Letters to the Editor - 2nd July 2008

Jul 2 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

Believe in science

RE. the letters June 26, discussing the stories found in the Bible. Very sensible points were made by Mr P Ion and PR Jones. It is true as Mr Jones says, that many Christians simply hold beliefs without adequate reason to do so.

It has been my experience that most Christians take the Bible as the literal truth – God created the world in six days, created Adam and Eve etc. Over the years I have had many Christian groups call at my house quoting the bible. Have you read the Bible they ask? Yes I reply, but have you read Darwin? No they say – it is all wrong. Have you read books on human evolution or any books on how the Earth and solar system were formed? Again no comes the reply, they are all wrong.

I have over the years been amazed at such people’s utter lack of understanding of the real world. One group told me that rainbows were bridges for departing souls to get to Heaven.

If only these people could understand the physics of how a rainbow is formed they could understand the true beauty of a rainbow and the true beauty of nature and the universe around us without having to resort to some mythical being.

There is a very low probability indeed that God exists.

J Knott, L22

Offensive

I HAVE been very disappointed at the handling of the proposed closure of the “Dome from Home”.

The degree of secrecy at all stages I find extremely offensive. Access to the alternative venues for worship is poor unless a car is available and it is easier to go elsewhere.

I don’t think this has been considered.

FW Howell, Wallasey

Not democracy

IT was interesting to read yet another of Philip Griffiths’ history lessons (Daily Post, June 25), this time pouring still more vitriol on the memory of the Soviet Union whilst simultaneously gushing with praise and gratitude for the United States’ “help and sacrifice” during the Second World War.

These two opinions sit oddly together when you consider the huge costs borne by the USSR in repelling the Nazi invasion: 25 million dead, another 40 million seriously wounded and its entire European territories utterly devastated.

By stark contrast, Washington considered 300,000 American lives lost a small price to pay for emerging from the war as the world’s foremost economic and military power. This, after all, was why the US entered the war in the first place.

I find Mr Griffiths’ starry-eyed adulation for the US intriguing, given that he is a member of UKIP – a party that purportedly champions Britain’s independence. His delusions about the “democratic” nature of British society are frankly laughable. I don’t know, perhaps he really does believe that a system owned and run by big business, with a tokenistic Tweedledum-or-Tweedledee election every few years, really is a democracy. But I think the vast majority of people would probably disagree with him.

Anthony Molyneux, Maghull

Better off

WITH regards to the debate on Christianity and atheism, let's consider their contributions to the world. Society's greatest assets – our schools, hospitals, charities are overwhelmingly Christian based. Where are the atheist-based schools, hospitals, charities? As for the atrocities; it is estimated that "Christian" regimes have killed 5 million in the last 2000 years whilst atheist regimes have killed 100 million in the last 200 years. The facts clearly show that we're overwhelmingly better off with God and that taking God out of the equation is disastrous to our world.

David Thomas, Hoylake

Quote, unquote

I WOULD like to take issue with your obituary on the late comedian Dick Martin where your writer poses the clearly rhetorical question: did any other show spawn as many catchphrases as Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In?

Surely, there’s another better contender for the most quotations from a script, namely the 1942 film Casablanca starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. And all these celebrated remarks came from one 90 minute film, not four years-worth of TV series.

Among my favourite Casablanca quotations are: Capt Renault: “You despise me, don't you?”

Rick Blaine: “If I gave you any thought I probably would.” Then there’s Ugarte saying: “I get passports for them for half. Is that so...parasitic?” And Rick Blaine replying: “I don't mind a parasite. I object to a cut-rate one.”

How could anyone forget the exchange with Capt Renault asking: “What on earth brought you to Casablanca?” Rick Blaine responded: “My health. I came to Casablanca for the waters.” Capt Louis Renault: “The waters? What waters? We're in the desert.” Rick Blaine: “I was misinformed.”

Then there’s Rick’s: “Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine” Or how about: “Major Strasser has been shot. Round up the usual suspects” and my own absolute favourite: “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

And there are plenty more, but, as you can see, Rowan & Martin were hardly trying.

P Evans, New Ferry

Peaceful event

THE European Championships has come to an end and what a great tournament it was.

A friend of mine was lucky enough to get tickets to the final in Vienna and said in the run-up to the final, there was a great atmosphere between both sets of fans with no fighting – just two nations looking forward to what they hoped would be a good match.

After the final whistle and the trophy presentation she said there was no segregation between the fans and they all mixed together on the trains and buses with no fighting or resentment.

Many commentators have said this has been a better tournament because England have not been in it and I’m afraid to say that I agree with them.

If England had qualified the papers would have been full with all the hype before the tournament about how we were definitely going to win it and then we inevitably didn’t, all the recriminations about what is wrong with the beautiful game. Not to mention the wall-to-wall coverage of the Wags and their exploits.

It’s a shame to admit it but Euro 2008 was all the better for England not being a part of it.

CJ, via email

End of the line

AS the NHS celebrates its 60th birthday, I’m afraid I can’t see it lasting another 60 in its current state.

The idea behind the NHS of providing free healthcare for everyone from the cradle to the grave was a good one but now it seems to be buckling under the pressure.

Although it needs to be accepted that the NHS has limited resources, the main problem has been politicians micro-managing and interfering with its management.

The Government should bring back matrons to keep wards well-run and help keep diseases like MRSA at bay and let the doctors get on with doing their jobs and treating patients without dealing with endless paperwork and red tape.

S Williams, Childwall

Why go free?

I AGREE with your correspondent P Winstanley about the way we as taxpayers pay for Merseytravel staff to have free travel on the buses. Merseytravel are always telling us they don’t operate buses, so why do they and their spouses, boyfriends, partners or whatever, go free?

Alas, wasn’t it a Wirral Tory councillor, who exposed all this last Thursday in the Daily Post? Why then did the Tories vote to keep the Labour administration in later that day, as it was Labour who brought this free travel policy for staff in?

Andrew Pipkin, Seacombe

Inspirational

YOUR fine tributes to the late Terry Fields remind me as to why I got involved within the wider Labour and Trade Union movement over 20 years ago.

I was inspired by the actions of principled socialists like Terry Fields and Tony Mulhearn who stood up during the mid ’80s for the working class within our city.

Terry Fields was a principled trade unionist and a true working class hero who knew the real meaning of “worker’s MP on a worker’s wage”.

Raph Parkinson, Branch Chair Liverpool UNISON (in a personal capacity)

Set an example

IN THE past, local philanthropists, of whom Liverpool has a proud tradition, were regarded with high esteem and treated with appropriate propriety. It is a sad commentary on modern standards that Liverpool JMU has chosen to discard its trustees in such an offhand manner and showed such apparent disdain for people of the stature of Aldham Robarts and Rex Makin who have given so much time, goodwill, credibility and money to the University in the past.

Shouldn’t JMU be setting a rather better example to others?

Paul Clein, via email

Tunnel vision

I HAVE a clear memory of the day of the breakthrough of the Mersey Tunnel.

My mother carried an umbrella and I was dressed in oilskin and sou’wester. The water was dripping from the roof. Workmen on our Birkenhead side were drilling and gave a shout when they were through. The hole was enlarged and the Mayor shook hands with the Lord Mayor of Liverpool.

Tony Hughes, Birkenhead

Helping cats

WOULD any readers be interested in lending a hand as a volunteer at Boote Home for Cats at 2 Elm Vale, Fairfield (off Prescott Road). We need help one or two mornings a week and it would suit local cat lovers who are willing to help with feeding and grooming the cats. Travelling expenses will be paid.

J Ridley, Boote Home for Cats