Letters to the Editor

We don't have any. The Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish all have national representation. The people of England do not.

Does it really make any difference if England its people are run by Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish in London? Or by Germans, French and southern Irish from Brussels?

And anyway, what's the pound ever done for the ordinary folk of this country? The rich, powerful and well-connected have thrived on it for centuries. The rest of us, have you noticed, have always had just enough to fuel us up for the next week's graft in the mill, factory, pit and building site.

The only break we ever got was when they stuck us in uncomfortable ill-fitting uniforms to fight for, or defend, something that we didn't really have any interest in.

Within 12 months the euro will be our second currency. More and more of us will bring it back from holiday and use it here. We'll not need a referendum.

England has nothing to lose. Independence? What independence?

Eric Firth, Wellington Street, Wilsden.

SIR - Regarding the police campaign to overhaul the justice system in this country. It is nice to see that the "penny" has dropped at last, and that efforts are being made to redress our Dickensian system.

The Race Relations Act must be the first law to be scrapped, as it is a money-spinner for people to cry wolf over any petty complaint.

There's an old saying, "Sticks and stones will break my bones but calling never hurts me".

This used to be the case in Bradford and many people used to suffer verbal abuse, including myself, but we got on with life and ignored the little twits whose words emanated from their nether regions.

It is criminal that the wimps of this world are costing the ratepayer vast amounts of money backed by "The Law". Oh dear, how sad, never mind!

I will be watching with interest to see the shake-up of the criminal trial system. However, it is unlikely that any changes beneficial to the law-abiding will be made in my lifetime!

Trevor Williams-Berry, Bredon Avenue, Wrose.

SIR - How encouraging it was to read of the efforts of Burley-in-Wharfedale Methodists to hitch their colours to Corrie, EastEnders and the rest (T&A, January 10) in an attempt to give a little colour and lightness to the vexed issue of religion.

Events since September 11 have reminded us, yet again, of the ugliness of actions taken on behalf of perceived faith by folk who take themselves far too seriously.

Since the days of Brian Rix's Whitehall Farces (where vicars and their trousers frequently became separated) right through "His Reverence" in Dad's Army up to the well-built Vicar of Dibley, we can all see that religion can be a wonderful source for comedy.

It was Mark Twain who said, I believe "Mankind is the only species which can laugh. Come to think of it it's the only one that needs to - especially at itself!"

Sid Brown, Glenhurst Road, Shipley.

SIR - I have hesitated to join the debate with Eric Firth et al on the subject of religious beliefs but now consider it is time for some fresh thinking to emerge.

This whole topic is so encumbered with dogma, cant and emotion that it is difficult to bridge the huge divides which are so apparent in recent letters to this page.

I write as one with no religious beliefs but with the firm conviction that the opportunity to have them should be open to all adults - and therein lies my point.

Why don't we treat religion like we treat voting, alcohol and sex - something which you need to be an adult to undertake or enjoy, as you are not considered mature enough to decide in advance of a defined age.

That way, we would be free of the allegations of the institutionalised brain-washing of suggestible children as, once achieving an age of majority, any individual would then be able to choose which faith to follow, or to follow none at all.

Let's make it illegal to promote any religion to the under-18s and then see how many genuinely committed 'believers' we have as a result.

Graham Hoyle, Kirkbourne Grove, Baildon.

SIR - What a shame that some people keep God at such a distance. If God is omnipresent and omniscient, then surely God must dwell in every atom?

What a joyous thought! If the energy vibrating throughout creation is not part of God, what is it?

Our selfishness and greed have hidden our true divine nature from us. It is this divine energy that sustains this universe connecting every one of us, one to another. Let us remember this in humility.

Cynthia Trasi, Kirkgate, Shipley.

SIR - Englishman Karl Dallas veers towards paranoia in his one-man crusade in your Letters page to belittle his country of birth. Referring to Englishness as a myth, he describes us as a 'mongrel' nation beset by blandness.

I suppose he subscribes to the view that if English folk wave the flag while they sing Land Of Hope And Glory, they are rabid fascists.

In reality he should celebrate a democracy which allows citizens the freedom to denigrate their own country.

Now that he is learning Urdu to enrich his being, he could take refuge in one of the many "liberal" countries that speak this language. If he should begin to castigate their way of life in print, he will doubtless receive a cultural experience he will remember for the rest of his life!

John Masters, Kirk Lane, Yeadon.

SIR - Shootings, stabbings, rapes, muggings, robberies, racial attacks, car theft, vandalism, drug offences...

Sporadic incidents on a national scale? No - these are prominently featured in our local newspaper on an almost daily basis!

The Telegraph & Argus deserves to be congratulated for continuing to expose the harsh facts about Bradford, despite what our leaders and the police would have us believe.

Our once-proud, prosperous and harmonious city is being reduced to nothing more than a disfunctional dump!

William Finney, Horton Grange Road, Bradford 7

SIR - Thank you very much, some members of the Asian community, for bringing the best in quality of life for this area. What next? Increases in the council tax to pay for the damaged roads and buildings?

I would like to know how many will be able to afford the high insurance premiums that are now coming through. I doubt that we will have insured drivers in the BD9 area now!

Many thanks again, you Asian rioters!

Tanver Khan, Lynton Drive, Bradford 9.