The new Party of No
The Democrats in the US Congress who are currently united in “bashing Trump” have, through their filibustering, copied the same strategy used so blatantly by Republicans during Barack Obama’s presidency. Today’s beleaguered Democrats have now switched places with the opposition and have become, according to Zachary Karabell, the new “Party of No” (Bashing Trump is not a winning strategy, 30 June). In short, Congress is again losing its raison d’etre and facing stagnation.
Given this state of things, the best advice I’ve recently come across is from activist and philosopher Noam Chomsky, who says, with direct reference to Trump, that “ridicule is not enough”, and that “what is needed is action: urgent and dedicated, in the many ways that are open to us”. These are choice words which should become the new political mantra.
Richard Orlando
Westmount, Quebec, Canada
• Regarding Zachary Karabell’s piece, let’s hope that Democrats also read How Corbyn changed the rules of British politics, also in the 30 June issue. Gary Younge noted that in an economic crisis people want the crisis to end and not just the promise of managing the crisis better. Although we may regard the Trump regime as a political crisis, the increasing gap between rich and poor is an economic crisis, and the US electorate needs to see constructive solutions, particularly when it becomes all too obvious that Trump has nothing to offer but his slogans.
Richard Holland
Grafton, Ontario, Canada
Britain isn’t a great power
Britannia has shot herself in the foot twice in a year, and things are falling apart (A year after the Brexit vote the picture is still as messy as ever, 30 June). Still thinking like other great powers, Britain suffers from a sense of entitlement, of exceptionalism (mainly English superiority), of exemptionalism (from the usual rules), and from elitism, insularity and ignorance. But the UK is no longer a great power.
British attitudes need a severe shaking up. Here’s just a spatial reorganisation recipe: cancel Brexit and try to fit into an increasingly federal EU, which ought to be thinking of becoming a big power in its own right; federalise Britain, creating legislatures with taxing powers in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and English regions; disestablish a national anthem that begs God to give victory to a single elite person, and also demote its alternate, which purports to rule the waves; come up with a modest new anthem in a national, perhaps uniting, competition; and down-grow London.
Britain needs to recognise that it is just another middling power. Commonly held UK attitudes must be severely readjusted before Britain can once again become a serious country.
Douglas Porteous
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Celebrating Canada’s 150th
As a teacher of Canadian history, I have been appalled and disappointed by the crass commercialisation of symbols such as the maple leaf and particularly the nation’s current flag, whose origin was not grounded in unity but was cloaked in a political agenda (7 July). Former prime minister Lester Pearson chose to polarise parliament in 1965, and then used closure in a heated and unnecessary debate to delete from history the previous flag, which flew at Versailles in 1919 and Berlin in 1945 in recognition of the efforts of Canadians who sacrificed their lives for freedom and a better world.
Successive governments of all political stripes at both the federal and provincial level continue to look through the telescope from the wrong end when it comes to addressing the intergenerational human crisis facing indigenous peoples. Unfortunately, the historic incalculable wrongs of the residential school abuses, which took place for much of the 150 years, cannot be undone.
Canada’s economically and politically marginalised indigenous people deserve better. Until the governing political parties take ownership of the idea that the future of the country is inextricably bound to an inclusive and genuine recognition of reconciliation of its First Nation peoples, all celebratory efforts of nationhood should be placed on hold.
Michael Herman
Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Don’t demonise sharks
Philip Hoare’s uncharacteristic anthropomorphic view of sharks is unpardonable (7 July). As humans domesticated animals for farming, some creatures, such as wolves, remained stubbornly wild and even dared to predate on our pets. So we demonised them in myths and laws to make it acceptable to destroy them.
What Hoare saw in the “reptilian” eye of the shark (caged in a tank) was all in his imagination. Sharks do not eat humans – their very few attacks are accidents or provocations. Hoare should search YouTube for videos of sharks playing with divers, of sharks blissfully “standing still” to have their noses rubbed. His article only helps shark-finners continue their obliteration of vital species by encouraging human indifference, even gratification. Maybe, behind its eye, that shark was thinking, “Why don’t you love me too?”
David Trubridge
Havelock North, New Zealand
Briefly
• Beautiful article on the touching Three Graces by Raphael (7 July). Has anyone explained the curious neck of the pitcher in the drawing? Ablutions?
Edward Black
Church Point, NSW, Australia
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