On Queen and country
I am very much in agreement with Polly Toynbee’s comments about the institution of the British monarchy (11 September), but I do not think that a shift from a monarchy to a republican constitution can be regarded as a default position. For instance it took France five attempts to get it right, Germany (and the rest of the world) floundered through the nightmare of Nazism, Russia turned the world upside down when they tried, and Spain subsequently reverted to its monarchy – although even this has not proved to be entirely satisfactory.
Australia’s attempt foundered on the fact that there was no agreement on the new constitutional detail, and here in New Zealand there are also murmurings. But I sincerely hope that any change will be the result of a well-planned establishment and not simply waiting for an elderly lady to die.
Kitty Monk
Manurewa, Auckland, New Zealand
• Why is it, when the UK is rejoicing at a remarkable royal event, you again give space to Polly Toynbee with her miserable-spirited republicanism? Can we not be simply glad for once at the committed service and moral, indeed Christian, example that the Queen has given and gives the nation? And if that service and example continues through following generations, I for one will welcome it wholeheartedly.
An elected executive president would be a divisive political figure; a non-executive one would hardly attract persons of calibre to want the job; and either would certainly cost the country far more than the monarchy does, as witness the American and French experience.
Please, the next time Toynbee writes, could she give us her positive reasons for believing republicanism would serve us better?
Malcolm Smith
Northallerton, UK
• Polly Toynbee has hardened her stance. Now sounding very much the abolitionist, she wrote in the GW back in 1980 that she was not against the monarchy and would much rather have it than a republic.
But why must we fawn over the monarch’s family members (Princess Diana was about to become the order of the day), she asked and dreaded the mawkish fuss to be made over the decade-ending birthdays of Margaret, Anne, Andrew and the Queen Mother. Now she would rather be rid of William, Kate, George and Charlotte.
But this time she does not talk of an alternative. President Blair? We are left wondering which she would dread more. Long live Polly Toynbee, her writing is engrossing, her speaking riveting.
Melvin Tyers
Muscat, Oman
• It may well be, as Polly Toynbee suggests in her plea for Queen Elizabeth to be the last British monarch, that “talent is genetically random, not inherited”. However, the witty comment by her late father Philip in a story on the previous page – about rugby, of all things – confirms that while nature may not play a major role, nurture clearly does.
Robin Osborne
Alstonville, New South Wales, Australia
• Inveighing against monarchy, Polly Toynbee interweaves a canny pun, “That’s majesty, making everyone else feel lesser.” And the Andy Warhol portraits of the Queen sum it up nicely, a brand and little else.
RM Fransson
Wheat Ridge, Colorado, US
Corbyn’s electoral allure
Re the election of Jeremy Corbyn as UK Labour leader (18 September). Most of the press and other commentators seem to be endlessly repeating the mantra that Labour can’t win with some of Corbyn’s policies such as removing nuclear weapons, no fees for university students and renationalising the railways.
Interestingly, these are all policies of the Scottish National Party, which seems to have had remarkable recent electoral success.
Pam Cohen
Turner, ACT, Australia
Sanders is cutting through
With regard to Dan Roberts’s cover story on Bernie Sanders (11 September), in Iowa and in other parts of America he is doing what no other presidential candidate dares to do. Sanders is cutting through all the political pap that virtually all of the other presidential hopefuls spew.
Sanders ploughs right into the central issue that is bludgeoning the average voter; their economic life is being mangled. The message and the hope that he gives them is marvellously simple; if we stick together, we can rebuild our middle class and shape a reasonable economic future for all Americans.
Let’s hope that by November 2016 all American voters get to hear and see Sanders’ inspiring vision of how, finally, democracy can be secured by Americans.
John J Templeton Sr
Amherst, Massachusetts, US
Britain’s selective memory
How refreshing it is to read comment (as well as books) by William Dalrymple (Airbrushing Britain’s colonialism, 11 September). He is quite right about history teaching in Britain – the version put forward is totally outdated. When quoting reactions to criticism of colonial India, Dalrymple forgot to add the one I have most often heard: “But we brought them civilisation.” Hmm!
A lot of countries are trying to come to terms with past and more recent history, but not Britain. The myths remain, because they are comforting and flattering. It is perhaps time that certain facts were exposed openly and clearly, even if people would rather ignore them.
Alexandra Tavernier
Marcq-en-Baroeul, France
Europe and immigration
The 28 August front-page article Europe needs many more babies to avert a population disaster received scathing criticism from some of your readers (Reply, 11 September). While I share the rationale of the critics – we already live in an overpopulated world – I don’t share their judgment. The article points out immigration as a possible solution for the future of Europe and that is why it is an important piece in the current context to help fight the xenophobic rhetoric that develops in most EU countries.
The inevitable fact we should accept is that Europe may look less white in the future.
Marc Jachym
Les Ulis, France
• With reference to Anthony Faiola’s article A nation rolls out its ‘Wilkommen’ (11 September). He says some European leaders have raised alarm over refugee intake putting the continent’s “Christian identity” at risk. I would have thought “passing on the other side” as millions of innocent humans are left in danger and despair would put a dent in that Christian identity also.
David Kettle
Northcote, Victoria, Australia
Briefly
• The writer of Republican candidate raises issue of Canada border wall (4 September) states “Canada ... has witnessed two attacks by Islamic terrorists in the past year.” Such a claim has not been proven. In the same issue is the headline: Scientist suspended over Harper song (World roundup), its lyrics listing such Stephen Harper failings as: “He muzzles all the scientists / Calls troubled people terrorists.”
Elizabeth Quance
Westmount, Quebec, Canada
• Simon Jenkins (28 August) calls algebra and the periodic table “useless to the generality of pupils”. This is an outrageously philistine claim. The absolutely foundational insights, and greatest achievements, of the four primary sciences are heliocentricism, the laws of motion, the chemical elements, and evolution. I hope it is obvious that this list includes the periodic table. And while these ideas can be grasped purely conceptually, to advance even a little in subtlety of understanding requires algebra.
Susan Douglas
Hazelton, British Columbia, Canada
• The misuse of a single word takes away from an otherwise excellent article by Robin McKie (The last refuge under threat, 11 September). Singular: Inuk. Plural: Inuit. No such word: Inuits.
Berry Tibbitt
Eston, Saskatchewan, Canada
• “The extreme sport of wingsuiting from high places has resulted in many injuries and deaths. Is it really worth the risk?” (18 September). I take it that’s a rhetorical question.
Lawrie Bradly
Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia
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