MUSLIMS: COULD I reply to Pete Winstanley and Hugh Pender on my apparent unjust barrage of criticism of Mr Winstanley's seemingly "balanced view" of events in the Middle East and Muslims?

Having read Mr Winstanley's interpretations of statistics and studies, others contradict his view. A NOP poll found that 45 per cent of British Muslims thought 9/11 was a conspiracy by the American and Israeli governments.

One in four believe the 7/7 attacks in London were justified because of British support for the US.

Only one in four say Britain is their country; 28 per cent wish the UK to become a fundamentalist Islamic state; and 68 per cent support the arrest and punishment for British people who insult Islam.

Muslims are free to express these views as the UK is a democracy. Sadly, 30 per cent wish the UK to live under Sharia (Islamic) law. Free speech would then be a thing of the past.

In answer to Mr Pender (HAS, Dec 16), I'm not anti-Muslim but anti-terrorist. Muslims are free to practise their religion as long as they do not try to impose this on others. What can distort people's opinion of my views is that although all Muslims are not terrorists, nearly all terrorists are Muslims and I say as much. - Kev McStravick, Darlington.

I SUPPORT Tony Kelly and other correspondents in deploring Pete Winstanley's repeated attempts to minimise the danger of Muslim terrorism by his repeated use of the phrase "tiny minorities".

What comfort will that completely unfounded phrase give to the relations of those murdered in New York, London, Madrid, Bali and elsewhere?

We in the West demonstrated in our thousands against the deplorable decision to invade Iraq.

I see no evidence anywhere in the world of moderate Muslims demonstrating against those who murder and maim in the name of their religion.

It is obvious to the "vast majority" in this country that we are in greater danger than at any time since the Second World War. Our Home Secretary and over-stretched security forces know that. Does Mr Winstanley? - John Martin, Easington Village, Co Durham.

LOST VALUES?

PITY he's left it so late, but Tony Blair appears to have woken up to reality.

He's recognised, and that is the only possible interpretation of a recent speech, that multiculturalism is a disaster. It's already harmed us in all sorts of ways and that's just for starters.

Let's be quite clear: this nation has always celebrated diversity. That's part of our British identity. That's why our core values include respect for other people's beliefs, customs and traditions and also basic human rights, among them, very definitely, the rights, dignity and equal status of women.

Alien hate-mongers who make a comfortable living out of reviling those values, and at the same time condemning our basic record and identity as a nation, are something we can do without.

They are no more acceptable in a healthy body and we need to be rid of them urgently. - Tony Kelly, Crook, Co Durham.

PARTY POLITICS

I THINK most people, apart from politicians, would prefer to be free from party politics.

The reason we are mostly governed by party members is embodied in the first rule of survival - safety in numbers.

Politics, like religion, is about living together, with all our differences, in peace.

Most people are moderate and too busy living their life to get too involved in either, unless roused by extremes. Therefore, we are governed by leaders from the most active people in politics and religion, by default.

Until, if ever, the independent multitude gets involved in politics and religion, we are stuck with the present system and voicing our opinions when we can.

We need to make it harder for minorities to govern here, virtually unopposed. There has never been a better time to push for a new English version of PR. - George Appleby, York.

SOCIETY

I READ with disappointment the views of Donald Hughes (HAS, Dec 18).

Once again, we hear the blame for all society's ills placed upon the youth of today and the present Government.

With rose-tinted spectacles, Mr Hughes infers that Britain of the 1940s was a safer place to be. Never mind the millions lost in the defeat of fascism, the Holocaust, rationing, and the introduction of the nuclear age.

No, the Britain of today was not formed by today's youth, nor indeed the government of the day. It was formed by the parents and grandparents of today's young people.

Whatever the government, its ability to influence society and morality is strictly limited. Responsibility for the society we now live in lies much closer to home. - Ian Holme, Hurworth, near Darlington.

ZARA PHILLIPS

TAKEN in isolation, Zara Phillips did very well in her chosen sport of equestrianism to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year title (Echo, Dec 11).

She, no doubt, could have the finest horses to choose from, the finest stabling, the finest vets, the finest transport. In fact, she could have the finest of everything, whatever the cost.

Young Beth Tweddle, with no such advantages, won a gold medal at the World Championships in gymnastics and finished third in the BBC vote. I wonder what facilities she had in Toxteth, Liverpool?

Good luck to Zara Phillips, but I know who my sports personality of the year was - Beth Tweddle, who would have won quite easily if the ordinary people of this country had voted for her. No doubt the country set made sure their choice won. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.

PROSTITUTION

IT would appear, following the Ipswich killings, that legalised brothels would make life safer and healthier for prostitutes, according to some correspondents (HAS, Dec 16).

Unfortunately, this is not so simple. Even countries with licensed brothels still have street prostitutes. If the girls in the licensed brothels are to have regular medical checks surely none of the heroin users among the murdered girls would have qualified.

Also, once a licensed brothel is set up the girls working there would be liable for income tax and payment for their licence. More reasons for them being an amateur on the street. - Barry Wood, Edmondsley, Co Durham.

IMMIGRANTS

I AM amused at Colin Dent's suggestion that immigrants, legal or otherwise, would be deterred by lots of poles (no pun intended) and a very long wire (HAS, Dec 15).

He must think that we are about to be invaded by hundreds of expert cross-channel swimmers or yachtsmen. If they manage to swim here, let 'em in. With strength like that we must surely be able to find some use for them.

Yours, with tongue in cheek, and wishing a very Merry Christmas to everyone, of all colours and faiths, and particularly to any asylum seekers, refugees and immigrants who still read your newspaper, in spite of the Mr Dents of this world. - Pauline Cassim, Hartlepool.