Dear Stan,
I was shocked and worried to hear that 14 people have been arrested in Bahrain accused of plotting terror attacks during the National Day celebrations.
The possibility that they may be connected with people living in England is, perhaps, not a surprise since the UK has allowed campaigners opposed to the Bahraini government to settle there and even granted them political asylum - a status supposedly reserved for those whose safety would be compromised by a return to their homelands.
I have not been in Bahrain very long but it appears to me to be a very tolerant nation. Though I accept that there are religious and political differences, the UK should be urging discussion and co-operation as a way of solving these matters rather than fostering unrest in a friendly country by offering a haven to critics who may have been linked to the planned national day outrages.
I sincerely hope that, if this is found to be the case, the British government will waste no time in extraditing these people to Bahrain to answer for their actions.
Ellen Scanlon,
Adliya
Dear Stan,
Thanks so much for your report on the hack attack on the artlounge email address which resulted in people being asked for money, supposedly on behalf of organiser Marion Labani, pictured right.
Ms Labani was right to take immediate action and I congratulate GulfWeekly on following this up with the article letting us all know what had happened and putting us all on our guard.
Atif,
Saar
Dear Stan,
I would like to say thank you for the very great support artlounge experienced in 2008 which has been a very moving year.
Founded in February 2008 and launched with a very successful exhibition of the founders Demi McLeod and myself, following up with a wonderful exhibition at The Gulf Hotel in May, artlounge has proven to be a very successful concept.
After Demi left artlounge management I carried on and organised artlounge2 at the Banyan Tree Al Areen in October and artlounge3 at Al A'ali Shopping Complex in November.
This year artlounge has exhibited 17 local artists, supporting them with the publicity they deserve and offering an extraordinary showcase to give art lovers a wider chance to view local artists' work including paintings, photos and sculptures.
I say thank you for your constant support, encouraging me to look forward to the next year, to help everyone find the right piece of artwork or simply enjoy exhibitions in a relaxed atmosphere.
I hope we can keep working together next year as well as this year.
Please note artlounge will have a new email address next year artlounge08@gmail.com and a web page is under construction with the address www.artlounge08.com
I wish you a wonderful festive season and a prosperous, healthy and successful Happy New Year.
All my best wishes.
Marion Labani,
Artlounge
Dear Stan,
It has been my pleasure to visit Bahrain this week to spend Christmas with a friend who has recently moved here and I felt I must write to commend Bahrain and its people on the level of tolerance they show for each others' customs and religions.
Coming from the UK one hears, almost daily, of schools refusing to sing Christmas carols and councils refusing to erect lights and Christmas trees for fear of offending those of other faiths.
From our media, one could be forgiven for assuming that the display of such symbols would excite the wrath of our Muslim neighbours, so, coming to an Islamic country, I was not expecting to see the very same symbols openly displayed and even an exhibition of Bahraini artists painting pictures of Jesus who is accepted within Islam.
My friend tells me that since arriving she has attended parties for Eid, meals during Ramadan and celebrated Diwali with her new Indian friends.
Together we spent Christmas Day having a turkey dinner with all the trimmings at Upstairs Downstairs followed by a party at another friend's house attended by Bahrainis, French, English, Irish, Persian and who knows what else.
All I can say is that if this is the home of an intolerant religion then the oh so politically correct UK has an awful lot to learn. Perhaps if people in the UK were allowed to celebrate their festivals happily, as seems to be the case in Bahrain, there would be a lot more openness and acceptance and a bit less racial tension all round.
James Bland,
By email from the UK
Dear Stan,
What a treat it was to see the pictures of the RIA children celebrating National Day and Christmas with their show at the British Club.
I know it cannot be easy for any parent to accept that their child is different but the RIA Centre's attitude of celebrating and encouraging everything a child can do rather than dwelling on what he can't seems to be a recipe for happy parents and children. Long may the centre's work continue.Jamal Al Hammadi,Juffair
