Surely forcing a person to give a message that goes against their conscience is totally contrary to the concept of freedom of expression (Letters, 27 October). My reaction to the Belfast bakers’ case was that it was another example of sexual totalitarianism. Freedom of expression includes the freedom to refrain from publishing views contrary to your conscience. If we lose that freedom we are going down the road of totalitarianism.
Peter Charles Beales
Stockport
• While agreeing with the thrust of Mandy Lane’s letter that “religious belief is a choice; you cannot choose your sexuality”, how many religious people have in fact chosen their religion? It is usually chosen for them by their parents when they are too young to know any different.
Kevin Cowen
Kidderminster, Worcestershire
• Our solution to the problem of magazine disposal (Letters, 24 October) is to donate them to the excellent and friendly Cockermouth Library. They are gratefully received and help to increase the number of periodicals in stock.
Janet Mansfield
Aspatria, Cumbria
• Forget the charity shops. I find magazines are eagerly welcomed in my GPs’ reception area and disappear within days as people take them home to finish articles they’ve got stuck into. At least, that’s why I hope they disappear!
Richard Kuper
London
• The government has again underlined the prescience of George Orwell. This time it has done its best to support the name he gave to Great Britain in 1984: “Airstrip One” (Goldsmith quits as Tory MP over Heathrow expansion, 26 October).
Peter Sanders
Northampton
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
