Your editorial (Eid Mubarak, July 17) asks what lessons and attitudes from Ramadan we intend to carry with us for the next 11 months.
For me, being tolerant and considerate towards others is the attitude I wish to continue with, even after Ramadan.
I feel most problems and unpleasant situations arise due to people’s lack of empathy. When we see someone stuck in limbo, we tend to turn a blind eye to it, which is wrong. Instead, we must do our best to help others and lessen their sorrow.
The courteous behaviour of stopping to give way to pedestrians is something we should do throughout the year, along with other small acts of kindness that may help bring a smile on someone’s face.
Also, I am working on managing my anger. By adopting a peaceful and pleasant attitude, life becomes easier.
Fatima Suhail, Sharjah
Bodybuilding is not just muscles
With regard to your story, Portrait of a Nation: American's new life in UAE, the 'Middle East's land of dreams' (July 17), I wonder why you did a story on Jordan Branford, another ridiculous body type for people to conform to just to be vain and materialistic.
I don’t see this to be “inspiring” or something to be proud of. He came to Dubai, set up some fitness training and probably charges an extortionate amount of money to feed people’s vanity. Give us more stories of people who are making a difference in the world.
Farah Lutfi, UK
Jordan Branford replies: Farah Lutfi’s comments about me have been brought to my attention. I just want to ask her: Do you know me?
Does she think I am just this shell of a body? Does she know my background is more than 18 years in theoretical physics?
Did she know that I have an IQ of 142? Did she know that I spent years working with adults with autism to integrate them into the community?
Did she know I give over 25 per cent of my monthly income to labourers in Dubai? Did she know that we have had more than 4,000 people in the Middle East join our body challenge and become healthier?
Did she know that I have unconditional love for her, right now, at this very moment?
Of course not. She didn’t know any of these things, because I am trying to make a difference instead of just talking about it.
Maybe she should start accepting the fact that a fit-looking person may just be that way because he is smart enough to understand why it is important.
Jordan Branford, Dubai
This story is inspiring, and especially for someone who, like me, went through some turbulent times.
Jordan’s story gives me hope, even when sometimes it is tempting to make bad decisions, not to give up on making your dreams happen for you and your family.
Damir Beogradlija, Dubai
Solar power will repay the effort
In relation to your editorial, Solar Impulse 2's small pause in an epic journey (July 17), it reminds me that when the first phone was invented, it did not work so smoothly, when the first computer was invented, some believed it was just a passing fad and when the first lamp was invented, people probably thought that a candle was more reliable.
Everything needs a start and then it’s refined and gains wider acceptance. This is why I believe that despite these hiccups, solar power will one day soon replace fossil fuels.
Brigitte von Bulow, Abu Dhabi
Zero tolerance on selfish parking
With regard to your story about the Australian woman deported for posting insulting words about a driver who parked in two disabled parking spaces (FNC can help find balance on social media and privacy, July 16), what I find disgusting is that this driver took up these handicap spaces, denying them to someone who genuinely needed them.
I have zero tolerance for those who don’t help those in need. Immaturity, lack of compassion and lack of education come to mind.
Cynthia Maroulas, US
Maybe the driver who took up these disabled parking spaces ought to spend a month with her legs in casts so she can experience for herself how it feels to be disabled. If you’re not handicapped, don’t park there.
Sussanne Cherrie, US
Wouldn’t a more accurate headline for the original story have been: Australian woman broke UAE law and was deported?
Donna Lee-Elliott, Dubai