The row over an academic’s opinions on homosexuality, speed cameras and massive bank profits all exercise our letter writers today, while a defence of remote wildlife watching is also made.
Homosexual row requires students’ tolerance Sir, Should an individual academic’s views on homosexuality count against him or her in terms of university appointments?
It would be unfortunate if Professor Roger Scruton’s views prompted a nasty bout of intolerance among the student body at St Andrews (August 10).
It is one thing to express reservations about sexual orientation in a broad sense. It is something else to insult individual students because of their own sexual preference.
I am sure Professor Scruton would never do that. The authorities at the university would be entitled to take the most stringent action against any academic or other employee who did. They also need to uphold great college traditions of vigorous but civilised argument, the testing of ideas, insight into a changing society.
A university education would be a much poorer experience if staff all conformed to the same outlook.
I don’t dislike the idea of political correctness. It does encourage many people to think before they open their mouths and cause unnecessary offence.
But sometimes it can have the effect of stifling debate. It can mean that attitudes that are out of date are never subject to scrutiny.
It can mean many ordinary people are frightened to speak up. I’m sure that the students’ association at St Andrews University will be able to peacefully co-exist with Professor Scruton. If they can’t, then we can only despair of the liberal, enlightened values a modern university should stand for.
Bob Taylor.24 Shiel Court,Glenrothes.
Webcams make nature accessible
Sir, I laughed out loud at Mr Crumley’s excellent pun on Puff the Magic Dragon (August 10).
However, that is where my admiration for his contribution ceases.
Mr Crumley is fortunate in that his profession enables, in fact requires him, to spend a great deal of time watching and recording wildlife.
The majority of the rest of us have other commitments family, work and so on which preclude this. TV programmes on wildlife, such as Springwatch and CCTV cameras observing the ospreys, puffins and so on, give us an insight into the lives of our native wild birds and animals which would otherwise be denied us.
I do not approve of programmes which anthropomorphise animals but I do not think the Loch of the Lowes webcams were guilty of this.
I was among the many thousands who watched with mixed emotions the arrival, breeding and departure of the very old female and was delighted when she recovered from her serious illness.
I do draw the line at the outpouring of emotion on the blogs but if it gives people pleasure there is no harm in it.
If all of us were able and willing to do as Mr Crumley suggests and spend lots of time out on the hills or wherever watching wildlife, there soon wouldn’t be any left.
The hills would be eroded and much habitat destroyed, by the thousands of people tramping about.
Also, if we were able to watch the wildlife for ourselves no-one would need to buy his books!
No, Mr Crumley, I, and I’m sure most other folk, are content to leave it to the experts to make these wonderful films and write the books, which are both educational and a joy to watch and read.
Sybil Berrecloth.6 Duff Street,Dundee.
Methodology before politics
Sir, A randomized-controlled trial could be scientifically devised to help decide whether and which speed cameras could safely be switched off.
Before any new medical or surgical hospital treatment is introduced, it is trialled in carefully designed research studies, comparing the existing, standard with the new, hypothetically superior, clinical management.
The findings are analysed and the lessons learned put into practice.
Many of the problems result from politically-based interventions.
Changes to educational methods might have been avoided by well-designed trials rather than immediate imposition depending on a political opinion. It is easy to understand why these cameras have become so controversial but maybe statistical science could help to make their application more rationally-based.
(Dr) Charles Wardrop.111 Viewlands Road West,Perth.
Banks must end fairly
Sir, Putting down your newspaper after reading of yet another national bank making a multi-billion pound profit, I opened my mail to find that the meagre 0.1 per cent interest on my current account is henceforth to be reduced to zero per cent.
By chance, shortly afterwards a friend phoned to say that a proposed bank loan he had investigated, to rebuild a semi-derelict building, was not only to be charged at 6.5 per cent interest but that the bank had asked for a further £18,000 fee for arranging the loan, which he was magnanimously being allowed to add to the loan.
My friend wisely turned the offer down and raised the money elsewhere.
It seems to me that banks are obtaining their capital at zero per cent, or close to it, then using their customers’ money to give loans at inflated rates like six and seven per cent.
Under such circumstances you do not have to be a genius to make billions of pounds in profit.
All you need is a government which seems powerless to stop the practice.
Money is only of use to the country if it can be channelled into useful and profitable enterprises.
Surely any bank having billions of unused pounds lying around in its vaults is not only doing a disservice to the country at large, but, in the long run, to its own shareholders.
Archibald A. Lawrie.5 Church Wynd,Kingskettle,By Cupar.
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