Today: memories of St Valery, grass-cutting in Fife, the importance of experience, freedom of expression, and more on faith and religion.
Correct to recall 51st’s sacrifice at St Valery
Sir,-Thank you for the article about St Valery (June 14). Television barely gave these men a mention.
Maybe the Scottish Government could do more to remember them, too.
Like today in Afhganistan, most of these men were only 19 years old. My father had his 20th birthday whilst escaping from St Valery.Margaret Borland.57 Rodd Road,Dundee.
Fife verges need mower attention
Sir,-I wonder what Taysiders think of Fife when they journey south across the Tay Road Bridge and encounter a roundabout that, with its long grass and tall weeds, wouldn’t look out of place in a jungle.
It is in a disgraceful state and would really benefit from some tender, loving care from Fife Council.
The rabbits are having a whale of a time.
As you leave the roundabout, you are confronted by grassed banks that haven’t been cut for two years.
This is a Fife-wide problem. In Tayside, the grassed areas are always kept in exceptional condition, for which they should be congratulated.
I think it is about time Fife councillors took a wee trip over the water and saw for themselves what can be achieved.Michael Davies.26 Scott Crescent,Tayport.
Experience comes with age
Sir,-I could not disagree more strongly with Bob Taylor’s wish for more young politicians (June 11). As far as I am concerned, the root cause for all our major problems lies in our having had too many young politicians for far too long.
Politicians are required to make decisions which affect our lives. How can it be sensible to allocate such power to people who lack judgment, simply because they have no experience?
Not only should we worry about the inexperience of youngsters, who, like the rest of us, have to learn from their mistakes but we should legislate to ensure that no-one is eligible for elected office until he/she has attained a minimum age, which has allowed them to have gained experience of such things as doing a real job and bringing up a family in the real world.
I favour a minimum age of 40 but, in these days of compromise and consensus, I am amenable to a smidgeon of flexibility — say 39.Jim Parker.9 Banchory Green,Collydean,Glenrothes.
Freedom under threat
Sir,-Stephen Moreton rubbished Frank Henderson’s letter expressing misgivings about some of the unexpected and unwelcome outcomes which have developed in line with the increased sexual freedoms brought about by widely available contraception.
Mr Henderson echoed the disquiet of the majority when he expressed concern over the potential effect upon children of emerging unstable “sexually bonded groups.”
He was also concerned that women have become widely viewed primarily as sex objects.
Dr Moreton applauds the “more relaxed atmosphere” that we have in today’s society as a great benefit and achievement.
He frequently pontificates in the press and pushes a strong anti-religion and pro-gay agenda.
Many of his persuasion use the tactic of bullying and brow-beating anyone, or any belief system, that disagrees with their own ideas and lifestyle choices.
Freedom of speech has become a thing of the past. We can, however, still criticise a white, heterosexual male.
Should an individual have the courage to express any reasonable difference of opinion, they are met with thunderous cries of bigotry, hatred, discrimination and deafening accusations of intolerance and breach of human rights.
It is a one-way street, however, for these strident activists do not practise what they demand from others, nor do they show respect for their opinions.
They are aggressive in running rough-shod over the finer feelings and deeply-held beliefs of others. We should live and let live. That is a basic freedom. People’s choices are up to them, as long as they do not interfere with the well-being of others.
However, there are those who would force us to believe that we are wrong if we do not agree with them. If we fail to approve of their choices, we are in some way criminal or inhumane.
We must stop allowing ourselves to be manipulated and intimidated by those who undermine the stability of the family.
It is the only way forward for a stable and thriving society.Sylvia Brown.9 Beech Avenue,Ladybank.
Christianity’s wishful thinking
Sir,-I was intrigued by James Thomson’s assertion (June 14) that atheism is a religion.
As well as being an atheist, I am also an afairyist — I don’t believe in fairies.
Does Mr Thomson think afairyism is a religion, too? Atheism is very simple — it is a lack of belief in a supernatural god.
Believers can offer me no objective or measurable evidence for the existence of this god other than their assertion it exists.
I prefer the approach of Scotland’s great Enlightenment philosopher David Hume, who said that a wise man should proportion his belief to the evidence. He might have added that if religion wants respect, it has to earn it.
The point is not whether atheism is a religion but why Mr Thomson wants it to be. Perhaps it makes the world easier to understand from his Christian perspective, since most, if not all, organised religions start and end by dividing people into two groups and setting them against each other-believers and unbelievers, saved and damned, sacred and profane, believer and infidel.Alistair McBay.Lawmuirview,Methven.