Today’s letters to The Courier’s editor include discussions about ‘silly’ council spending, the advantages of getting your hands dirty, and one of President Nixon’s lesser-known legacies.
Profligacy amid harsh spending cutsSir,-For some time now I have felt that we are living in Cloud Cuckoo Land. Now I am certain!
I just could not believe the story on the BBC news that the council in Pontypridd, Wales, has spent nearly £200,000 on bridges over a new road to enable dormice to cross and meet other dormice.
It beggars belief that in the current climate of recession, this obscene amount of money should be spent on such a silly scheme.
When interviewed, an official said that the council had no option because of EU laws. The inmates have definitely taken over the asylum.
Robert J. Ramsay.2 Boniface Place,Invergowrie.Prohibition aids gangstersSir,-Former US President Richard Nixon has been denigrated for many things but his revival of the failed methods of prohibition in his war on drugs was by far his worst legacy.
As a direct result, the United States is the world’s largest consumer of illegal drugs and 70% of that is controlled by Mexican cartels who, long ago, replaced the Colombians.
However, it is not only tens of billions of dollars which flow annually across the 2000-mile border. Guns, so freely available in the United States, have simply flooded Mexico.
No amount of military co-operation between America and Mexico has made the slightest difference and today the only thing the cartels fear is the end of prohibition.
But decriminalisation of recreational drugs has been resisted by Anglo-American authorities with a blind zeal which must impress even the most radical Islamists.
(Dr) John Cameron.10 Howard Place,St Andrews.Sanitising childhoodSir,-Reading your article (August 24) about hand washing facilities at the Secret Garden outdoor nursery, Letham, Fife, prompts me to ask some questions.
Surely any parents who enrol a child or children at the nursery have been made fully aware of the facilities available and have decided that the freedom of an open-air environment is what they want for their children at an important stage in their development?
Is the Care Commission considering banning Duke of Edinburgh Awards’ candidates from their camping expeditions?
How did our own children (now adults with children of their own) survive holiday picnics on the beaches of Islay with not a tap or even wet wipe in sight?
How many readers were members of Scout and Guide companies or the Boys’ Brigade in the past and have lived to tell the tale of camping in woods and fields with little or no sanitation or running water?
Please allow parents to make informed decisions about hand hygiene and their children.
A day or a week spent in the country, getting dirty and having fun is an experience so few children have these days. I am sure the Care Commission could find other more serious breaches of regulations to investigate.
Judith Gillespie.The Old School,Denhead,St Andrews.
Marriage provides societal benefits
Sir,-I agree with your correspondent Murray Duncan (August 24) that Tiger Woods should not be expelled from professional golf for marital infidelity.
We are also in accord that Tiger Woods’ conduct was “merely human” like that of many celebrities and I fully endorse his statement that it was a hero (though he does not specify if Jesus is his own hero) who wisely said that he who is without sin should cast the first stone.
After that point we begin to differ. Due to the increase in divorce in Western society, Mr Duncan questions if it is the condition of marriage and the morality of monogamy which is wrong.
Mr Duncan finishes his letter by asking why monogamy should be expected or even demanded of us.
As a man who is married and faithful to one woman, I should appreciate the opportunity to answer. Firstly, it is to honour God who gave us this commandment, “You shall not commit adultery” (Deuteronomy 5 verse 18).
Secondly, because I love my wife through life’s ups and downs. Thirdly, to protect my children from the damage which marital unfaithfulness invariably inflicts on innocent kids whose hurt often grows into anger.
I trust this answers your correspondent’s question.
Stuart Wishart.12 Walnut Grove,Blairgowrie.