Hear All Sides

EUROPE

SOME people say that Europe is not taking over our lives and even if it is, it's a good thing. They say euro-sceptics are way out of line little islanders.

I wonder if the euro-fanatics have noted the latest piece of nonsense the EU overlords are shackling us with now (Echo, June 19). They say that archaeologists must all work to the same standard across Europe.

It brings to mind that song by Bernard Cribbins, "Don't dig there, dig it elsewhere. You're digging it round and it ought to be square. The shape's all wrong and it's far too long and you can't put a hole where a hole don't belong." How can archaeology be standardised?

Next thing we know, Europe will be standardising the style, number and method of building sandcastles on our beaches. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

MARGARET Richardson of Darlington seems to be saying that Tory MPs know more than the man in the street about Europe's future, but aren't allowed to say so (HAS, June 19).

There are two sides to the European debate, with Conservatives like Leon Brittan, the former MP for Richmond, taking a high profile role in the pro camp. For example, we are proud that he is a patron of the North-East in Europe campaign.

We want to see a well-informed public taking part in the debate on Britain in Europe. - Robin Ashby, Secretary, North-East in Europe, Newcastle.

M CITRONE (HAS, June 21) appears to have an obsession with Europe being good for our nation and has apparent aversion to anyone who loves his country and does not want to see it destroyed by the "Euro Loonies".

Nobody can forget that this country lost a lot of lives fighting for the freedom to live our way, of being able to have our own laws and customs and not have it run by some dodgy dictator who wants to tell a man he cannot sell fruit by the pound or he will be charged by a foreign court.

In the last war, I got quite friendly with a sergeant from Australia and I asked him what made him come to the desert to fight in the war? His reply was: "Well it's my mother's and dad's country isn't it."

He was killed the next day, age 21 years, and I will never forget it.

So Mr Citrone, don't you ask me why we want to be free to run our own lives. I have never had anything to do with hunting, but if people want to hunt or shoot, who are you or me to tell them what to do. - F Wealands, Darlington.

GLOSTER GLADIATORS

RE the comments made about the Malta Gloster Gladiators, Faith Hope and Charity (Gadfly, June 13).

It seems that the passage of time has watered down the tremendous contribution they made to the retention of Malta during the Second World War.

The four Glosters were the only fighter planes on Malta when Italy joined in. One plane was kept for spares while the other three were flown by airmen who were not even fighter pilots, but soon became as famous.

They went up against the far superior planes of the Italians. Always out-numbered by at least 20 to one, the Gladiators took on the bomber formations as though they themselves had superior numbers.

They tore into them, making them climb higher, most of the time making them ditch their bombs into the sea and high tail it back to Sicily.

It is possible that some were so damaged that they never made it back to Sicily.

To quote from the book, The Story of Malta, written by Brian Blouet: "One pilot was credited with six victories in about a month and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross early in July 1940."

They fought alone for three weeks until help arrived in the shape of the Hurricanes.

But they will live on forever in Malta and in the hearts of those privileged to see them. - F Edwards, Shildon.

LABOUR PARTY

IS it surprising that law and order, like Britain's once-feared manufacturing industry, is disintegrating?

Prime Minister Blair is a disgrace to us all. When you consider there is nothing in Labour's manifesto that can rebuild this anarchic land, the prospect of another five years of socialism is actually ghastly.

I've never seen such gratuitous vandalism and violence as that being carried out now in our over-populated cities and I have never come across a more decadent Government to permit such degeneracy.

The loss of so many jobs under New Labour makes me punch the air in fury. Well done Tony for allowing Fujitsu, Siemens, Vaux Brewery, Electrolux, Rothmans, Wilkinson Sword, Corus and Glaxo to shed jobs in your native North-East.

Labour sees itself as a party that cares about people's jobs and quality of life - what nonsense. Shame on all those responsible for Britain's ills.

Will Tony Blair go down in history as Traitor Blair, the unrepentant nation destroyer? I sincerely trust so. - Andrew Lightfoot, Bridlington.

TERMINOLOGY

HAS anyone noticed the skillfully-worded announcements these days when management sacks workers?

"We are re-focusing our priorities"; or "We are letting you go". Nothing so nasty as the words "redundancy" or "surplus to requirements"; let alone "You're fired".

Any words will do as long as it doesn't sound so harsh. - FM Atkinson, Shincliffe.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

WITH reference to Mr Hart's letter (HAS, June 22) about the misuse of the English language, I agree with everything he says and the very headline brings to mind my pet hatred, and that is the word tad.

Everyone uses it, even the weather forecasters. Where did it originate? Is it just a lazy way of conveying a small amount?

Whatever, please consign it to wherever it came from and encourage the use of plain English. - E Sibly, Sedgefield.