Promoting national unity

There are lots of people who cannot empathize with others. As a matter of fact, empathy should form the basis of the code of conduct for holding interfaith dialogue.

Followers of every religion believe that only their religion is the perfect one and others’ faith is flawed. Such sentiments are a major obstruction in the holding of a healthy debate.

People also pity those adhering to other religious thoughts and consider them groping in darkness. This attitude gives way to the feelings of helping others to the right path through missionary activities.

It is not objectionable if those activities are carried out in a peaceful manner. The problem arises when people adopt an aggressive approach while dealing with people of different faiths. They get so convinced about the falsehood of the other people’s beliefs that they resort to the use of force to address the issue.

These are days of dogmatism making people defend their creed with violence and showing no respect to others’ views. It leads to finding fault with the others’ appearance, genealogy and lifestyle.

Religion or creed is one the most powerful identities in our time. However, another form of identity that can serve as a replacement is nationalistic identity. It upholds the identity of belonging to his nation. But it intensifies the feeling of repression in minorities and makes them look for an identity outside the nation.

So all political establishments should strive to stress on their nationalistic identity to ensure national integration and total unity even if the people belong to diverse creeds or ideologies.

— By Ahmed Al-Hilali

Need for voluntary services

Voluntary work, undoubtedly, plays a crucial role in the development of a community. To promote the culture of volunteerism serious efforts are required to create awareness among the masses and to highlight the importance of voluntary activities that contribute to the development of a community.

The reason behind a lack of voluntary activities in our society is that we are not aware of the noble nature and advantages of volunteerism. People should be made aware that participation in voluntary services and charity works is a religious duty and social obligation that strengthens a society. However, voluntary work cannot achieve its benefits if no community support and encouragement is offered to it. It should become a priority of the establishments and companies in the social service to support voluntary works.

— By Ali Musa Al-Abdali

The Mobily issue

Is the Mobily issue just a matter of re-assessment of the appropriations and expenditure or a blatant violation of financial statements? The Capital Market Authority has announced suspension of its shares, and the company’s administration has announced a change in its financial statements. It vindicates its fall in income in comparative figures between the years on changes in appropriations and rise in the administrative appropriations and expenditure and then put below that two extremely serious issues as though they are some marginal issues. They are related to the IRU (Indefeasible Right of Use) agreement and the revenue of promotional programs.

Let us take the issue of the promotional program of “customer loyalty,” which awards points to customers to ensure their loyalty to the company whenever the company’s services are used. These points could be redeemed against services of the company or purchase of products of some other companies. The company — that sells its products against the Mobily points — regards Mobily indebted to the company. However, instead of paying the price of the points to those companies, Mobily invented another means to substitute its indebtedness by texting promotional messages to all its subscribers in favor of those companies. The second issue pertains to the agreement called IRU. The issue first surfaced with the Adhib Company when the two companies signed agreement to the right of use through Bayant Al-Oula Co. for network services, a subsidiary of Mobily.

— By Muhammad Al-Abbas

The bitter truth

Let us move beyond the issue of being Arab or Persian so as to envision a secure future for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

We learn from foreign sources that GCC member countries differ radically on most of the vital issues. Some members differ with Iran only in public discussions. Some members are worried about the Persian minorities and not about the Arab Shiites.

Selfish interests have influenced even the common currency, railway and electrical grid projects. Each member country wants to keep the authority in its own hands.

When the idea of Gulf Union was mooted it was interpreted as an attempt to establish a bloc against Iran. Some others viewed it as an attempt of big countries to dominate the smaller ones.

Every member country is worried about the massive demographic concentration of some Asian population that has led to make the original Arab people a minority in the region. If the GCC members continue their differences over petty issues how can they be united against any force that work against their vital interests?

The declining price of oil is another issue that needs a unified GCC stance.

— By Yusuf Kuwaileet

Third Intifada?

The indecisiveness and weakness of the Obama administration has prompted Israeli extremists to illegally occupy more Palestinian territories.

Israeli aggression and unacceptable restrictions at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is likely to trigger a major confrontation.

In swift reaction to the violations at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jordan, which is responsible to upkeep of mosque, called back its ambassador from Tel Aviv. The move is also an indication of the mounting protest of the Muslim countries against the Israeli move.

The Palestinians will under no circumstances remain mere spectators to the ongoing desecration of the mosques. There have already appeared signs of protests portending a third Intifada. It is because the Al-Aqsa Mosque is the actual red line.

If Netanyahu and the US administration imagine that the Arabs and the Muslims are engaged in the fight against the IS, a product of the West to keep the Muslims busy with fighting, they are mistaken.

— By Jasser Abdul Aziz Al-Jasser