Bradford, a city that never changes

i WAS irritated by Dr Ali’s mix of urbane generalities, observation and specific assertions that plays out the future of Bradford in terms of social and economic inclusiveness (Yorkshire Post, July 4).

The overall content seems too familiar, however, weaving historical fact with myths concerning and echoing “we’re all in this together”.

Nothing has changed, only deepened and deferred inequalities, exclusions and prejudices now as then criss-cross mainly urban Bradford.

Where are the successes his organisation celebrate in photographic terms?

I will go to see before writing a response, that’s justly fair and reasonable, but whose greater good is Dr Ali boasting and promoting in this “opinion?”

He claims simultaneously the voice of community cohesion and that of progression of the Pakistani community specifically as one “society”.

That perspective is, however, biased introversively to his ethnic society, and does not actually address the bigger sphere that the term “society” can and does encompass.

In effect, he claims a contribution that is fatally prejudiced and not supported by cross-community integration, exchange and compromise.

The cultural aggression, antagonism and spite is palpable whenever I visit the city and should not be buried or brushed away via supposed retail regeneration.

There are no winners as the rules are being made to suit the writer, and many losers buried alive in a city devoid of mutual harmony and respect for all.

Afghanistan pull-out call

From: David W Wright, Uppleby, Easingwold.

there is no excuse for David Cameron to avoid making a final decision to withdraw our forces from Afghanistan as quickly as possible following his latest visit to that lawless country and the death of yet another soldier (Yorkshire Post, June 5).

Why does he persist in making promises “to leave when it is right”? The longer we and the US remain there, we are simply wasting lives and money on a lost cause.

While he makes a decision to leave, he should stop any further involvement in Libya and end the meddling in other countries which should be left to sort out their own internal problems.

A waste of public money

From: James Anthony Bulmer, Peel Street, Horbury, Wakefield.

THE question at the moment is where did all the money go over the last decade? Has it been mis-spent, taken from pensions or paid in bankers’ bonuses?

The councils and local MPs of Wakefield and Leeds blame all the shortcomings on the present government cuts and yet nothing is said about the waste of public money.

One instance of this waste, and it not only applies to Wakefield, but there are further seven in the country, are large buildings that cost millions to build, standing empty and still costing public money in rents etc.

These are the central communication systems for the fire and emergency services and terrorist defence.

Are these white elephants? Could they be transformed into council chambers and offices, especially as they will have excellent drinks machines?

Political impotence

From: Malcolm Naylor, Grange View, Otley.

I HAVE recently experienced two examples of political impotence and incompetence from my MP and local councillor.

These concerned local matters, which one would hope were in the compass of their responsibilities and ability to do something about.

As it happened, they were both Liberal Democrats but they could have been from any other party with the same result.

One concerned the unnecessary and gratuitous aggressive parking policy of Leeds Council towards disabled vehicles.

The second was the closure of Horsforth Park Japanese Garden on a summer afternoon when no-one from the parks department was in attendance and could not be contacted by the telephone number given in the park.

In the case of the MP, he simply passed on my complaint to a Minister whose reply was effectively that nothing could be done, and then had the gall to reply asking me if that was helpful.

In the second case, the councillor referred the complaint to a council bureaucrat who gave a totally unacceptable reply, which the councillor accepted and so took no further action.

If MPs and councillors are so useless on matters such as this, what use are they on the big issues that face this country?

And they call this a democracy.