We wrap up The Courier week with letters examining third world aid, accommodation in St Andrews, Brian Souter’s knighthood, and phonecall suspicion.
Extra third world aid is too ambitious
Sir,-Your reference to David Cameron and his adding another £814 million to our already bloated overseas aid bill will have caused a sharp intake of breath in many of your readers.
I should go so far as to say that it has staggered millions of people in Britain.
Child vaccination in the third world is demonstrably virtuous as an ideal but for us, sinking into bankruptcy, it is unaffordable and thus out of touch with reality.
One would have thought that, freed from the lunatic borrow and spend excesses of Gordon Brown, we would not have to face a continuance of the self-same liberal-left behaviour. But David Cameron is cast in the same mould as his predecessor.
India and Pakistan are now well able to look after their own public health in addition to their nuclear and space programmes.
The sub-Saharan African nations annually receiving billions of developed world aid must come to realise that they cannot afford their exploding birthrates.
If they are incapable of appreciating their acute demographic predicaments then the developed world must cease being hypocritical and tell them plainly that continued aid is dependent on birth restraint.
Alastair HarperHouse of GaskLathalmond.
Right decision for St Andrews
Sir,-I would like to thank elected councillors and all those who participated in the debate for deciding to halt the number of houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) in the centre of St Andrews.
While no one believes that a halt to HMOs will cure all the ills of the town, the current demographic imbalance cannot be in the long-term best interest of St Andrews.
Whether in forestry, agriculture or social mix, monocultures rarely prove to be a good thing, though often convenient and profitable in the short term.
The decision now taken, I hope all parties can lay the divisive rhetoric to rest and work together in a mutually respectful manner to address the need for attractive housing for anticipated student numbers while maintaining a positive balance of residents.
Helen Gray.Hepburn Gardens,St Andrews.
No need to fear cold welcome
Sir,-Gay rights campaigners have launched an internet campaign calling for Stagecoach founder Sir Brian Souter to be stripped of his knighthood.
Nathan Sparkling, of NUS Scotland lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender campaign, said, “Such a man should not be provided with the platform of a knighthood … A clear message must be sent out to homophobes that this kind of behaviour (homophobic or transphobic bullying and harassment) is not acceptable.”
Just because someone is opposed to teaching and discussion of homosexuality in school does not make him homophobic.
Homosexuals, lesbians and the others listed are welcome as members in many denominations, but that does not mean church members in general approve of their being appointed to positions of responsibility in any post in the church or in schools, youth clubs or youth organisations, where the message to the young would then be that that lifestyle is an example to follow.
The Christian message is that we should all be sympathetic, helpful, supporting and welcoming to all human beings, with bullying or ill-treatment of any kind eschewed.
There is no need for homosexuals to fear any kind of ill-treatment from those, like Sir Brian Souter, who are followers of Jesus Christ.
Homophobia and the resolve to set our children the example of family life as Christians have lived it for 2000 years are two quite different principles.
Sir Brian Souter well deserves his knighthood and his stand against the scrapping of Section 28 by the Scottish Executive was backed by thousands of Christians; nothing at all to do with homophobia.
George K. McMillan.5, Mount Tabor Avenue,Perth.
Missed out on heating scheme
Sir,-I received a phone call along the lines, “I’m not selling anything. I’m working for Angus Council Heatseekers scheme. Would you like us to call?”
I was suspicious and declined.
If the caller had suggested that if I wanted a visit from Heatseekers I should phone the council on a dedicated number, that would have shown the call was genuine.
I now discover Heatseekers is a very positive scheme in which I might have participated. But it sounded like a scam.
Bill Drew.Cairn Road, Kirriemuir.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL.