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THE BEATLES

AS a Beatles hater, it's nice to read something critical about the group for a change. Peter Mullen (Echo, Dec 11) is once again to be congratulated on speaking out against this sick society.

Never, surely, has an English journalist doled out so much courageous vitriol and kept his job. What a magnificent counterblast to those whose obsession with the Fab Four has rendered the worship of God obsolete.

Mr Mullen attacks the excesses of The Beatles' culture and the communistic 1960s with that same blend of rebellious concern and sardonic humour which he regularly employs to condemn the collapse of law and order.

Quite frankly, I find him a breath of fresh air in a stagnant age.

For me, no civilised punishment would balance the enormity of what The Beatles did to the minds and emotions of teenage girls, dozens of whom killed themselves.

We should stop pretending, and admit that John, Paul, George and Ringo were nothing if not a malign demonic influence.

The media constantly refers to them as "the national heroes who entranced an entire generation" rather than "the hypnotic monsters" who pushed children to the brink of suicide and beyond.

And yet, did most of the British people really fall for the spin, the lies, the hypocrisy and smugness of this wretched set of self-seeking drug addicts, womanisers, pornographers and agents provocateur masquerading as entertainers? I'd truly like to think not.

And I'd like to think that the Britons of the future will look upon The Beatles era, and the 1960s which spawned it, as a period in this country's history that's pretty much best forgotten. - A Jones, Bridlington.

HAVING read the Peter Mullen column (Echo, Dec 11) on George Harrison, one can only speculate as to the titles of future obituary-style column from him.

Possibilities could include Queen Mother the Anti-Christ, Pope John Paul the German Collaborator, or Ronald Reagan, Communist sympathiser.

It is difficult to avoid the impression that the milk of human kindness runs very thinly through the veins of Peter Mullen. - Martin Birtle, Billingham.

IN his article (Echo, Dec 11) Peter Mullen excels himself. He appears to hate The Beatles even more than he hates Tony Blair, but I do believe that the Rev Mullen hates everybody.

I wonder what he would say if confronted by the question: what about love thy neighbour?

His answer would probably be: "But I have no neighbours, I live in London." I know from experience that the city of London can be a very lonely place. Perhaps that is what makes the poor man so bitter. - Jeremy Conran, Peterlee.

THE music of The Beatles was on the whole monotonous and a gimmick. John Lennon and Paul McCartney had egos to match their arrogance.

The money they earned became their power and that power came from those who screamed and shouted to their music. As for Peter Mullen (Echo, Dec 11) and the religious argument, that, too, is a matter of opinion. He can be accused of failing to give many the guidance to a full understanding of what life is all about. Religion fails because of its divisions and various moralistic opinions. One just has to see the mess that religion is making of itself.

Is it any wonder that cult influences are rife and it is time religion found a common course and played music in time with all of 'mankind'. - J Young, Crook.

HELP THE AGED

AS Christmas approaches and the cold weather sets in, my thoughts often turn to older people in our community who are alone. A recent survey commissioned by the British Gas Help the Aged Partnership revealed more than a million older people across the country are acutely isolated.

This year, I have turned my concerns into something practical by supporting the British Gas Help the Aged Partnership's Alone at Christmas appeal. Funds raised from the appeal will be used to support day centres, minibuses and other community projects.

These projects will give older people the opportunity to socialise, not only at Christmas, but throughout the year.

I encourage you to support this appeal. Even the smallest contribution will make an enormous difference to the everyday lives of older people. Perhaps, more importantly, it will give many older people something more than memories of being alone at Christmas to look forward to in the future.

Please contact 020 7239 1983 or write to: Sian Moody, Help the Aged, FREEPOST LON 13041, PO Box 203, London, Nl 9BR. Cheques can be made out to Help the Aged. Thank you and merry Christmas. - Honor Blackman, Help the Aged.

SEX EDUCATION

AS a nation we should be ashamed of ourselves that the majority of our children think it normal for a person to have at least ten sexual partners before marriage (Echo, Dec 10).

What is the use of sex education that does not very clearly spell out the dreadful dangers of treating sex as a casual activity? More importantly, what has happened to the teaching of morals and decent behaviour?

It is not acceptable for a girl to lose her virginity before the age of 15. Girls need to be taught to say no to casual sex.

Charities beg for aid to rescue young girls in countries such as Africa and Thailand, from sexual exploitation. They plead for help to stamp out horrid diseases brought on by multiple partners and underage sex. How ironic that in Britain far too many young people indulge freely in similar behaviour, seemingly oblivious to the possible consequences. - EA Moralee, Billingham.