and keeping the Islamic world from unifying.
The solution to joblessness lies in economic revival by scrapping policies based on interest rates. The economic crisis of 2008 should be an eye-opener to all states of the world that the current economic system based on interest and usury is not sustainable.
The world needs to realise this. Otherwise this disease will spread to all parts of the world and no weapons will be able to contain it. Muslim states need to unify and become stronger in brotherhood so that once again we can see those days when Lebanon was progressing, Beirut was being called Paris of the Middle East and Baghdad was matching Europe in its splendour.
AA, (Full name and address supplied)
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