The recent articles in the Tele regarding non-baptised children being refused placements in Roman Catholic schools highlights the bigotry and sectarianism which still lingers like a spectre over Scotland.
Taxpayers have a right to request their child be placed in schools of their choice. This should not be narrowed down on the basis of an ancient religious “guideline”.
I urge any parent of a child who has been refused a placement to challenge the education department why their child has been refused and refer them to the UN convention of the rights of a child, which was adopted by local authorities.
It would be interesting to discover the ratio of baptised children gaining placement as compared to non-baptised. — Phil Welsh, Chair, Top of the Hill Community Forum.
Nancy’s change their tune
The Nancys are concluding their quest on I’d Do Anything (BBC1). I am astonished they were recently allowed to sing the title-altering lyric Things Ain’t What They Used To Be.
The correct title of Lionel Bart’s composition is Fings Ain’t Wot They Used To Be, which was a 1960 No.5 hit for Max Bygraves.
Phonetic titles were coined in other spheres of pop.
For example, a Paul Robeson classic is Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho.
Slade’s phonetic hits bear titles like Coz I Luv You (1971 No.1).
Similarly, Cole Porter’s duet (for Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra) from 1956 has the famous anthem from the movie High Society entitled Well Did You Evah. — J.I. Matthew.
Give Gordon old job back
I notice that Gordon Brown is taking all the credit for the “good economic times” he claims we have enjoyed under New Labour.
Now that the economy isn’t is such a good shape he is trying to avoid all the blame. Some leader.
However, he believes that he is the man to turn the economy round.
If that’s the case he should stand down as Prime Minister and return to his old job as Chancellor as he clearly is unable to focus on more than one thing at a time. — Political Connoisseur.
All we need is tolerance
These days we are all told that we should be aware of diversity within our community and show some tolerance.
It saddens me to read some of the readers’ letters, particularly those concerning children playing, dogs barking and cats fouling gardens.
I find nothing better than to hear the local kids playing in the streets. Dogs do bark, although it shouldn’t be excessively and cats, well how do you discipline a cat?
There are enough restrictions on our enjoyment and I do not believe that we need any more licensing or legislation.
All that is needed is a bit of tolerance and consideration from everyone. — Letter Watcher.
No respect
I read with interest the letters regarding dogs barking. It seems that people do not have any respect for others these days.
Not too long ago your neighbours had respect for you and you for them.
I have people behind me who seem to think slamming doors is the thing to do no matter what time it is and the other one has dogs which are let out at 5 am to bark and bark. — M. J., Dundee.
Bus problems
One of life’s little pleasures was reading the Tele on the bus as I made my way home after work.
Now thanks to Stagecoach I no longer have this evening ritual.
The reason, by the time my bus has finally deemed to turn up I have read my paper just standing at the stop.
One evening recently I asked the driver if his bus was the 4 o’clock late or the 4.30 early. At 4.26 it was more than a little late. When I queried the cause of the delay —“Don’t know, just took over” was the indifferent reply.
If I was taking over a service which was over 20 minutes late, I would have asked for an explanation. — L. A.
Charon debate
I am disappointed to read a letter about wheelchair taxis using the non-de-plume “Charon”.
In mythology Charon was the “ferryman of the dead”.
Are we to presume that this is an example of the disdain which the taxi driver has for the public in Dundee?
I am particularly disappointed as the letter is on transport for disabled people. This link is not acceptable. — Artemis.
Children working
I agree with Worried Mother. My son is 14 and would love to get a job for some extra pocket money.
We have tried car washing and paper rounds but there are loads of other kids in the same predicament.
These kids should be commended for wanting to work. It shows that they have been brought up on good working values. — Proud Mother.
Lochee water problems
My tap water is vile. It tastes like disinfectant.
I can’t drink it or use it for tea or coffee. It’s only fit for washing your feet.
Why are we paying such high water rates for something we cannot use?
I have had to resort to buying bottled water. Surely others must be experiencing this as well. — J. M., Lochee.
Referendum call
Scotland’s people today are being held against our will like those who were around when the Act of Union 1707 was signed 300 years ago. We should end it sooner rather than later by having a referendum. — R. G., Kirriemuir.
Life torn apart by drug
In October 2006 my life was torn apart by heroin. I found my big brother dead in his flat in Dundee. He had died of an overdose. He was 31.
His four young kids are now without a father.
I don’t think I will ever get over it properly, and it enrages me the number of people who are hooked on this filth.
I think the claims that parts of Dundee are awash with heroin are completely true. You only have to walk through certain areas to see this. There seems to be more junkies than normal folk walking about sometimes. Where I live (near the city centre) in my tenement block, it is an almost daily occurrence to find heroin paraphernalia littered throughout my close.
I don’t think methadone programmes work either. The doctors seem to prescribe it to anyone these days, 17 and 18 year old kids, anyone who walks into their surgery with some drugs in their system. They soon become immune to it, then take heroin on top of their methadone, which is even more deadly.
Something has to be done. The situation is totally out of hand. — Concerned.
Have to hide purse
My life and my family have been torn apart by my son’s heroin addiction. He used to be a happy-go-lucky, good- looking young man. He was a tradesman, a car owner, someone with a future.
Now I have to hide my purse every time he comes to my house.
He even steals from his gran, who is 93.
It is the dirtiest, filthiest substance in the world and in my view the only way to make things better is to legalise it, then some addicts would live their lives without stealing and hurting those who love them. — Upset.
Drug dealers still doing business
I’m writing as a Kirriemuir parent who lost my son to heroin and other drugs on the street. I am very angry with MSP Joe FitzPatrick, who thinks Dundee does not have a major problem. You only need to check the results of drug deaths in Tayside to see the scale.
It’s not the case of which area is worse, it’s the fact that it is available. I am sick of hearing that another person has died of heroin. In my area alone over the last year three young men have died due to heroin. Two of them had children of their own.
It’s hard losing your child to drugs and also very hard to stop being angry as the drug dealers are still doing business all over this town and my son is dead. I don’t think it will be long before someone else has died in Kirriemuir, again to heroin. — Reader.
Dundee doctors need to do more
I was born and brought up in Dundee and I developed a heroin addiction.
I was using it for six years and eventually I had personal family problems. I tried my utmost best to get help from doctors and drug counsellors but they turned me away and treated me as if I was the scum of the earth.
One day I packed my bags and left and moved to Edinburgh. I moved into a hostel as I was homeless.
I got a doctor and they helped me straight away. I couldn’t believe it how they gave me the time of the day. They put me on a prescription and helped me get my life back.
I got a flat within seven weeks. It was the best thing ever to happen.
People don’t want to be like that, they just get in with the wrong crowd and eventually they get hooked.
Every time I visit Dundee to see family I’m always begged for money. Dundee could be a better place if the doctors and counsellors paid more attention.
I’ve been clean for five years now. — Cleaned Up.
Got hooked at 30 in Barnhill
I am a heroin addict who has just started on methadone treatment.
This was not the road I wanted to go down, but after two spells in rehab and numerous times going cold turkey, this seemed to be my last option. All is going well so far.
All you people out there who disagree with methadone can criticise all you want, you obviously don’t have a clue about addiction. There are always reasons why people turn to drugs or alcohol.
Do you think I grew up saying to myself I want to be a heroin addict when I grow up? I am 33 and never took heroin until I was 30. You would think I would know better wouldn’t you? The thing is you never know where it is going to take you. Before it’s too late, the drug is controlling you.
Dundee is rife with drugs. I come from Barnhill, not a bad area, yet I still managed to get involved in heroin. The stuff is everywhere, in every scheme and in every surrounding village of Dundee. Something has to be done quick. It’s not going to get better by itself and the police really are fighting a losing battle. — Steve B.
Amount tiny in 80s compared with today
I started taking heroin at the age of 16 in the early 80s.
The amount of smack about then was tiny compared with today in Dundee. It doesn’t matter where you live you will find drugs if you want them.
I now live with HIV and Hep C. I have to take anti-viral treatment every day to keep me in a healthyish state. I am 44 and I was first given methadone at the age of 18. I now have a steady lifestyle but still get methadone and diazepam. — HIV.
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.*
