Religion remains an area that people are still encouraged not to debate or question. The problem here occurs when the teachings of a religion impinge on commonly accepted human rights. Islam claims to be a religion of peace, but with the growing number of people killed globally because of this faith, people should question how accurate this description is.
We live in an age where all issues of public interest should be open to critical debate, and any faith which restricts or punishes this is one which does not align with the principles of a fair, just and peaceful global society. I don't think intolerance and racism should be confused with reasonable and fair questioning of a religious faith which will kill you if you draw a picture of their Prophet.
Ray Calver, Grey Lynn.
Reverse discrimination
I totally agree with Susan Devoy that there is no place for racism in New Zealand. This evil does start small and grows exponentially if allowed to or encouraged, which is why so many are concerned at the legalising of racism in our courts, bureaucracies and institutions - something she endorses. A non-racist country would have laws applying equally to all of us. Welfare and support would be dispensed according to need, not ethnicity. But this is not the case in New Zealand.
Fiona Mackenzie, Whangaparaoa.
Airport treatment
As a frequent international traveller with Air New Zealand, I have several times found our departing flight has no air-bridge available. We all have to assemble in a small room and then get shoved onto buses like cattle, and taken out to our aircraft on the apron - an archaic practice for the 21st century. Meanwhile, the air-bridges are mainly taken up with foreign airline planes, mostly of Asian origin.
It has just been announced that yet another Chinese airline will start flights to Auckland soon. My strong message to whoever owns and runs the airport is to either look after your own country's residents better, or make sure you have sufficient gates available.
R. Jones, Pukekohe.
Trapping not an option
Contrary to the Opinion piece you ran on Monday, many environmentalists support the use of 1080 to control pests in our native forests. I do the volunteer pest control work on the ground and know it is not feasible to use trapping over large areas because of the expense, difficulty and lack of volunteers.
Even some ex-trappers recognise that widescale paid trapping is not a cost effective option and creates a reverse incentive to value and farm possums. We see this in the opposition by the possum and goat pet food businesses to the use of 1080 at Moehau.
If we really value our taonga native forests and species we need to control pests. For large scale pest control 1080 is by far the best option.
Kate Graeme, Tauranga.
Families not responsible
Recently I read a somewhat disturbing letter in this forum suggesting the families of radicalised Muslims should be held accountable for the terrorist activities of other family members. This would be grossly unfair and undemocratic. Why should family suffer for the actions of another member of that family? They may be estranged, possibly for years, and have no sympathy with radical terrorist beliefs.
It is easy to judge and tar all Muslims with the sins and radicalism of a few fanatics, but what if the tables were turned. Should all Christian families be responsible for the beliefs and radical action of a few Christian radical fanatics? I have had the privilege of knowing several Muslim families and have found them to be very friendly, peaceable and certainly not sheltering radical fanatical members of Isis, Taliban or Al Qaeda.
Gerald McCully, Forrest Hill.
Maternity advice
Rosemary Goldie's letter was quite correct. I had my daughter in the UK in 1965, there was no fuss or bother and no advice on diet and the like. I worked until I was eight months' pregnant with monthly visits to my doctor, then in the last month the midwife visited me at home. I had my baby at home with her and my doctor in attendance. I ate as always, normal home cooked food.
There appear to be too much fuss these days about this. I see warnings about paracetamol being given to babies. Why is it being given? If a baby has teething problems rubbing their guns with honey can give relief, and gripe water to relieve pain in the stomach.
Sheila Sivyer, Palms Hospital, Pukekohe.
Seymour's mandate
I get annoyed every time Act's David Seymour is given radio or television time or space in our newspapers to give his opinion on euthanasia, gun control, the right of the super-rich to pay no tax - just about anything. This man represents almost nobody. As yesterday's Herald election story showed, Act got well less than one per cent of the 2014 vote. David Seymour is only in Parliament because of National's unethical corruption of the electoral system.
The Conservatives (almost 4 per cent) and Internet-Mana (more than double Act's vote) didn't get into Parliament simply because they wouldn't be representing enough people. And fair enough too. Yet Colin Craig has more right to speak about euthanasia and Hone Harawira more right to speak about rich and poor than David Seymour.
Is there any party standing in this year's election promising to get rid of the rorts that allow people like Peter Dunne and David Seymour to get in to represent nobody or an ideology that no one wants? My vote is looking for a home.
Ben Grubb, Tairua.
Price of milk
I read with interest the reported statement from Fonterra's Mark Robinson that high domestic dairy prices were "due to the global standard set in the world market". That being the case, what happened to domestic dairy pricing when the world market was significantly depressed, the New Zealand consumer certainly did not benefit from lower pricing then.
Mike Cook, Clyde.
Cause of poverty
I am enjoying watching "What Next" on TV1 about the possibilities that lie in front of us. My only concern was on the subject of equality and eliminating poverty. The concept of a universal basic income being trialled in Finland and an election policy for the Opportunities Party, makes a lot of sense and would certainly help improve the income of those on the lower levels. My concern is that poverty is not necessarily a result of low income. It is the spending of one's income that is the vital factor in developing a poverty lifestyle.
We read of a large number of poor families whose offspring numbers exceed their ability to successfully look after them. For example, if a family earner has an income of $1000 a week but has to support six or eight children, the family is going to be poor, whereas the same parents with one child would probably have a reasonable standard of living.
Perhaps listening to the advice being given by Barry Claridge from the Beach Lands Medical Centre in Tuesday's letters may make a large contribution to reducing poverty in New Zealand.
Dick Ayres, Auckland Central.
Excusing settlements
Unless Gerry Brownlee regrets what New Zealand can at last be proud of, his predecessor's Security Council resolution that Israel desist from building illegal settlements in the West Bank, it is not for him to regret the consequences. His excuse on Israel's behalf, that it is the only democracy in the Middle East, is singularly offensive in the context of a de facto annexation which in effect establishes an apartheid regime that denies political rights to the indigenous population.
The only ones who cannot see that are either those who, like the settlers, have a vested interest in turning a blind eye to reality or religious fundamentalists who selectively cite "sacred" texts to justify ethnic cleansing.
D. K. Henderson, Henderson.
