Sam Patten’s column (BDN, April 12) caught my eye. The Arabic word “mun’kin” is used in the headline and it can be spelled various ways. I spell it Mumkin and it is the name of my sailboat.

I spent three years in Saudi Arabia as a doctor and heard the word quite often. It does not really mean “that which is possible” but rather “maybe.” A fine but subtle difference.

Communication is the first necessary step in conflict resolution, and here I make a minor point. Nevertheless maybe understanding what folks are really saying is important and critical.

William Gallagher, M.D.

Bangor