27/12/03

They named him before any tribunal and, with the instant tabloid media publicity, the FA has to be seen to be tough, in charge, that sort of thing. This was administrative rubbish.

Most people forget now and then. Rio should have been given the benefit of the doubt, severely warned and fined, not banned for eight months. - F Atkinson, Shincliffe.

ELECTIONS

IT is truly alarming, how the Press can glibly gloss over an outright attack on the constitutional rights of the electorate.

I refer to the decision to allow 'all postal' ballots at the forthcoming European elections.

The imposition of all postal ballots in any election is a fundamental breach of our democratic right to the secret ballot. Each ballot form, will, I understand, identify not only the voter, but also the voting preference of that elector.

Such a system is open to abuse and corruption in many ways. There is nothing to prevent identity theft, allowing bogus, and therefore illegal, votes to be cast. Furthermore, there is an open invitation to screen votes at counting stations to identify the political leanings of each and every voter.

This system has already been used, either in whole, or in part, at other elections, where these fears were proved to be totally valid.

With New Labour moving us more and more towards the Orwellian nightmare of mind manipulation and social engineering as the norm, we should all see these moves against tried and trusted voting methods with the scepticism they warrant.

Instead of meekly reporting, perhaps the Press should be questioning the motivation behind moves which are clearly in breach of the democratic rights of the British people. - Dave Pascoe, Press Secretary, Hartlepool Branch, UK Independence Party.

SOHAM MURDERS

AT last the trial of that man Ian Huntley has come to an end for the poor parents of those two children.

Can anyone tell me why that man should go to jail and have a very reasonable life for the next 30 odd years?

Why do we have to keep him? It really is time that he should be put down.

This ridiculous society of ours has gone mad. We do not protect our children and yes, everyone in the country is shocked, but how long will it be before another child is murdered?

Yes, the death penalty is dreadful, but unless we get some law back into this country we will slide further into the depths.

When you deal with scum like this, then yes, you have to have the ultimate deterrent. - A Parkin, Bishop Auckland.

REPRESENTATION

MY sentiments exactly, Derek Smith (HAS, Dec 20).

I don't care if a person is black or white and I am sure it won't matter to them either.

However, it's the people who dish out all the politically correct garbage who are to blame.

How long before I have to ask my butcher for a pound of white pudding? Also, if I am filling in a form I always put English because I am an English woman - oops, I mean person! - Maureen Brighten, Darlington.

MIDDLE EAST

THE cultures in the Middle East and the Western world are so different that understanding between the Americans, British and Iraqis will never succeed.

Many believe that if they kill themselves in a suicide bomb attack they and their family will be greeted by Allah when they die. Few Christians would believe that.

Muslim women cover their hair or face with veils and, if found guilty of adultery, can be stoned to death. The judge passing the sentence can then go home to his four wives and commit adultery with all of them with no punishment.

If a Muslim is found guilty of murder then the victim's family decide what the punishment will be. They can forgive them, have them beheaded or take blood money.

Beheading, chopping off the right hand of thieves and beatings all take place in public.

Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus with Christmas crackers, Christmas trees, roast turkey and a red-clothed old man on a sleigh drawn by reindeers flying in the sky with presents for children. Do Muslims understand this type of religion?

It is not unusual for members of the same religion to attack each other's country. Christian Germany attacked neighbouring Christian countries twice creating the two world wars. Christian IRA men killed other Christian Irish people with no regrets.

Saddam Hussein would not have been tried for murder of thousands of Muslims by his own country.

There were little noticeable opposition within Iraq to his murder of thousands of Kurds, women and children by poison gas.

Other incidents were also approved of. For instance, the forgiving of his sons-in-law who had fled the country and having them shot dead when they came back was par for the course. - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

THE BIBLE

THANK you, W Mawston, for the timely letter on Bible prophecy and how so many things foretold years in advance were fulfilled to the letter at the crucifixion (HAS, Dec 15).

I'm sure you especially had in mind Psalm 22 which begins "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" and continues with a graphic description of the crucifixion.

As the letter stated, the credibility of no other religion or sect can stand such degree of scrutiny.

At this season of the year, although yes, we know that Jesus wasn't actually born on December 25, the true date being unknown, Christians also focus on Christ's second coming.

The many prophecies of things that will happen in the years leading up to and immediately before his appearance are there in the Bible.

Logic says that just as those 300-plus prophecies of the crucifixion were completely and amazingly accurately fulfilled, so will all those pertaining to his second coming. As Jesus himself commanded, watch. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

HURWORTH SCHOOL

WOULD everyone attending the reunion of Hurworth School in 2004 please note that the date has been changed to June 26 and not July 3, as originally arranged?

Would any former pupils reading this letter please contact other pupils and inform them of the amended date? - Doreen Turner (Hodgson), Thirsk.