Advertisers should be more careful with their slogans

Wednesday morning I found on my doorstep an advertising brochure from Burger King. It was bright and cheerful, and I don't mind their food. But I did object to the slogan on the back of the brochure: "Call to end hunger", with a phone number.

Also on my doorstep was my copy of The National, with a page one picture of famine refugees in Somalia. I'm sure they wish they could just "call to end hunger" but the world isn't like that.

We are lucky to live where there is food for all. Burger King should be a little more sensitive.

Norm Ullmann, Abu Dhabi

Getting ID card is not too bad

I refer to your article Visa renewal linked to Emirates ID card (July 27).

Everyone has heard a lot of horror stories about how complicated and slow it is to get an Emirates ID card.

But my own experience was the opposite; I went to an office, filled out forms, paid fees, waited 20 minutes to have my fingerprints taken, and three weeks later was notified to go pick up my card at a post office.

It was all quite straightforward, and nothing to be afraid of.

Henry Herschel, Abu Dhabi

Winehouse is not a saint

Unlike the letter writers Philip Wellman and Sami Latouf, I think A Little Girl Lost in Dubai (July 24) hit the nail on the head.

It asks us to question the sainthood that is bestowed on stars after they die, no matter how narcissistic, egotistical and arrogant they had become.

It was a relief to read a piece that cut through the trite, fawning eulogies and said it like it is.

Amy Winehouse and her fellow live-fast-die-young breed (Cobain, Morrison, Joplin, Hutchence, Hendrix, etc) are routinely portrayed by the media and starry-eyed fans as poor tortured artistic souls, when in fact all they're doing is using their wealth to glorify junkiedom and nihilism for the benefit of the hordes of teenage fans who try to emulate them.

Yes, it's sad to see any young person die, but Amy picked her path and stuck to it with great determination.

How did Amy Winehouse make the world a better place, other than leaving us a few narcissistic songs and inspiring her teenage disciples to degenerate into a gin, tobacco and crack haze?

Bu Shanab, Dubai

Iftar experience was rushed

In reference to Our favourite Iftars in the Emirates (July 27), you may be interested to read about my family's experience with iftar buffets last year.

As visitors to this country we wished to teach our children about Ramadan and show them how local families celebrate the breaking of the fast by eating out.

Unfortunately, the waiting staff at every buffet we attended made it impossible for us to discuss Ramadan with our children or demonstrate to them the need to reduce food waste at this holy time.

They hovered and attempted to take our plates away when there was still food on the plates and we were simply taking a break.

The staff watched us constantly while we ate and we almost felt they were racing to throw away the food and force us to get more.

They were unable to accept that we might want to take our time and actually enjoy the experience of eating out.

Name withheld by request

Football: a sport full of scandals

The latest football scandal (Fans cry foul as Turkey acts to clean up its football, July 27) comes just after the ban on Mohammed bin Hamman and the whole related sweeping-under-the-carpet of questionable activities at high levels of the sport.

Around the football world there has been a string of scandals in recent years.

It's amazing, when you think of it, that so many fans of the game remain enthusiastic about it.

Michael Karam, Dubai

Back-heel penalty was ingenious

I read Armchair referees call foul over back-heels and handballs (July 27) by Ali Khaled with great pleasure.

The commentary around the infamous back-heel penalty by the UAE football player Awana Diab had been totally incomprehensible - that is, until Mr. Khaled joined the fray. Finally, someone with an opinion on this subject who actually understands football - and I imagine never calls it soccer!

Diab displayed audacity, flair and cheek, which the games in this region often lack.

A fine piece of work by Mr. Khaled that will hopefully silence the miserable carpers who for some reason find Diab's ingenuity unsporting.

Keep up the good work.

B Mensch, Abu Dhabi