The Interview: a failure of humour or humanity?

Readers give their views on The Interview. Other topics: Arabic and Islam, rewarding taxis, cycling campaign, gender roles and Turkish politics.

Readers discuss the decision to cancel the US release of The Interview. AP photo / Colombia Pictures

Your editorial, Cyber-terrorism and overreaction (December 21) poses the question of whether Sony did the right thing in cancelling the release of The Interview.

What I think is disgraceful is making a movie depicting the assassination of a living person, as opposed to a fictional character or historical documentary.

Lexie MacKay, Thailand

There have been many satires and comedies made about western countries, or at least funny remarks made about countries in movies, and these have generally always been taken with a smile.

But this doesn’t seem to be the case for North Korea and its leader.

Brigitte von Bulow, Abu Dhabi

Rewarding the best taxi drivers

I was pleased to read your news article, Dubai taxi drivers rewarded for 'classy services' (December 18).

What a great initiative to use a carrot instead of a stick.

Adam McEwan, Dubai

It is good to see appreciation from the company involved. This will encourage more drivers to give safer service to members of the public.

Ayyathan Radhakrishnan, India

Cyclists need to have safe routes

Your campaign to encourage people to cycle to work in the UAE (Follow the leader in our bicycle revolution, December 13) is an amazing initiative, but what we need to know the most are the safe routes that cyclists can use.

For example, I have no idea how I would go from Dubai Marina to downtown on a bicycle.

Claudia Curici, Dubai

I’ve been cycling in the UAE for almost a year.

The only thing that is going to stop me is someone stealing my bike.

Leonard Raf Peñano Paracha, Abu Dhabi

This cycle-to-work campaign is a great idea. My only concern is this: shouldn’t the city be made safer for cyclists before initiatives like this one are taken?

Ivana Maglione, Dubai

‘Arrogance’ of dictating to society

With regard to your essay, In a world in flux, what's the point of men? (December 20), it seems arrogant for any single person or entity to claim society "must be" a certain way.

This is because it assumes that (a) they understand the entire world’s perspective (or the whole world should share their own perspective), and (b) their values are the same as everyone else’s in the world.

This is where many of the arguments of people who are against feminism fall down, in my view.

At its roots, feminism is looking to dismantle the existing assumptions that have been built over millennia and which limit women’s options and experience in life.

Feminism focuses on women, just as racial equality movements focus on race – there are so many ways in which the world experiences privilege.

Nor is this just about women. It’s important to continue to challenge the status quo. Men are equal partners in this, and are our partners in building a better world.

I believe the title of this article could have been worded better because it would do everyone a lot of good to stop thinking of feminism as “man hating.”

Elizabeth Robertson-Nicol, Abu Dhabi

Learning Arabic to study Islam

With regard to your article, Friday sermon: Arabic is the language of the Quran (December 19), I have absolutely no doubt this assertion is true.

Arabic is the only language that is vast in its vocabulary and in which each word has several dimensions.

I have also recently started doing courses to improve my Arabic so that I will be able to read and understand the holy Quran with perfection.

Faizan Fateh, Abu Dhabi

Turkey is sliding into intolerance

Having read your editorial, Has Erdogan lost his golden touch? (November 25), it is very sad to see Turkey sliding back under Recep Tayyip Erdogan's rule.

It is as if a huge blight is slowly covering the world, extinguishing the lights of science, equality and tolerance.

Name withheld by request