November 23: Is solidarity with France really sincere?

ARE we being utterly sincere? Or is it just that expressing shock and horror at what’s been happening in France makes us feel good about ourselves, and causes us to project a good impression of ourselves onto others?

Or what? Because if we were utterly sincere, we’d be expressing a proportionate degree of shock and horror at all the other hundreds of deaths of innocents in wars around the world every single day, horrific burns from illegal weaponry, and the tragic displacement of millions.

But oh no, we can’t do that, we haven’t the courage. So let’s just single out a comparatively very few people who got picked on and who happen to be white, and European, just like us, in fact. Express our sympathy and condolences, and go to bed thinking we did something good.

Had my son been one of those victims, I would not want my government to use his needless death as an excuse to take ‘revenge’ by killing hundreds of other people’s sons within two days. Nor would I want his name and photograph in the newspapers. But oh no, if it’s someone else’s son, any amount of faked solidarity and hype is fine. Not so.

From: Terry Duncan, Greame Road, Bridlington.

SURELY the hour has come, in view of the Paris massacre, to call a halt to immigration into the UK? The Government should also strengthen and increase our Coastguard Service, restore its recently abolished coastal stations, and give them more powers to inspect small shipping entering remote coastal areas.

I recall about 40 years ago a boat owner at Flamborough Head being charged with carrying immigrants. Canada and the 
USA have a fleet of coastguard ships whose crews regularly catch illegal immigrants. Why not the UK with less coastlines to patrol?

From: Rodney Binks, Scholes.

I AM pleased to see the letter from John Fisher (The Yorkshire Post, November 17) reflecting on Arthur Quarmby’s rather strange comments on Remembrance and in particular his perhaps controversial view of how we may have reacted at the outbreak of the Second World War.

To say we may have done a deal with Hitler seems to overlook the ‘Peace In Our Time’ deal brokered by Neville Chamberlain in Munich which turned out to be worthless. Moreover, as Mr Fisher rightly says, to compare the barbarity of the Third Reich with the EU is plainly ridiculous.

From: Coun Tim Micklbeurgh (Lab), Grimsby.

IT is good to reflect on the horrors reflecting in the world. Nevertheless, I don’t see why there needs to be a separate period of silence after every major disaster.

It rather detracts from the acts of remembrance on November 11 (and the Sunday nearest to it), while we should note that terrorism – sadly – is another type of war whose victims can 
be recalled on those November days.

From: Chris Schorah, Gascoigne Avenue, Leeds.

I WELCOME both Qari Asim’s article and Ismail Syed’s letter rejecting the IS form of Islam and distancing themselves from its activities (The Yorkshire Post, November 18).

However, I personally remain completely unconvinced that 
the more restrained forms of Islamic practice and sharia law are compatible with British values and that there won’t be attempts by even moderate Muslim communities in the UK to impose such practices upon us.

From: J.W. Buckley, Aketon, Pontefract.

IN your Editorial (The Yorkshire Post, November 17), you say that statesmen have shown a lack 
of leadership, so there is a vacuum in Syria, which is being ruthlessly exploited by Islamic State.

You are absolutely correct; save for the fact that there are 
no statesmen. Loads of politicians; but no statesmen. If David Cameron could only stop being a politician, he would have a chance of becoming a statesman.

Could William Hague be persuaded to become a statesman? Absolutely nothing 
to do with politics; everything 
to do with breathing new life 
into the United Nations, so 
that it becomes what it’s name 
is.

Lomu was a true gentleman

From: Jack Banner, Meanwood, Leeds.

IN the midst of the international tributes to our French brothers and sisters, we should not overlook the passing of Jonah Lomu (The Yorkshire Post, November 19).

A great rugby player taken far too soon. I have just watched an interview recorded in 2004. What an absolute gentleman! 
I am not religious but I hope 
that his soul rests in absolute peace.

Confused over clean power

From: Graham Lakin, Sheffield.

I HAVE finally made the plunge and changed my energy suppliers to Good Energy who tell me they only supply green energy. After one month, nobody has been to change pipes or cables so can anybody explain to me how they supply their clean power? I’m confused.

ghgh
ghgh

From: Keith Wigglesworth, Mead Way, Highburton, Huddersfield.

WHY do so many correspondents and even columnists refer to our ‘free’ National Health Service? It is most definitely not free, as those of us in retirement have paid for it throughout our working lives and those working now are currently paying for it. It is only free to those who have never contributed towards it – and there are many of those!