I am disgusted at the level of underage drinking in Monifieth every weekend.
Last Friday, it looked like the whole of the 14 and 15-year-old population was out drinking.
The police get no help from the community to combat this.
I am the parent of a 13-year-old, and several of her friends have been lifted for drinking.
It’s not just cider they are taking, but spirits.
They call it getting a “75cl”.
I know we have CCTV cameras on the High Street, so surely we can see who is buying alcohol for the kids.
The teenagers take drink to the local park, which is fairly large, dark and with many hiding places. As soon as they see a police car or torches, they scamper.
I read recently Angus Council is getting additional funding in the form of grants to spend on the community. Maybe the council should buy some lighting for the park. — Concerned Mum, Monifieth.
Full day working
I reply to Astounded who wrote about short working hours at Dundee Contract Services.
I am employed there as a plumber. My working day starts at 8am, unloading a van then taking everything into the house where I am scheduled to be. This can be two floors up, but I’ve to transport all the gear before I start to install the heating system.
My lunch is from 12.30 to 1pm. After this I carry on working until 4.30pm . . . but only if the job is completed. I may have to work on past this.
There are no smoke breaks, as I am a non-smoker.
I think Astounded would agree this is more than a three-hour day. If the three-hour day Astounded detailed is true I hope people won’t tar all council employees with the same brush. — Hard-Working Plumber.
Rent increase
I can’t believe Dundee Federation of Tenants’ Associations agrees with Councillor Regan that rents should rise by double the inflation rate. It’s like turkeys voting for Christmas.
Councillor Regan would have us believe he is doing us a favour because it could have been 7%.
Who are the Tenants’ Associations? I believe only 600 responded of the 3000 who were questioned about rents. Some mandate. — Shocked.
School did not call police
With reference to the reader’s letter “School Went To Court Without Consultation”, Dundee City Council education department has told me that neither the school nor the department reported matters involving suspended teacher Mr Barile to Tayside Police.
I’m also assured the school co-operated fully in the police investigation.— Councillor Kevin Keenan, Leader of Dundee City Council.
Appeal must succeed
Misguided police/procurators fiscal procedures and a flawed legal system have led to suspended teacher Mike Barile being used as a scapegoat for an inability to protect teachers from abuse.
Sheriff Macnair’s judgement, if allowed to stand, has removed any protection teachers in Scotland thought they might have had against extreme abuse and threatening behaviour.
Mr Barile’s appeal against his conviction must succeed. — John McKaig.
Astounded
I was astounded by what happened to Concerned Parent’s child in the case of Mike Barile. It sums up the serious discipline issues in the school.
I believe the head teacher should resign. — Truth Seeker.
People cause suffering
Would the bus company showing the humanist slogan “There is probably no God, so enjoy life” be brave enough to display one reading “There is probably no Allah”?
I believe in the times we live in, the books of Proverbs and Psalms in the Old Testament can help people cope with the stresses of modern life.
God gave the Commandments to Moses and we have disobeyed them, so we are paying the penalty. Jesus can help people if they turn to him, but if we close God out of our lives then how can we ask for his help during times of crises?
Religion has not caused our suffering. Man’s abuse is to blame. — J. N.
In the name of God
I am one of the “godless” letter writer Reg Varney wrote about, and have lived without faith all my adult life.
Mr Varney’s letter seemed to connect atheism to violence and vandalism.
He should pick up a book from the history section of the local library, where he will find many examples of hate, murder and repression, all done in the name of God.
I welcome the new bus advertisements. — Fraser Dunstan.
Religion causes misery
The Tele letter which welcomed the atheist bus mentioned the Bible as a source of conflict. I believe all major religious books fuel discrimination.
Religion has caused endless misery. — James Moffat.
Medals
I live in north-east England and have moved house a few times. During one move I have acquired second world war medals belonging to a Dundee family. They were awarded to a Mr R. Langlands (crs113) 103362 of 173 Victoria Road, Dundee. There are two medals he didn’t live to receive. I’d like to trace his family so I can return them. — Steve Burrows, The Cottage, Parsons Walk, Norton, Teesside, TS20 1TZ (01642 861461; 07841 024618).
Concentration camp Gaza
Gaza is a big concentration camp created by Israel. The Israelis use tanks, missiles, jets and helicopter gun ships and naval ships against Hamas, whose weapons are little more than big fireworks.
The Israelis claim to be firing on terrorists but know quite well civilians will be killed.
We should arm Hamas with the same weapons the Israelis got from us and the Americans. — Flyeye.
Restrict Israel to 1967 borders
In 1917 the Liberal politician Balfour made the declaration to grant a homeland to the Jews. This contradicted an earlier agreement promising self-rule for the Arabs of the region.
This part of the Middle East was called Palestine. Today Palestine does not exist.
America bankrolls Israelis to the tune of seven million dollars a day.
Israel is the fifth largest nuclear power, with 250 Jericho warheads. It has 4000 merkana tanks, 360 F-16 fighters in its air force, which is second only to the USA in size.
Israelis should be restricted to the borders they had before the 1967 war. — Republican Labour.
Right to exist
Every year Israel suffers the equivalent of London’s tube and bus bombings as a result of suicide bombing and missiles.
The reasons the levels of fatality are not higher is because of the security precautions Israel maintains.
Until the Arab world acknowledges Israel’s right to exist then Israel will have a need for vigorous self-defence. — The Watchman.
Human shields
In reply to Raymond Mennie, the reason casualties are high in Gaza is because Islamic terrorist organisations use women and children as human shields.
The late Israeli PM Golda Meir once said that when the Arabs love their children more than they hate the Jews then there would be peace.
More than 90 lorries of aid go into Gaza from the Israeli side every day. — A. O.
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.*
