| Letters - 17 January 2006 |
| Busy saving lives |
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| I HAVE every sympathy for those nursing, medical and auxiliary staff who have been fined for parking legitimately at Ninewells Hospital |
| My impression is the car park staff have too much time on their hands, unlike their hospital counterparts who are busy saving lives and reducing waiting lists.
The debt collecting company are all too happy to get their solicitor to threaten people. I was fined one year after an alleged offence. They could not provide any proof but I had to pay the fine.
I am aware of other colleagues, who have also suffered.
I urge the hard-working and caring staff as well as members of the public and patients to contest fines wrongly given and report any threatening correspondence to the police. — Dr Moontarin Ansar, Department of General Surgery, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.
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| Religious persecution |
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| DERMOT O’SULLIVAN’S list of “civilised countries” includes Iran and North Korea.
How can this be so when both persecute religious minority groups (Christians and Jews) and deny their people the basic human right of free speech?
The Iranian president made a recent call for Israel to be wiped off the map.
Mr O’Sullivan points to American’s human rights record in Iraq yet ignores the fact that Saddam’s henchmen tortured millions at Abu Ghraib when President Clinton was actively seeking world support to take action to stop them.
And what of China’s appalling human rights record?
Mr O’Sullivan correctly highlights US wrongdoing, but he criticises the American occupation of Iraq while ignoring Syria’s 20-year occupation of Lebanon.
Finally, Mr O’Sullivan’s claims America is the only country to use chemical weapons.
North Korea has for years carried out chemical experimentation on political prisoners in its infamous death camps. — W. W., Dundee.
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| Bee Gees better than The Beatles |
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| I ALWAYS believed the Bee Gees were far superior to The Beatles. Watching a Bee Gees TV programme recently convinces me they are the best group going. Long may they continue to carry on entertaining. — Mrs M. Samuel, Abernethy Road, Barnhill, Dundee. |
| Other countries’ examples |
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| I HAVE been very upset at the headlines regarding child abuse recently.
The child snatched from her bath, the three-year-old abducted and raped and the 12-week-old baby who suffered horrific abuse at the hands of babysitters. What next?
It’s a pity we don’t follow the examples of other countries when it comes to crimes of this nature. — Very Angry Mother, Dundee.
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| Keep away |
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| RECENTLY MY child was bitten by a dog outside his nursery. Surely dogs should be banned from being near these places.
I like dogs, but I am very aware that even the best-natured dog can, and will, bite at anytime. There wasn’t any provocation for the attack. — Worried Parent. |
| Torture |
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| I WAS sickened and very upset watching Animals on Channel 4 to see what goes on in laboratories which test against animals.
This is torture and cruelty and has to be banned.
The Government needs to take a long hard think.
If caught fly tipping you can be fined up to £40,000. However, if convicted of animal cruelty the maximum penalty is £5000 or one year in jail. Where is the justice? — Fiona Duthie, Harestane Road, Dundee. |
| Captain Kidd |
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| WHILE PLAYING poker online I was told by an American historian who had visited Dundee that the likely birthplace of Captain William Kidd is Dundee. Is this true? — Colin Edwards.
[Popular belief has it that Captain Kidd was a son of the Manse from Greenock, although unlikely that a minister’s son could become the most feared pirate of the 17th Century.
However recent research has found documentary evidence of a William Kidd, born in Dundee, the son of a sailor, and this version of Captain Kidd’s origins is gaining popularity.] |
| Cross over buns |
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| I WAS in Tesco on January 9 — and so were the hot cross buns! — Gie’s A Break.
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| Rab C. fan |
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| I ENJOYED the fourth series of Rab C. Nesbitt. I was wondering if there is going to be a fifth. — Alex Chisholm, Dundee.
[BBC Scotland say there are no plans for any further series.] |
| Baxter Park |
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| A CONSULTATION on the next stage in the development of Baxter Park is being hosted by the Landscape Design Team of Dundee City Council’s Leisure and Communities Department.
It’s on Saturday in the Boomerang Hall, 110-116 Albert Street from 11.30am to 4pm. This is the chance for the community to have its say. — The Friends of Baxter Park. |
| THE ADDRESS for readers’ letters is - Readers’ Page, Evening Telegraph, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL. They can also be placed in our post box at our offices in Albert Square, Dundee, emailed to us on letters@eveningtelegraph.co.uk or faxed on 01382 454590. We ask correspondents using a nom-de-plume or sending by e-mail to provide a name and address for reference purposes. The editor reserves the right to reject or edit any letter. Please keep letters as short as possible.* |
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