Christmas
WHAT has happened to Christmas?
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The celebration of Christ’s birth, for that is what the word Christmas means.
Now all we see, is great blow up Santa Clauses, trees with baubles and tinsel.
But where are the scenes of Jesus?
Not in shopping centres any more, and where are the carols the ones telling of Jesus’ birth, like Joy to the World the Lord is come or Silent night, Holy night?
Everywhere, people are pushed into buying presents, having a photo on Santa’s knee, children encouraged to write letters to him.
But how can they know what Christmas is all about, when they aren’t shown God’s love for mankind with no manger scenes to look and wonder at?
And what happens afterwards?
The credit card bills come in.
For the next year they are paying for all those presents they bought, when God’s gift of Jesus was freely given so all who believe will have life eternal with Him.
Veronica Jill Davies, Beaconsfield.
Charity Walk
I WRITE to update our generous community after my recent charity walk from Longford to Hobart in support of StGiles.
To date the donations have raised in excess of $21,000, which demonstrates how supportive Tasmanians are for a good cause.
Founded in 1937, StGiles is a vital Tasmanian organisation helping children and adults with developmental delays and disabilities.
StGiles deals with more than 6000 clients a year with facilities in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie.
As a grandfather, I’ve seen first-hand the way the caring and professional staff have helped my grandson, Evan.
It’s for Evan and the thousands of other current and future StGiles clients that I walked the 200 kilometres arriving on Monday, December 4 at Parliament House, where I was greeted by many supporters including the Premier.
To those individual and businesses who have been so generous, I thank you.
The work of StGiles is enhanced by our community’s current and future generosity.
Mark Shelton, Liberal Member for Lyons, Speaker of the House of Assembly.
Gorge
IT IS so sad that the saga of the volunteer cottage in the Gorge drags on.
Some people have their knickers in a knot of that volunteers aren't capable of giving tourists help regarding where to go and what to see.
That cottage was done up a few years ago over many months and at great cost.
Now it appears that it may be unmanned but open for all and sundry to enter and do whatever they want.
What is the difference between the volunteers at the Gorge and those who man information desks at places like Sheffield, Exeter and most other places in the state?
Our council seems to be doing all that it can to ensure that volunteers aren't valued, especially at the Gorge where, some weeks they've had many visitors, all grateful for the help offered them.
Glennis Sleurink, Launceston.
Churchill said it all
ROBERT Stonjek's strategy "Company Tax" in The Examiner (December 18) is mirrored in the Guardian by Tony Blair's recasting of a "Land Value Tax" (so called).
Both strategies are awaiting political will, especially here in cash strapped Tasmania with an election in the wings.
Robert is in good company, his fellow subversive was Winston Churchill who in 1909 pointed up the gross inequities that landowners/speculators enjoy.
Nothing has really changed here since; think infrastructure costs for starter – all are provided by tax and ratepayers.
Ken Partridge, West Launceston.
Art
THE City of Launceston council could increase tourist numbers by helping hard working local artists, such as Josh Foley to have a gallery in the central business district
Leon Cooper, St Leonards.
Fleetfoot foxes
INTERESTINGLY in relation to the report on Tasmania's fox eradication program, the Integrity Commission states it has found no evidence of fabrication or falsification (of evidence) by the two bodies overseeing the program, in its 250-page report.
Yet in the next breath claims there is circumstantial evidence that supported the possibility of fox scats being deliberately placed at sites.
If that's the case, I'm with complainant Windermere independent MLC Ivan Dean on this one, and to put it in my own words, "I don't smell a fox, (for there isn't one), but I sure do smell a rat".
Robert Lee, Summerhill.
Tasmanian Windmill Farms
TASMANIANS are bragging about building the largest windmill farm in the Southern Hemisphere. A two megawatt windmill contains 260 tonnes of steel requiring 170 tonnes of coking coal and 300 tonnes of iron ore, all mined, produced and transported by hydrocarbons.
The data shows that a windmill could spin until it falls apart and never generate the amount of power as was invested in building it. Kinda defeats the whole purpose doesn't it?
Jack Sonnemann, Lucaston.
Quota versus ability
WHY do we need to have positions filled in our society, be it government or employment based, on the idea of quota?
Throughout my many years of life, I have always been subjected to the word ability for any position required to be filled. That was long before the cancer of political correctness and bleeding heart syndrome was heard of.
The medical condition of cancer has in the future the hope of a cure, unfortunately I cannot say the same regarding the cancer of our society’s political correctness.
Ian O’Neill, Deloraine.