Your letters on racism, our MP and Spalding Remembrance
Let’s talk about racism
There are two faces that bear racism. The first is a belief that each race, ethnic group,nation has certain qualities, giving rise to the view that some races are ‘better than others’.
To this end, our belief that our national football team is ‘the best’ is not racism, but a simple case of wishful thinking with a touch of pride as they improve.
There is a line not to cross.Banter or teasing must be an exchange in a good-humoured way. If one-sided then we face allegations of racism.
Offence may not be intentional, however, an apology should be offered in a sincere and prompt manner and a promise to be considerate honoured.
Many will have paid attention to a cricketer who has earned his place in the Yorkshire team. Wrongdoing has been exposed by many at this club.
The club has suffered financial consequences as the sponsors have shown expedient and moral judgement in line with public opinion.
I believe Azeem Rafiq has been extremely gracious in accepting those who have offered a most sincere apology. Due to sporting excellence he has a platform to inform us that racism is a cancer – the rhetoric and slogans must cease and actions taken.
Offence is the price of having freedom of speech. It is umpleasant but not always racist, just rude.
Lack of education is not racist, but it is a prime reason it exists.
Perspective is not always easy looking through a kaleidoscope of language and culture.
We will and do make mistakes, but we must listen with tolerance, compassion and on occasions humility.
We all have a right to be offended, but we have a need to live in peace. Racism destroys lives by destroying our peace.
This is an open letter to invite experiences, opinions and solutions to all those who are not privileged and must be heard.
John Walker
Spalding
Does he live in a fantasy world?
Reading MP Sir John Hayes’ column in your paper last week, I wonder what kind
of rustic fantasy land he inhabits.
His fulsome praise of British farming seems to ignore how our local large scale industrial agriculture affects the land and nature.
Crops are harvested with heavy machinery, fields ploughed the next day and seed sown immediately afterwards, along with copious amounts of (presumably) fertiliser. The fields are sprayed throughout the year to make sure only the crop survives.
Over the past 10 years there has been a noticeable decrease in wildlife. This year I have seen no dragonflies, a huge decrease in hares, and a single skylark.
The ‘God-given natural inheritance’ mentioned in his column is being squandered by intensive farmers. Their stewarding of the land is far from perfect. If this is how we need to feed the nation, then so be it. But let’s not pretend we are living in an idealistic dream of milkmaids,
kindly farmers and forelock-tugging serfs.
I also note that, as usual, Sir John finds it necessary to revile and belittle those who do not share his opinions; and to politicise everything he disagrees with.
He seems to have a pick and mix attitude to climate change, dismissing ideas for discussion, such as a meat tax, as babblings of pampered extremists, whilst happily pocketing an extra £50,000 a year from a fossil fuel company.
And finally I find it hard to understand how such an ardent supporter of leaving the EU can be complaining about importing produce from far flung places, and suggesting slapping a carbon tax on it. Global trade deals were exactly what was promised. Or do we only tax the carbon on
imports, and not the equally polluting carbon on the items we send.
G Matthews
Spalding
Service was poignant to me
Well done to all those involved in the Spalding Remembrance Day Service at Ayscoughfee Gardens.
Also to Harold Payne for all his work in Holbeach.
I was in the RAF myself, my father was a prisoner in the Second World War and was called up at 18-years-old.
He only ever spoke about it to my late husband – not for my ears, he said.
He was first in and last out of Germany after four years in a prisoner of war camp. His mother, a widow, was left with three more children to look after, with no help in those days. I was lucky to have parents who got on with life and had a lovely childhood.
Margaret Mitchell
Spalding