Tuesday's Letters: Time we outlawed Islamic religious fanaticism

We should get rid of the present idiotic definition of an extremist as merely someone committed to violence and outlaw the Islamic religious fanaticism that threatens our British way of life. Muslims should be told they are welcome here providing that they accept the principle

of one law for all and do nothing that threatens our prevailing culture.

We should end the increasing toleration of Islamic Sharia law in this country and we should stop pandering to the Muslim Council of Britain which is wooed by Whitehall.

Prosecute all anti-West fanatics in mosques and profile all Muslim extremists at airports. None of this is being done yet radical Islamism is being totally appeased by our government, against the will of the country's majority, on the grounds that Muslims must not feel targeted in any way.

From: Terry Palmer, South Lea Avenue, Hoyland, Barnsley.

From: Michael Green, East Side Court, Roker Lane, Pudsey, Leeds.

I FEAR that Patrick Mercer is wrong when he says that the greatest friend terrorists have is our complacency (Yorkshire Post, December 28).

Not so, sadly.

The terrorists' greatest friend has been the determination of the state authorities, in this country and elsewhere, to treat every traveller as a would-be mass murderer fit only to be searched and interrogated at their whim.

Then add to that the employment for those purposes of people who are either instructed to act like little tinpot dictators, or if not, cannot resist the temptation.

Sorry, Mr Mercer, but because of the freedoms which governments are depriving us of in the name of security, the terrorists are already winning.

Why give allowances to everyone?

From: Roger Crossley, Fall View, Silkstone, Barnsley.

BERNARD Dineen's recent comments on means testing and RC Curry's response (Yorkshire Post, December 24) prompts me to pose a question that has been puzzling me. Why have myself and my wife, on both recently reaching 60, been given 125 winter fuel allowance, each?

We consider ourselves to be comfortably off, not wealthy,

but "comfortable". We hadn't expected a winter fuel allowance, assuming that that would be given to the "genuinely needy". Subsequently, we learn that people living in "executive houses" are also receiving this allowance.

Now I know it's a complicated business, who should and should not receive benefits, and much sway is given to the amount of tax people have paid over the years. But isn't it all a bit silly?

Surely many people's tax contributions could be re-channelled into other areas which could benefit society as a whole, on similar lines to the NHS and other subsidised services (why people have to run sponsored events to raise money for life-saving equipment in our hospitals,

for example).

I'll leave the maths and practicalities to the "experts" to sort out, but because it is difficult and complicated, doesn't mean that it isn't

do-able.

In essence though, I agree with Mr Curry that there needs to be a reality shift in "society's" expectations of their rights, and a greater sense of moral and ethical conscience, although I'm afraid, as usual, that the real targets for these sentiments, will not be reading this letter.

From: JW Smith, Sutton-on-Sea.

ON the same day you published an article saying there were tough times ahead for employees (Yorkshire Post, December 28), I cannot help thinking what short memories some pensioners have when reading the five letters printed.

This year, when the RPI has been mostly in negative figures, we received a five per cent increase on top of which we had a tax-free spending addition of 2.5 per cent for a period of 12 months.

Strictly according to the formula for calculation of the annual pension

increase, we should receive nothing in 2010 but, unlike many employees, we will get 2.5 per cent added to the basic pension.

The pension was never generous and was even less so following removal of the earnings link.

This cannot be replaced quickly but at least the Government has declared a programme to gradually re-introduce it.

Yes, things could be better but they could be very much worse. I remember when there were no additional allowances or extra help for those below the minimum income level.

Railway re-enactment

From: GHD Duffett, Rosedale Avenue, Hartshead, West Yorkshire.

THE North Yorkshire Moors Railway is to be congratulated on its annual Home Front re-enactment. The depiction of the arbitrary and brutal behaviour of the SS throughout Europe is very appropriate – it was typical of the times.

Depicted as a jolly, fun event with an opportunity to dress up and indulge in romanticised nostalgia at Pickering, the reality at the time was far grimmer: the everyday real threat of mutilation and death through every action, the hunger, the deprivation, anxiety, emotional tension and sacrifice which went on from year after year – that was the real Home Front.

While the EU states recognise and support the generation which suffered from the war years and spent their youth toiling in the post-war austerity years restoring their shattered economies, the UK Government treats its pensioners who contributed so much with fiscal disdain, frugality and condescension. I hope the NYMR and the re-enactment societies continue their efforts.

Improve stroke care

From: Simon Johnson, Exelby, Bedale.

YOUR news item (Yorkshire Post, December 21) about the special efforts of the Middlesbrough Hospital to deal with stroke cases was welcome.

Time is of the essence for treatment to commence. The sooner, the more chance of a good recovery. Four-and-a-half hours is stretching this too far. There are neurologists who limit this to three hours.

In either case, why cannot the treatment described be available at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton? Or is this another example of the NHS trying to centralise more and more at the James Cook Hospital? This is contrary to the wishes of the public, don't they matter any more?

Cost may be given as the excuse, but that won't hold water any more. As more and more millions are devoted to the NHS – to be swallowed by bureaucrats – this is no longer acceptable. Here is an opportunity to improve front line services.

Anger boils over at MPs

From: Stanley Parr, Maple Avenue, Pershore, Worcs.

I CAN'T help noticing that the general tone of readers' letters has dramatically changed over the past 10, even five years.

We are now all getting very angry and slowly (very slowly) the British nation is waking up to the fact that our country is no longer ours and in addition, is run by "unelected foreigners" in Brussels.

The letters (Yorkshire Post, December 29) alone reflect exactly what I mean, when they suggest all MPs are "hung, drawn and quartered" and another says "prison sentences should run the full term".

I doubt many of us would disagree on either of those issues. If the British saucepan is now finally "coming to the boil", what's the next step and where will it all end? I dread to think, actually, as logical thought tells me it will all end in serious tears – again.

Council must step in to save former playing fields

From: Mick Taylor, Tinshill Lane, Leeds.

LEEDS City Council has planning powers to prevent building or other non-sporting development on the former Leeds Girls' High School playing fields.

It must do so. It is quite unacceptable to local people and campaigners that this open space should be lost so that developers can be enriched by building yet more flats or houses to rent or other money-making ventures.

The Headingley, Hyde Park and Woodhouse areas need additional sports facilities. These former sports fields are the best location.

From: James Flint, Wellesley Avenue, Hull.

THE Government says Britons are becoming more active. How is this so when research shows that children's fitness levels in the UK are

falling at twice the global average rate?

While around the world fitness is falling at about four per cent a decade among youngsters, the UK rate is eight per cent according to experts (Yorkshire Post, December 22).

They described the fall as "large and worrying" and said there could be a need to monitor fitness levels among schoolchildren.

And when it comes to long-term health, cardiorespiratory fitness may be a more important marker than how much children weigh, they add.

Isn't this proof that sports lessons at school need to be compulsory for all? Doesn't PE deserve to be given a greater priority than some of the daft subjects now taught like gender lessons?

Library switch boosts service

From: Joanne Roney, chief executive, Wakefield Council, Town Hall, Wakefield.

I AM responding with regards to the letter about the closure of Flanshaw Library (Yorkshire Post, December 3).

The council has had to take the difficult decision to close the library because of concern regarding its condition.

However, I would like to make readers aware of the alternative

provision which has been put in place which will mean more people have access to books, computers and other facilities.

Alternative library facilities will be available at Balne Lane Community Centre, additional new mobile library stops in places where our public want them and provision going directly to local schools. There will be over 4,000 new books available in west Wakefield.

We are committed to ensuring that people continue to have access to these facilities at the heart of their community.

TV idiots

From: Alan W Briglin, Sefton Street, Hull.

APPARENTLY, Top Gear has been voted the most popular programme on television. I regard this programme as a menace to public safety. I am convinced that the way Jeremy Clarkson and the others drive, in a totally reckless manner, is passed on to impressionable young drivers as the way to do it.

Speaking on the programme about his colleague Richard Hammond, who nearly killed himself crashing at more than 130mph, Clarkson came out with the inane remark: "Well, that proves that speed does not kill." Why do we tolerate these idiots on the TV?

Wrong track

From: Tim Mickleburgh, Littlefield Lane, Grimsby.

I AM pleased to see that the Government has produced plans to build new high-speed rail lines (Yorkshire Post, December 31). This will help to relieve road congestion and hopefully help take away traffic from polluting internal airlines.

However, why do those in authority always go for the grandiose high-cost schemes when it comes to boosting public transport? On the buses you could speed up services simply by bringing back conductors, while helping the employment situation at the same time.

Strong leader

From: Roger M Dobson, Ash Street, Cross Hills, Keighley.

WE need another Margaret Thatcher and quickly, too. I think that a good leader is required now. Gordon Brown is no use when strength is required.