Today: a medical research plea, Dundee FC’s signing policy, a historic link between Montrose and the Swedish navy, and life in Gaza.
Raising cure hopes is unkind to pensioners
Sir,-Isn’t it time to end the growing trend in the medical world of telling us that cures have been found for just about every known human ailment, but that they won’t be available for five, ten or more years?
Can you imagine the chaos that causes in the mind of someone in my age group who has a serious illness?
It’s a case of, “Yes there is a cure, but will you be here to take advantage of it?”
Alex Salmond and his troops seem keen to introduce all sort of laws. How about one which says that no cure for any medical condition can be announced until it is actually available?
And while I’m at it, I see that we older folk can develop all sorts of illnesses from medication we take for our various ailments. How stupid is that?
The medication, in many cases, is vital in the fight against an existing condition. Stopping it could be fatal; continuing it, according to some group of so-called experts, could lead to new ailments.
Mind you they do end their “advice” by saying “… but don’t worry about this.” Would it be undiplomatic to tell them simply to shut up and get on with their day job?
Ian Wheeler. Springfield, Fife.
Give a club a break
Sir,-As I lifelong supporter of Dundee FC, I have to take exception to Alan Provan’s letter (June 24) about the amount of money the team are spending on new players.
To date Dundee have not paid out a single transfer fee for any of the four new signings for the coming season.
They have all signed one-year contracts with a clause allowing another year but the only money spent so far has been on their wages, which will be paid at the end of June.
In fact, the team have received compensation for Craig Forsyth from Watford and a transfer fee (undisclosed) from Kilmarnock for Gary Harkins, and are working to a tight budget laid down by the new board.
The team and the new board were not to blame for Dundee going into administration, so come on Mr Provan give them a break and allow them to show all true Dark Blue supporters exactly how they can run a football team and get us back to the SPL without spending loads of money, which we don’t have anyway.
C. D. Wallace.10 Osprey Road,Montrose.
Dundee FC has a new future
Sir,-The comments directed at Dundee FC by Alan Provan (June 24) beggar belief.
He seems to insist that Dundee FC has spent cash it doesn’t have to secure new signings that it can’t really afford.
Dundee FC, like any business, has a budget that allows for projected income versus spend. Barry Smith has secured, on behalf of the club, free agents that are being paid salaries within this very tight budget.
Dundee FC has not recently paid a fee for any player and is not currently employing any player with a profile that suggests he may be on an inflated salary. What would Mr Provan and his ilk have Dundee FC do? Settle for the players it had in place at the end of last season?
Two have left, freeing up cash for others to come in. Like any business Dundee FC has to remain competitive. Should the club roll over and die because it experienced some financial difficulties? Would any other business, or individual for that matter, do this?
Mr Provan should accept that Dundee FC is here to stay. The club has suffered severely through mismanagement and has come through this latest test strongly.
Brian Lawrence.562 Strathmartine Road,Dundee.
Montrose link with flagship
Sir,-Anthony Troon’s interesting description of the Vasa Museum in Stockholm (June 23) reminded me of the Montrose connection with the disastrous maiden voyage of King Gustavus Adolphus’s flagship “Vasa”.
One of the officers who survived the sinking was John (Johan) Clark, of Montrose. He and his brother, Richard, emigrated to Sweden in 1603 and both rose to the rank of admiral in the Swedish navy.
Richard is remembered as the donor of the ornate brass hearse or chandelier which still adorns the Old Kirk of Montrose.
I visited Vasa Museum some years ago and consider it to be one of the finest and most atmospheric of maritime museums.
Alex Mouat.2 Graham Crescent,Montrose.
Dignified life in Gaza impossible
Sir,-The name of the deputy head of the International Committee of the Red Cross sub-delegation in Gaza is Mathilde De Riedmatten, not Mathilde Redmat, as stated by Andrew Lawson (June 24).
The quote Mr Lawson provided first appeared on the Israeli Defence Force website, and has since been picked up by several news organisations.
A more reliable source is the Red Cross website, where an interview with Mathilde De Riedmatten (published May 20) contradicts Mr Lawson.
Mathilde wrote: “The 1.5 million people in the (Gaza) Strip are unable to live a normal and dignified life. Almost no one can leave the Gaza Strip, not even to go to the West Bank, where many Gazans have family or previously had work.”
The report goes on to describe the hell that otherwise ordinary people have to suffer every day.
As Mr Lawson appears to place so much faith in the views of the Red Cross, he can read the rest of the report in the resource centre of icrc.org.
But if he prefers to believe the reports from the IDF, perhaps he should consider taking his family on holiday to the Gaza Strip this year.
He will then be able to enjoy their restaurants and the nice beach (though I suggest that he keeps an eye open for the Israeli Navy).
Tim Clarke.12 Bank Street,Blairgowrie.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL.