Letters to the Editor

SIR - Caring for children begins at home, in the family. Youngsters in trouble or who make trouble for others are really the failure of their parents. No good blaming the shortcomings of the single mother without considering the abandoned responsibilities of the father.

But in any family parents are more liable for their dog's behaviour or the roadworthiness of their car than the misdeeds of their children.

The child protection laws are actually shielding the very young from developing their natural sense of right and wrong. Young offenders cannot be blamed, named and finally shamed for their anti-social criminal transgressions until they come of "age".

This is how juvenile delinquents are turned into protected species and their victims into free game!

Father Christmas has a good routine to please little children in need in this festive season. But the most important provision of Human Rights Charter should be the encouragement and protection of the two-parent family.

Even God, in his absence, placed good old Joseph at Mary's side when as the Gospel says "a child was born..."

I K Novak, Kingsley Avenue, Bradford.

Humanism rules

SIR - In his letter of December 17 Walter Metcalfe calls evolution "hogwash" and equates humanists with "the Soviets" because they are both non-religious. That is like equating Christians with the Thuggee (whose divine mission was to kill all those of other beliefs) because they are both religious.

No humanist has ever executed anyone for their beliefs. Can that be said of Christians? Giordano Bruno, the first humanist martyr, was burnt in 1600.

The central tenets of humanism are rationalism and responsibility, perhaps best expressed by the 19th century American humanist Robert Ingersoll "the way to be happy is to make others happy".

A good guide is the Golden Rule, taught by Confucius 600 years before Christ. Compare that with this "superior" doctrine of the gospel: "If any man come to me and hate not his father and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26). How does that square with the Commandments?

Jesus also threatened those who do not believe in him with burning in Hell for ever. That means the majority of the human race.

The best doctrine? Sounds more like hogwash to me!

Robert Tee (Honorary Secretary, Humanist Society of West Yorkshire), Foxholes Crescent, Pudsey.

Probe needed

SIR - Now that the anonymous besmirchers of Councillor Andrew Smith's name have succeeded in terminating his career with their unproven allegations, would they be bold enough to step forward and be counted?

If not, will the T&A undertake its duty to local people and pursue a proper journalistic investigation into these matters to get to the bottom of who in the Queensbury community would want to remove a councillor by using such tactics?

I'm sure that the majority of Queensbury residents are not concerned with what goes on in the private lives of their elected representatives, but are more interested in having good representation by their local councillors when they need it.

Those on the committee that ousted Coun Smith (pictured left) last week should consider that by basing their decision on unproven allegations (and no illegal activity according to the Local Government Standards Board) they leave themselves open to a similar fate.

The negative element in the community that have inflicted this on one councillor could equally turn on other councillors in a similar fashion both in Queensbury and elsewhere prior to the elections next June.

Roland Wadden, Cheriton Drive, Queensbury.

l EDITOR'S NOTE: We are satisfied that our reporting of these allegations and their outcome has been fair, accurate and balanced. Readers can make up their own minds as to the importance or relevance of the outcome.

Why cutbacks?

SIR - Regarding the proposed loss of a fire engine from Shipley, Brian Clayton asks whether this is what the West Yorkshire Fire Service really means by modernisation (Letters, December 17). Well, yes, unfortunately it is.

My father is a firefighter and he was one of those who went on strike earlier this year. The firefighters were offered their paltry increase (which the Government is still trying to stall) on one condition: that they accepted that the service would have to be "modernised". And what that means is cutbacks.

The firefighters didn't want to accept the pay deal, not just because it was patronising but also because they knew these cuts would lead to lives being lost. And yet again the Labour Government is forcing through more cutbacks, regardless of public safety. Why?

Ben Whitaker, Crooke Lane, Wilsden.

Save the Odeon

SIRMay I add my voice to the growing campaign to save the New Victoria, aka Gaumont and Odeon. With its wonderful 1930s interior restored, it could once again accommodate 3,000 people - large enough to attract mid-ranking bands who have had nowhere to play in West Yorkshire since the closure of Leeds's Town and Country Club.

The failed Capital of Culture bid identified the need for a central art gallery. How about converting the Odeon's former ballroom for this purpose, making the venue much more than a mere concert hall.

Bradford seems to have many visions at the moment. Mine would be Bradford's own three graces - NMFPTV, Alhambra and a restored New Victoria - shimmering in Will Alsop's lake. A waterfront any city would be proud of.

Come on Bradfordians, act now before this landmark building becomes the Swan Arcade of the 21st Century.

David Pendleton, Providence Terrace, Thornton.