Letters to the Editor - 4th July 2008

Jul 4 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

A belief in the miraculous

IT WAS with some amusement that I read J Knott’s anti-Christian nonsense (Letters, July 2). He reiterates the comment of PR Jones that Christians “hold beliefs without adequate reason to do so”. This, of course, is ridiculous.

The history of Jesus is more reliable than the history of anyone from antiquity. Gospels were recorded with Apostolic authority, authorship was confirmed by Apostolic Fathers such as Iraneus, they were written so early that legend is not a factor, and the Epistles were written even earlier.

Some scholars believe that 1 Corinthians 15 (Creed) may have been written by St Paul just five years after the Resurrection. Perhaps atheists need to consider why so many pieces of historical evidence regarding Jesus exist (24,000 in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, Coptic, etc), why the Apostles died for their beliefs and why nothing from archaeology has undermined the New Testament, etc, etc.

JK puts forward a case for science without defining the term. Science is the study of natural phenomena by observation and measurement, and theories, hypotheses and laws must be capable of being falsified or tested.

I believe in science as long as it is confined to natural phenomena. Clearly God is not so constrained.

J Knott also mentions Darwin, understanding physics and how the solar system was formed.

Firstly, Darwin in the Descent of Man makes several racist references: “the civilised races of man will almost certainly exterminate, and replace, the savages races”, and “the races differ . . . their mental characteristics are likewise very distinct”.

With regard to the origin of the universe, I presume he is referring to the “big bang” that was neither big nor could it have made a noise being in a vacuum.

If we are to believe JK, then we must believe that something (the universe) was created from nothing, and I would rather believe in the miraculous than the ridiculous.

B Jowett, via email

Cause and effect

YOUR correspondent J Knott asks us to “believe in science” (Daily Post, July 2).

Scientists tell us we should suspend our way of thinking about cause and effect when trying to understand quantum theory. Physicists say that, according to quantum theory, at the sub-atomic level, matter is being created from nothing.

See also Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principal and Schrodinger’s Cat, as explained by Stephen Hawking in a Brief History of time.

I have trouble getting my head around all of this!

AJ Leek, L23

Tunnel charges

TONY HUGHES (Letters July 2), is to be congratulated on the clarity of his recollection of the tunnel breakthrough.

The vision I prefer to recall is the promise to the people of Merseyside that the tunnel would be free from all charges once its construction costs were recouped.

Is he as painfully aware, as all regular users of the tunnel are, that we have had a stealth employment tax in operation long beyond the point when any rational and prudent management of tunnel finances in accordance with this founding principle would have met the promised break-even point?

Instead of the worthy public servants in charge of the tunnels delivering on this basic and fundamental promise, it is clear that the travelling public must continue in our perpetual serfdom in order to continue to pay their salaries.

I cannot recall the precise authority (pun intended) but I understand that the two miles or so of the tunnels are among the heaviest policed stretches of roadspace on the planet, and I constantly marvel at the number (and shiny newness) of the multitude of police vehicles which are at each of the four tunnel entrances each time I queue to pay my passage along the Queen’s highway.

I would like to be able to take some comfort in contemplating the pending cost of increased road fund licence for the under-utilised gas guzzlers when the new Road Fund licence rates hit next year, but I have just remembered who will be footing the bill.

BH, via email

Lively debate

I HAVE been following the lively debate generated by the seemingly modest proposals to open a new boutique hotel and sailing school in West Kirby. I have been utterly staggered by the near hysterical opposition of some the scheme’s opponents.

Is it seriously being suggested that a tatty 1960s shed and a municipal car park are essential civic amenities that must be defended and conserved at all cost?

Or is the extraordinary vehem- ence of the objectors actually directed at the undesirable outsiders who might actually patronise the proposed new facilities. Might I suggest that, if the ultra-nimby element in West Kirby society really want to live in a town reserved entirely for “local” people, they should migrate to Roysten Vasey.

Alan Churchman, via email

Tobacco subsidy

FOR once, I find myself in partial agreement with Mr David Oxley, of UKIP, when he states in his letter in Thursday’s Daily Post that it is ridiculous to subsidise tobacco farming on the one hand and insist on stricter health warnings on tobacco products on the other.

That is why Labour MEPs have called for many years for this subsidy to end, and voted accordingly yet again in Parliament on May 20, 2008.

Added to this is a track record of Labour MEPs supporting efforts, not only in the UK but throughout the EU, to warn people of the dangers to health of smoking. I don’t consider this to be folly, I consider it to be sensible and I would hope all UK MEPs including UKIP will join with us in voting for fundamental reform of the Common Agricultural Policy with its systems of subsidies when Parliament discusses this major issue later on this year.

Brian Simpson MEP

Ethical investments

AS A member of the Merseyside Pension Fund (and a council tax payer) I welcome moves to adopt a more ethical approach to investments and I support Liverpool City Council’s call for a ballot of members. But, in any ballot, the voters must be given accurate information.

Your Comment on July 2 stated “ethical investments may not offer the same returns, and the tax payer may have something to say on the subject of how the pension fund is then topped up.” This is based on the false assumption that ethical investments are less profitable. In truth, ethical funds are often among the best performing investments.

There is no conflict between ethics and profitability, and no reason to believe any “topping up” would be necessary.

Mal Ferguson, Tuebrook

Best returns

THE administrators of the Merseyside Pension Fund have a duty to invest the funds where they will attract the best possible returns, and they should be allowed to do so without political interference.

The vast majority of the members of the fund don’t have the faintest idea about investments, and if they are asked to vote and the ballot paper contains the word “ethical” they will probably happily put their cross next to it. But how happy will they be in the future if ethical investing is adopted and results in the fund becoming badly depleted?

Harley Malone, Neston

Sad and off-putting

HOW the mighty are fallen: WH Smith’s store in Church Street was a large, airy, delightful place to choose a CD, buy stationery or select a book from its vast shelves.

How different is the experience for customers in its new Liverpool One store.

The floor is a shoddy-looking blue/grey vinyl and the whole place feels like a cut-price bargain bookstore; the sort that pops up for a few weeks while a premises is looking for someone to take over the lease.

It is so sad and so off-putting.

K Fitzsimmons. via e-mail

Basic human need

IS IT really to be “In for a penny in for a pound” (Daily Post, Letters, July 1)? I am seriously thinking of buying an old shop or pub and turning it into one big public facility with maids for the females and butlers for the males to satisfy this basic human need while also providing a boutique ambience.

We have come so far now that we find we actually left our posteriors behind. The charming Victorians accepted that such public conveniences were absolutely essential to keep the wheels of industry and commerce moving. In our wisdom and homage to political correctness and profit, we have sadly missed this wee issue altogether.

George Gibbons, Bootle

Left to deteriorate

RE: THE old Everton Youth Academy, Park Lane, Netherton. Everton left to go to Finch Farm at the end of April.

Since then, the ground has been left to deteriorate, the grass is waist high. A facility like this should never be lost and I feel should have come back to our community.

Everton FC want to come and scout our young players at weekends, but then leave what was once the best ground on Merseyside. It is another green area lost for our children.

Mick McNally, Secretary, Bootle, Litherland & Netherton Junior Football League

Great shopping

I WAS at the opening of Liverpool One back in May, but have not been to take a look around the shops since.

Then last night I found myself with an hour to spare so I had a wander down.

I was delighted to see that the development looked every bit as good as it did when it first opened. Not only that, but it looks like many more shops have already opened and lots more look set to move in. It might be a tough time on the high street right now, but it looks like things are going well for Liverpool shoppers.

J Moore, Aughton