08/04/03

The reluctance of the Iraqi people to come forward should have been predictable after the way they were let down last time.

But once the battle had begun our troops should have been backed to the hilt, they didn't make the decision.

The columns of protestors have certainly given succour to Saddam and will encourage him to fight to the bitter end.

I wonder if the teachers of the pupils who were allowed out to jump on the bandwagon had tried to explain to them that our troops are prepared to die in order that the Iraqi people can have the freedom that they enjoy and take for granted.

In the 1930s Churchill was ridiculed for trying to warn us of the dangers presented by Hitler and his followers. In the end he was proved right. Should Blair prove the same the protestors will hang their heads in shame. - Douglas Punchard, Kirkbymoorside.

DAY after day, night after night, we are bombarded with the latest lurid information about the war in Iraq.

It is like watching a John Wayne movie which never seems to end and, of course, Wayne was as far right as you can get.

Despite the ever increasing feeling that this war should never have been allowed to happen there is no doubt our soldiers particularly are brave and are carrying out their orders to the letter.

Unfortunately, this war is being fought to feed the egos of Bush and Blair, whose ultimate aim is impossible to ascertain.

Saddam Hussein is a red herring in this war. The American aim has always been to take over the Iraqi oilfields.

George Bush is not the legitimate President of the US and there is no doubt that Al Gore won the election.

It is encouraging to read the many anti-war letters in the readers' letters columns, however I fear this war will get worse, with many more military and civilian casualties and a descent into sheer barbarism.

The US is in the grip of the far right and it is imperative that we disengage from these people as soon as possible or we will become a puppet state of America, something not to be relished nor tolerated. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.

THESE are difficult times for our country with many servicemen and women ordinarily based in North Yorkshire engaged in the conflict in Iraq.

I know there are many who would wish that we were not involved in the war. The fact remains that we are and here in North Yorkshire the war is as close to home as it is anywhere in the United Kingdom.

We have the largest garrison in Western Europe at Catterick where some 1,300 men and women are currently serving in the war. We also have the important barracks at Ripon and Topcliffe and the Army Apprentice Training College at Harrogate.

There are the Royal Air Force stations at Leeming, Dishforth and Linton on Ouse and the Government Communications bases at Fylingdales, Menwith Hill and Staxton Wold.

There are, therefore, thousands of families here in North Yorkshire directly affected by the conflict. Wherever these families live they are an integral part of our community and an important part of our economy.

Our county has a long and proud association with the Armed Forces and out thoughts and prayers are with them. - County Councillor David Ashton, Northallerton.

text to go hereHOT CROSS BUNS

CONTINUING the debate (HAS, April 1) about whether or not hot cross buns have been banned by some local authorities, so as not to upset certain ethnic groups, perhaps it would be educational to consider what academics say about the origin of hot cross buns.

Buns were baked and given as an offering to the Earth Mother, as part of fertility rites celebrated at the spring new moon festival, by the Assyrians, Phoenicians and Philistines. Later, the Angles and Saxons worshipped the goddess of spring, Ostara or Eastre as she was known, in the same way.

Putting a cross on the bun offerings to "Christianise" them, was a way our ancestors felt happy about continuing the old ways in a new spirit.

Perhaps those who are banning the hot cross buns are doing us all a favour when you take note of what God says: "I hate your New Moon festivals and all others as well, they are a heavy burden I am tired of carrying... "(Isaiah 1: 14- 17).

Of course, buns are only a part of the pagan customs God says he hates, there's the eggs and the bunnies too, but that's another story. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

text to go hereORANGE PARADE

I REALLY couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the picture of the Orange parade (Echo, Mar 31).

We are in the midst of a terrible war. There must be many soldiers who were stationed in Catterick who are in the thick of it. These people are living in the past, 400 years of it. Time to be forgotten.

We don't remember with parades War of the Roses, or The Civil War. - Name and address supplied.

text to go herePETER MULLEN

THE Northern Echo is the best regional newspaper in the country, with a reputation for employing good journalists, and that is why I buy it, to read local news.

One correspondent (HAS, APR 1) asks: how can you allow Peter Mullen to continue to write a column for your newspaper?

My sentiments exactly. I have often wondered how such a puerile writer is allowed to waste valuable space in an otherwise excellent newspaper. Mr Mullen is simply not up to the standard expected of a journalist.

In his most recent article he tells us that he is a parson with two churches in the City of London. We already know that, he has told us often enough. In fact it is written at the end of his column every week. Then he goes on to tell us the corny jokes about what the vicar said.

I expected the one about the curate bawls like a bull, and the old lady says, has he?

Perhaps his cockney parishioners find him interesting, to me he is a terrible bore.

I suppose we have to take the good with the bad, congratulations to the rest of you and keep up the good work. - Rob Jameson, Peterlee.