‘I lost my mum during Covid. Do I blame the government? No.’
Is the Covid Inquiry a waste of money, or an eye-opening example for why we need to remodel the governing of this country?
One reader, who lost his mum during the pandemic, has written in to vent his frustration at those who lay the blame on the government for the pandemic. Though mistakes were made, he says, given the circumstances, they made some beneficial decisions too. Do you agree?
Meanwhile, readers discuss the right to protest, archaic religious practices, callous reactions to a tragic death, and the eventual end of humanity due to AI.
What do you think about our readers’ letters today?
Share your thoughts in the comments.
'Were mistake made? Yes, as they were in any other country.'
I get so frustrated at these comments about how the government was supposedly at fault during the pandemic and with what’s being said at the Covid Inquiry (MetroTalk, Wed).
Was the government prepared for a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic? No. But which government around the world was?
Were mistake made? Yes, as they were in any other country. Should we have had stocks of PPE in reserve at the cost of millions in case of a global pandemic? Tell me which government did.
When we had a world war, did the government make mistakes? Yes.
I lost my mum during Covid. Do I blame the government? No.
Furlough, loans, the vaccine… People forget what it did do.
So, sure, yes, let’s spend loads of money on an inquiry now and prepare for another pandemic in 100 years – stock up on your masks, they can be left in your will to your great-great grandchildren.
Peter, Borehamwood
Boris Johnson’s former chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, revealed that the government was not prepared for the pandemic, that its approach was shambolic and that we don’t have the infrastructure to protect our borders (Metro, Wed). We need to remodel how we govern our country. Neil Dance, Birmingham
‘Just Stop Oil have the right to peaceful protest.’
Ryan Cooper (MetroTalk, Tue) is right to point out that peaceful protesters such as those from Just Stop Oil are not the same as football fans who invade the pitch.
The right to protest was hard-won here. Civilian demonstrators used to be fired upon by soldiers under government orders to suppress unrest.
I don’t believe the current political argument that demonstrations should be outlawed, because this is still a relatively free country, and such laws could only lead to further suppression. Beverley, London
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‘Circumcision of boys is not the same as an ear piercing’
David Frencel (MetroTalk, Wed) defends circumcision of boys for religious reasons by comparing it with a child having their ears pierced.
Regarding this point, ear piercings can be reversed and heal over, circumcision cannot.
Further, routine circumcision of boys for religious reasons takes place without the consent of the child, often leads to complications, and leads to the sexual organs being less sensitive in later life – I know about this as I was circumcised!
David worries it’s the people calling out this brutal and unnecessary practice that will lead to ‘religious bias’.
If David is worried about religious bias, perhaps he should reflect on what this brutal practice actually looks like in the 21st century, as religious parents enforce their beliefs onto defenceless children. Tom, Sheffield
‘Two years isn’t enough for murder of an animal’
The story about sadistic farmer Kim Rendall, who dragged his son’s husky 650ft to her death behind his car, was a hard read (Metro, Wed).
But I am more disgusted that this moron is only likely to receive two years in jail. Two years. For murder.
What is the sentence then for merely beating an animal to within an inch of its life? A £10 fine?
The old age debate of fair punishment for animal brutality needs to stop being a joke and brought in line with reality. Roger, Reading
I hope scumbag Kevin Brennan – who joked about the death of Friends star Matthew Perry (Metro, Tue) – still thinks death is funny when someone close to him dies.
I had a sick character like him tormenting me on the internet in 2011 when my partner died suddenly. John Lewis, Liverpool
Brexit: to each their own
To Richard Wilson (MetroTalk, Wed), who says young people don’t like Brexit:You are so wrong. Brexit was the best thing we ever did. It’s called freedom. You may be a sheep but everyone else isn’t. Brexit is here to stay. We don’t need or want EU control. Billy, Glasgow
‘If AI wipes us out – we did it ourselves’
If artificial intelligence makes humanity extinct (Metro, Fri), then the evolution of the human species can be called a self-correcting program. Nicholas Taylor, Hove
‘Why stop with elderly travel passes?’
Taking on Catherine’s view (MetroTalk, Wed) that working pensioners should pay to travel (rather than have their pre-9am passes returned in London). Should disability pass holders who work do the same?
If we want society to treat everyone fairly then all forms of privileges must end and everyone must pay the same for goods and services. Ted, Reading
Thanks for letting us know about the cannelloni
Like Pamela (MetroTalk, Wed),I have also been searching for cannelloni tubes. And I have found some. In Morrisons. They are own brand but they taste good.Addy B, Leeds
Pamela, I got some recently from Ocado. Buon appetito! Jane, South Ware
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