Our correspondents today focus on respect for the armed forces, the plans to raise the age limit for the state pension and safety on the River Tay, while the issue of football commentary continues to inspire debate.
A shameful display on Armed Forces Day
Sir,-On Saturday, crowds in towns and cities throughout the United Kingdom turned out to watch and cheer our troops as they celebrated Armed Services Day.
In Perth, which hopes to claim the status of city, there was also a parade an Orange Parade.
Thousands of people marched through the town, their banners proclaiming ‘Our Protestant religion to maintain’. I wonder how many of them were churchgoers?
This was shameful, especially on Armed Forces Day.
Robert Anderson.Kirkton,Arbroath.
Let fat cats keep ‘working’
Sir,-I think we will find that the people advocating a retiral age of 70 are ‘fat cat’ politicians and directors who want to keep their lucrative salaries as long as possible.
Since many of them put in very little effort it will not strain them to “work” after the retiral age.
Charles Bell.27 Main Street,Springfield,Cupar.
There will be side-effects
Sir,-The decision of the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition to raise the pension age is false economics, as the object is to save money.
Statistics prove that the later one retires, the shorter is one’s life expectancy, so, on that score, their thinking is sound but what about the side-effects?
Fewer jobs will be available for the young, especially the unskilled.
The cost of unemployment benefits will rise, more college courses will be introduced to keep them occupied, and crime will increase.
More police, social workers, prison accommodation will be required and the downward spiral exacerbated.
Ian M. Malcolm.2 Morton Crescent,St Andrews.
All cheered for Scotland
Sir,-I agree with Ian Wheeler (letters, June 26) that football commentary should be more balanced.
That said, I remember 1978 when Scotland was the only home nation in that year’s World Cup.
This Englishman, then living in Northern Ireland, joined with practically everyone else including the commentators in rooting for Scotland.
David Riches.Seafield,Bankwell Road,Anstruther.
A typical Anglophobe
Sir,- Ian Wheeler’s gripe about the BBC commentary on the England-Slovenia match is so typical of the Anglophobic Scot looking for an excuse for his inbred Anglophobia (June 26).
He claims the high ground as an objective sports journalist and attacks Gary Mowbray, the commentator, for his pro-English bias.
I was also a journalist but I was trained by the Reuter Newsagency, where objectivity was drummed into us as an essential attribute of a reporter, especially when working on desks such as the Middle Eastern section where the same events had to be reported for the benefit of Israelis and Moslems.
Perceived bias depends on what your perspective and point of view are.
I also watched the said match and was struck by how downbeat the commentary was, with no|evidence of English boasting or arrogance.
In fact, the commentator was anxious, as I was, in case England turned in another dismal performance and lost.
I am a Scot but I am also British and, in the absence of Scottish, Welsh or Irish teams, I always support the remaining British team England.
Ian Wheeler starts off from an anti-English standpoint, then looks for any excuse to account for his Anglophobia, hence the attack on the commentary.
Strange to say, most English people would have supported the Scottish team, as they do Andy Murray at Wimbledon.
Where does that leave Mr Wheeler? An objective observer and reporter? I don’t think so.
He is a typical biased Scot with a massive anti-English chip on his shoulder. He wouldn’t have lasted five minutes with Reuter.
George K. McMillan.5 Mount Tabor Avenue,Perth.
Disregard for safety
Sir,-Who is guarding the river and beaches ensuring it is a safe place for all users? I was appalled at the total disregard for safety of others exhibited by jet skiers at Broughty Ferry on Saturday afternoon.
While they were racing around inshore at speeds greater than five knots the Tay swimmers were battling hard to make the finishing line of their swim.
I witnessed a swimming club official shouting over to them to please slow down in order to reduce the wake and for the safety of the swimmers. But, no, they just ignored the request and continued on.
International maritime rules dictate the safe inshore speed and distance before that speed can be increased.
There are notices at the Broughty Castle Pier stating a five-knot speed limit for 400 metres (but that is ignored) but no notices or even flags on the other side of the pier where the jet skiers are.
At such a high-use spot, there needs to be someone monitoring and applying, safety and maritime rules, otherwise it will be sooner rather than later before someone is injured.
Shelagh Thomas.258 Normandale Road,Lower Hutt,New Zealand.