Terrorism-Carter
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LARRY Digney (letters, January 12) would appear to suggest that Islam alone is responsible for terrorist attacks which obviously is incorrect.
Using the same logic is it therefore reasonable to blame Christianity for the Irish Republican Army, Baader-Meinhof, Anders Breivik, Basque Separatists, The Red Brigade and Timothy McVeigh.
Probably not.
— A. CARTER, Mowbray.
Free speech-Lloyd
IN A way it has been excellent to watch world leaders, and hundreds of thousands of people, defend the right to free speech.
Nobody's religious fundamentalism should override this in a civilised country, even if free speech takes the form of offensive and stereotypical cartoons.
However, most of the world leaders heading that Paris march are more than happy to act like fascists in shutting down whistleblowing and dissent from the likes of Julian Assange and Warren Snowden.
Their claims to 'national security' are no more valid than religious claims of blasphemy.
Really they are simply embarrassed, and our own government is as bad as any.
— PETER LLOYD, Reedy Marsh.
Freedom of speech-Hayward
THE Charlie Ebdo murders have exposed a severe weakness in our Western systems.
We have not had freedom of speech or expression for many years now, since political correctness was espoused by our various national democracies.
PC is an insidious disease that has infiltrated all levels of government and professions.
It was originally introduced by discontented left wing academics and politicians in order to enhance their own positions, and has now taken on nightmare proportions throughout the “free” world.
Historically it is like the story of the Trojan horse, but much, much more dangerous.
Our politicians are not Charlie.
— COLIN HAYWARD, Goshen.
Bail laws-Lee
VICTORIAN Coalition legal affairs spokesman John Pesutto’s call for an urgent review on bail laws, after a Victorian man on serious charges was released, is certainly justified.
Unbelievably Victorian court documents show clearly Khodr Moustafa Taha expressed terriorist sympathies, threatened violence against police, admitted sending death threats to US President Barack Obama and a search of his house revealed a gun, swords and child pornography.
What is absolutely staggering in this case Victorian Depty Chief Magistrate Jelena Popovic granted bail in spite of police opposition, with the reason being, ``she was not in a good position to determine how much of a risk Taha posed”.
For crying out loud, please tell us, who is?
— ROBERT LEE, Summerhill.
TasWater-Reynolds
WELL here we go again another sob story about TasWater.
I am a single pensioner living in one of three units with only one water metre between us, regardless of how many people are in the other units.
I am expected to pay a third of the usage. This means a ratio of 1-6.
I own my unit, the other two are rented.
TasWater will give me a separate metre if I pay for installation.
This means one man to do the work and three to watch. I don’t think so.
— R. P. REYNOLDS, Launceston.
Retirement-James
ROSITA Gallasch’s article on older people still working makes interesting reading (The Examiner, January 10).
With an aging population, it is to be expected that more will be continuing in work beyond 65 with a range of benefits for our community generally.
Not only do they earn income for their own benefit, but they also fill important mentoring roles passing on their skills and experience to younger workers.
This has been traditionally so and any society that fixes firm retirement ages does harm to its productivity and general community well-being.
Full retirement should be a gradual process spread over many years.
Older people still working are generally better adjusted, healthier, happier and still see valuable purposes in their lives.
I cannot imagine a less fulfilling old age where one does nothing but sit around waiting for the ‘Grim Reaper’.
Fortunately we have volunteering that gives scope for older people to continue roles of significance.
— DICK JAMES, Launceston.
Doctors fees-Sleurink
WE have the Federal Government cutting doctor's fees and Bill Shorten, as usual, against everything with no solution to anything.
Doctors continue to train all their lives with new procedures coming out each year.
This on top of a minimum six years’ training before they qualify.
Politicians don't have any training before they are elected and put in charge of the country and billions of dollars of expenditure.
Rather than cut fees to those who keep us healthy and make us better, why don't we make pollies cut their fees?
— GLENNIS SLEURINK, Launceston.