Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – Before we get into the usual Christmas rush I would like to raise a point.
A couple of years ago the council in Dundee was browbeaten by a group of Christians, prominent amongst whom was the Rev Alan Webster, into changing the title of its winter celebrations.
Ministers and Church of Scotland members celebrated in their triumph. However, for the Church of Scotland, the celebration of Christmas was for over 400 years seen as irrelevant to the Christian faith and until relatively recently Christmas wasn’t even a public holiday in Scotland.
Now it seems that not celebrating Christmas has become some kind of sin against the Christian faith.
Is it just possible that far from defending the Christian faith, there is a group of ministers who have little if any understanding of how Christian faith has been expressed in Scotland by the Church of Scotland and that whether one celebrates a particular day or doesn’t was and is still seen as irrelevant to many Christians in Scotland?
The forces arrayed for the celebration of this day and which insist upon the celebration of Christmas aren’t necessarily even from within the church. Charles Dickens, for instance, who is regularly brought out with his Christmas Carol to harangue Christians and others into celebrating this day, wasn’t even a Christian. The word hypocrite hovers in the air.
A sin against the Christian faith? Aye that’ll be right. Or as Job puts it to his supposed comforters: ”Surely you are the wise and wisdom will die with you.”
Norman Wood.53 Roundyhill,Monifieth.
Better off if road tax was abolished
Sir, – Road tax should be abolished and the tax transferred to the cost of fuel. We would be better off as it would get rid of an army of civil servants administering the system that Gordon Brown and his government made worse.
We now have a virtual police state as we are all watched and logged by cameras and computers checking up on us all the time.
Tax transferred to fuel would simplify collection and it would also free up the police and the courts to pursue the real criminals.
Then there are the foreign lorries and holiday makers who pay nothing to use our roads. Every day thousands of lorries from abroad arrive at our ports and damage our roads why should they not pay?
There would be winners and losers but the high cost of fuel is down to government not the oil companies and it does not matter who we vote for among the big three, they are all the same.
Governments use the motorist as a tax cash cow to cover up their incompetence. It is time the SNP spelt out what changes they would make in Scotland.
We don’t want to swap one totalitarian regime for another.
John George Phimister.63 St Clair Street,Kirkcaldy.
Statistics can prove anything
Sir, – I read with interest the article from Councillor Brennan headlined, ”Fear recession putting gender equality at risk”.
In my opinion the article proves statistics can be used to prove anything. It shows 1,783 women are claiming job seekers allowance but fails to mention that over 6,000 Dundonians are claiming the same benefit. So, so using the statistics from the article, 4,217 men must also be claiming the benefit, plus taking the 2001 census for the city of Dundee the population of men was 68,038 compared to 75,352 of women a difference of 7,314 in favour of women.
This means a much higher percentage of males per head of population claiming job seekers allowance to women.
Looking at these statistics you could argue that it is the men of Dundee who are facing the inequalities.
Statistics can be used to prove anything you like and are, therefore, dangerous to rely on.
Allan Petrie.109 Blacklock Crescent,Dundee.
What are we seeking?
Sir, – Curiosity Rover’s search for ”life” on Mars presents a number of interesting possibilities … and difficulties.
In the first instance, exactly what is the basic atom-particle difference between that which is deemed alive and that which is described as being dead?”
As all known matter is formed of particle-circuits, then surely the only real difference is one of particle circuitry and nothing more?
Ah, but what of intelligent life when the yardstick for ”intelligence” is but a construct of man’s mind?
Perhaps Curiosity Rover should be searching for signs of love, joy and fair play.
Kenneth Miln.22 Fothringham Drive,Monifieth.
Vice versa
Sir – As an ageing unionist/royalist who watched the final hour of the Mayor’s Parade in London, I can safely debunk assertions that Boris Johnson is after David Cameron’s job.
David Cameron is after Boris’s job.
A T Geddie.Glenrothes.
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. Letters should be accompanied by an address and a daytime telephone number.