02/04/04

The reaction to some of his words indicates a growing fanaticism in the minds of many that any hint of criticism when it comes to Islam is tantamount to blasphemy and utterly forbidden.

The West, and Britain in particular, appears to be running scared of this belief system, which is alien to our culture and heritage.

Criticism can be freely voiced by non-believers about many religions. Christianity is a frequent target.

However, say a word against Islam and you have committed the most deadly of all sins in this growing climate of Islam can do no wrong.

Lord Carey says he meant to provoke a reaction. He has done right to make people think and weigh up the facts rather than close their eyes and minds to what is happening. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

TERRORISM

YOUR correspondents (HAS, Mar 29) are making vague assumptions when they assert their excuses for Muslim extremism.

Muslim extremism was about long before we got involved in Iraq or Afghanistan. They seem to forget September 11.

Muslim extremism is now intending to see the demise of democracy in the West, something it despises with enough hate to send young people as human bombs to kill innocent people.

To suggest the Spanish were led by us and the Americans to their doom is rubbish and an insult to the many people murdered by these evil scum.

The Spanish failed to protect themselves from people who have been living and working in Spain for many years.

The government of Spain, as are the governments of many Western countries, is so full of sentimental stupidity that they would rather allow such atrocities instead of squashing the bug before it can bite.

How many democracies are there in the Muslim world? How many are allowed to vote or speak their minds as the correspondents in this newspaper?

If there is to be peace in the Middle East, it must be a two-sided affair and the vision of total annihilation of the Israelis is unacceptable. - John Young, Crook.

FARMING

MR Heslop (HAS, Mar 26) assures us that British farming is the safest and most hygienic in the world and that there is no cause for alarm in either its practices or products.

I seem to remember a little unpleasantness in the countryside some two years or so ago, something to do with foot-and-mouth, that highlighted farming practices that were rather less than perfect.

And shortly before that there was something else called BSE, caused by those same responsible, hygienic farmers feeding animal protein, including sheep's brains, to natural herbivores like cattle.

As for the mass eradication of ancient hedgerows, that started in the late 1960s and was still happening very recently in some places.

Probably the biggest purely ecological disaster ever to hit our countryside it was, admittedly, the brainchild of MAFF - but farmers were MAFF's willing and well paid accomplices. - T Kelly, Crook.

BRITAIN IN BLOOM

I WRITE to thank you for your support for Saltburn in Bloom. Your generosity will help Saltburn's entry in the Northumbria in Bloom and Britain in Bloom competitions.

The spring judging will take place in April, followed by the summer judging for Northumbria in Bloom in July and the national judging for Britain in Bloom in August.

Saltburn's achievements to date have been considerable and could not have been achieved without the help and support of individuals and organisations in the local community such as yourself. - Jackie Taylor, Coordinator, Saltburn in Bloom.

CRIME

ARE there ways to frustrate thieves and robbers? When keys go missing they may have just been lost or more worrying been stolen.

If they have been lost and found by an honest person they will be returned if your name and address are on them. If they are found or stolen by a thief, then it is certain that your home will be the target for the thief, and it is wise to change your locks.

One way to prevent his happening is to enclose on your keys the name and address of a relative or friend. If found by an honest person they will be taken to the address on them and then returned to you. If found or stolen by a thief, then he will spend a lot of time trying to rob a person's home with keys that do not fit, and is more prone to being caught. - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

EUROPE

FOLLOWING discussion with other European leaders, Tony Blair (left) has announced that he wants to move quickly towards an EU Constitution, as it would be "a good thing for Britain".

If Mr Blair thinks this is such a good idea, then why won't he hold a referendum and let the people decide?

It is now crystal clear that he wants to sign Britain up to a European Constitution as soon as possible. This would see more power for the un-elected European Commission, an end to the British veto in 30 key areas and the creation of a single finance minister to oversee economic policy.

The constitution will profoundly change the relationship between Britain and the EU. Tony Blair must give the British people a final say in a referendum, and he should give that commitment now.

By refusing us a referendum, the Prime Minister shows his Government's contempt for the British people. - Jeremy Middleton, Conservative European Candidate, North-East Region.

PASSION OF CHRIST

I MUST congratulate Peter Mullen on his well balanced article on Mel Gibson's film of the passion.

Paul the reformed persecutor of Christians who had a vision of the resurrected Jesus, wrote that it was for the joy that was set before Him that He endured the cross and despised the shame, the joy of being with His Father in heaven and all those who would follow Him by accepting His sacrifice on the cross.

He was a willing victim to get heaven into man on earth and one day to meet Him in heaven. A well known Christian writing in the 15th century said he that who ignores His sacrifice does himself more harm than all his enemies. - W Mawston, Rushyford.