Letters to the Editor

SIR - As a Muslim woman born and bred in Bradford, I have followed the ongoing debate on political correctness.

Contrary to popular belief, ethnic minorities are not offended or insulted by symbols, pictures, etc, of other religions. Unless they are used in a way that is blasphemous to Islam, what reason could there be to be offended?

My family and friends respect, and sometimes enjoy, other religions as they provide an insight into different cultures and traditions while educating us about our multi-cultural city.

It angers me when I read about religious or patriotic symbols being banned in Bradford in case it offends the 'large Muslim community'.

We may be Muslims but we are not small-minded egocentrics who cannot see past their own beliefs and traditions.

I have a Union Jack sticker on my car but it amazes me when I see shock and surprise on the faces of non-Muslims who spot me and then the sticker.

I wear full Islamic dress and it's my appearance coupled with the flag that sparks these reactions.

I am a proud Yorkshire lass who will remain loyal to her country. I am a proud Muslim but equally a proud Briton.

Mrs A Hussain, Arncliffe Terrace, Bradford.

Sad loss of pubs

SIR - I read that the Melborn Hotel is to close (T&A, January 3). What a great loss to Bradford's pub heritage.

How many pubs in Bradford have been lost to under-use, expensive rates and rents and redevelopment?

The Thornbury, The High Flyer, The Victory, Top Oak, The Garrett and Waterloo are just a few that have closed, all these being down Leeds Road.

There is a lot of redevelopment in the inner city with new jobs and inner-city housing.

If City Hall can redevelop the city centre for shoppers and inner-city dwellers, what about some refurbishment and redevelopment of the city's pubs?

Bradfordians would like a better choice of pubs and restaurants to go to socialise and meet friends, etc.

Don't let Bradford sink into the quicksands of despair, let's give Leeds and London a run for their money.

Martin Palliser, Waincliffe House, Laisterdyke.

Moral conviction

SIR - Gary Lorriman (T&A, January 2) is angry that I chose to disregard a blizzard of statistics he produced earlier to support his view that capital punishment works.

His anger is understandable, born as it is from the frustration of knowing that the return of the death penalty is a daydream.

There is something in the psyche of capital punishment advocates which renders them incapable of facing the political and judicial realities of Britain today.

However, I am equally angry that Mr Lorriman should not recognise that my opposition to the death penalty is not based on any dry, statistical analyses, but on lifelong moral conviction.

As a humanist, I cannot contemplate being complicit in a society which is prepared to kill its own citizens in cold blood, and in my name.

Those old enough will recall the then novel slogan on our abolitionists banners "Not in our name" from 1950 onwards.

Further, the right wing press ludicrously underestimates our numbers today. It is simply because we have no need to be as stridently vocal as our opponents. The tide of history is with us.

Peter Wilson, Thornhill Grove, Calverley.

Blair is no mug

SIR - You have to hand it to Mike Priestley. After his attempt to berate Gordon Brown and render him worse than useless, he is now going after Tony Blair.

Ian Parsons has already tried to explain to him that he has been the best Chancellor ever, providing the longest sustained growth in 200 years, working family tax credits and the national minimum wage, add to that record amounts spent on public services.

How have they managed this? By getting 2.4 million people out of the three million unemployed back to work, that's how.

Now Mike is saying that Mr Blair is giving up part of the EU rebate for nothing in return.

In fact, that money is to help the poorer countries who have joined to improve their infrastructure and economy. After all, we are a much richer country than we were when we first joined.

This has prompted France to pay three times as much and Germany double back to the EU, which is unprecedented.

Great Britain does 70 per cent of its business, mostly manufacturing, with Europe and when the new countries get on their feet, hopefully they will remember Britain.

Believe me, Tony Blair is no mug.

Geoff Tasker, Park Road, Low Moor.

Anger over taxis

SIR - While I sympathise with cab drivers being fearful of attacks (T&A, January 3) I cannot condone their actions when they leave youngsters to walk long distances through dark areas to get home.

Just before Christmas my 17-year-old daughter was told that the taxi driver would not go into Holme Wood because of previous attacks.

She asked him to go via Holme Lane as this would avoid the area where there had been trouble. However, halfway down Holme Lane he told her she would have to get out. As a result she had to walk across the dimly-lit and isolated Pit Hill area.

I am still really angry about this. A car can be repaired but my daughter could have been raped or murdered.

This issue needs to be resolved before lives are put in danger.

Jane McGrath, Greenholme Court, Holme Wood.

Tribute deserved

SIR - I wrote last year about a friend who visited Lister Park for the first time in years and was truly amazed at its restoration.

Apparently it was all down to the unstinting effort of David Talbot, head of parks and landscape, who has retired after a 40-year commitment to the district's parks (T&A, January 2).

My friend said Lister Park was on a par with any of the Royal Parks in London.

With such a plaudit in mind, I hope his successor is just as committed and that Bradford Council recognises Mr Talbot's achievement and at least erects a plaque in his honour.

David Rhodes, Croscombe Walk, Bradford