The War Memorial seems to have lost touch with a facet of its function

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In deciding not to award Chris Masters for his book, our war memorial has fondly embraced the saying “all’s fair in love and war” (“Truth loses as memorial changes rules at half-time”, September 15). Problem is, we’re not at war, and there was no love to be lost in the first place. What the memorial seems to have lost is its function of not glorifying war or offering implicit support to an alleged war criminal, but of memorialising genuine acts of courage and selflessness in the face of imminent danger, as well as a memory to remember that war is never the answer. Frederick Jansohn, Rose Bay

If distinguished journalist/editor/historian Les Carlyon, who loved writing about horse racing, were to be writing about the current scandalous affair where the Council of the Australian War Memorial – where he was replaced by Tony Abbott after his death in 2019 – changed the rules to prevent Chris Masters’ book from winning the memorial’s literary award commemorating Carlyon, he no doubt would have reported that Masters’ book had been “nobbled”. John Payne, Kelso

Flawed Hero, the book at the centre of the Ben Roberts-Smith controversy.

As the Australian War Memorial is changing rules mid-game to stop critical books from winning competitions, l think it should be renamed the Australian Defence Force Propaganda Unit. Samantha Chung, Kensington

Wobbles for Albanese

James Massola’s article (“One Nation surges as chaotic Liberals sink”, September 15) shows current tinkering with tax and housing policy is only feeding disunity and false narratives about immigration. The article shows that, although immigration is not uppermost in people’s minds, it is a powerful channel for fear and anxiety. The Albanese government is in the rare political position to step forward and turn this poisonous debate around by giving young and working people a fair go on income and home affordability. Let’s reset and overhaul the tax and property benefits for the few and invest in social cohesion. It’s time. Christopher Hill, Kensington

There seems to be discontent with Anthony Albanese on more than one issue. Has anyone stopped to think about the opposition and the damage the Coalition or Pauline Hanson could do to this country? Robyn Lewis, Raglan

Those supporting One Nation are the very voters that Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is hoping to lure to the Liberal cause. Labor, on the other hand, has shown the benefit of not pursuing the far left and Green vote. Despite a massive majority, it seems that the country is divided on Anthony Albanese’s performance. It is alarming to think that the government has squandered that much goodwill in less than six months. Philip Cooney, Wentworth Falls

Multicultural blessings

A more balanced debate is called for (“Labor found wanting over immigration”, September 15). I live in a multicultural area and I love it. I think a direct question on immigration will always invite the responses found in your article. To prove my point, it also found that it is not a real concern, only to the far right. Housing and cost-of-living issues are not caused by immigration. In a country for all migrants, I feel uncomfortable calling anyone a migrant, but the people others call migrants, recent arrivals, have held this country together, during the pandemic, in aged care and hospitality. Anne Eagar, Epping

It’s a pity there was no comparison of how Australians have viewed the issue of immigration in polling since it became a priority of the federal government after World War II. It would have indicated there had hardly been a year when a majority of those surveyed were in favour of higher intakes of migrants. If governments had not ignored those polls, this country would still have a population of millions in single digits and I, for one, would not be here. Con Vaitsas, Ashbury

If the government were to allocate, say, $20 billion for new housing around the country, couldn’t we just tell the Americans it was for housing defence personnel and have the expenditure included in our defence spending? Are they likely to be any the wiser? Richard Tainsh, Potts Point

Western malaise

It is so easy to see similarities in all Western countries (“Is the Price right for a Farage quake?” , September 15) where, generally, white Anglos, the less educated, have been effectively and successfully used by right-wing politicians in brainwashing that immigrants are the problem, and that they are less well-off because of immigrants. They forget that all these countries desperately needed immigrants in the wake of World War II to build their nations, providing labourers to doctors and all other disciplines. It has benefited all sides, with the standard of living increasing substantially, and people have become richer over generations. Many Poms say they voted for Brexit but wouldn’t have done so if they knew what it would do to the UK. I wouldn’t be surprised if, in the future, a Coalition of Labour and Conservatives formed a government to marginalise fringe and populist parties. Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill

With its violent far-right activism and hatred of immigrants, are we witnessing an incipient new MAGA movement (MBGA?) taking shape in Britain in the shadow of the Palace of Westminster? It was Great Britain that bravely defied the Nazi bombardment of its cities by the Luftwaffe during a catastrophic war ending just 80 years ago. How quickly we forget. Bernard Moylan, Bronte

Liberals’ labours lost?

A thumping defeat in Kiama and the latest federal polls show the Coalition struggling to make any inroads on Labor (“Liberal leader on borrowed time as contenders circle”, September 15). Mark Speakman and Sussan Ley are surely two leaders who may be facing difficult times in holding on to power. The future looks bleak for both of them. Denis Suttling, Newport Beach

Gun-toting madness

Cory Alpert’s devastating indictment of Trump intimate Charlie Kirk (“Kirk’s death shows multiple truths”, September 15) details his damaging bastardry in “making the world a crueller, more stupid and more violent place”. It is not surprising that MAGA extremists and their ilk now strive to make a martyr of a misogynist who made clear his hatred of blacks, LGBTQ folk and other minorities, together with his intolerant persecution of those who did not share his rabid views. That Kirk was killed by a rifle shot in the gun-toting society he supported grimly emphasises the irony of his strident advocacy of gun ownership. Moreover, Kirk’s mentoring relationship with Trump should surprise no one, in that their one-sided insularity is shared. Ron Sinclair, Windradyne

Many of the Herald correspondents, writing on the death of Charlie Kirk, refer to American gun culture, but I think that is only a symptom. In 1970, four students were shot dead at Kent State University by Ohio national guardsmen. One of them, William Knox Schroeder, was not even part of the demo, just walking between classes, yet for months, even years, afterwards his mother received hate mail saying he was “a commie” and deserved to die. This hints at a very dark side to the American psyche, only made worse by the Second Amendment. Nicholas Triggs, Katoomba

Could some Christian scholar please explain to me where in the New Testament, the document the Christian religion is presumably based on, it says God has given “rights” to certain groups of people? Margaret Broadbent, Dunboga

All pupils deserve a good library

As an advocate for school libraries and teacher librarians, I’d be disappointed if the library revamp at Scots College included decimating its library staff and collections (CBD, September 15). Yet, what about the current state of school libraries in government schools, not only in NSW but across the nation? I have witnessed the decimation, minimisation and devaluing of school libraries and the employment of dually qualified teacher librarians for years. Good on those Scots parents for asking their principal vital questions regarding the library, its staffing and collections.
All parents of school students need to ask their principals questions about the library, its collections, its teaching program and its staffing. Every student, not just those who attend an elitist private school, deserves and is entitled to a well-resourced school library plus a dually qualified teacher librarian to manage and teach within it. Sharon McGuinness, Thirroul

Ask not what you can do for a library ...

Here’s a useful suggestion regarding the fairly new baronial castle at Scots College. Why not repay all those generous government grants and turn it into affordable housing? That part of Sydney is crying out for accommodation, and I am sure the grateful recipients would not mind sharing digs with spotty youths. Nola Tucker, Kiama

Walk this way

The walkway would be a brilliant addition to Sydney’s pedestrian community (“Subway walkway born from Metro missing link”, September 15), but I feel that as so many are working from home, it will not be used to its full potential. Will it become a viable warm and dry space for Sydney’s increasing numbers of people who are homeless? Andrew Sipos, Pyrmont

I hope the state government explores the opportunity for an underground walkway connecting Town Hall, Gadigal and Museum railway stations. Jeffrey Gabriel, Gladesville

Lithgow is flash

The campaign to save the Locomotive Workshops and bring jobs back to Lithgow

Lithgow is a great town with a great history, and the state government should invest in keeping it alive (“Lithgow’s call to save old railway yard”, September 15). We need people with vision to help the locals preserve their historic sites and local industries. The Workers’ Club is well worth a visit and/or stay. Save the railway yards. Alison Stewart, Waitara

Friends on the march

Last Saturday, I joined a couple of hundred people in a march against racism, organised by Indigenous people in Grafton. It was quiet and peaceful. There were a couple of speeches, some singing and dancing, and a walk over the bridge and back. A talented teenage boy played the didgeridoo, despite having one arm in plaster. But something else also happened. People from different backgrounds, with very different lives, got together. We caught up with old friends and met new ones. We smiled and we clapped along to music. We supported each other and left after a couple of hours, feeling better about the world. I loved the event and the experience of camaraderie. At the same time, I feel sad that we live in a time when it seems necessary. Tony Judge, Woolgoolga

PM needs to save PO

The local post office is the hub of most towns and suburbs. Now that banks have closed most branches, older people need access to their local post office for banking and more.
Many are unable to use ATMs or travel to other suburbs for these essential services. The hundreds of locals protesting to try to save Milsons Point post office in Kirribilli at the weekend is a case in point that resonates with all of us. It’s time the federal government stepped up and took back control of all post offices, and moved away from this unacceptable, self-funded model. Having a local post office is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Narelle Ryan, Woollahra

Freedom from religion

I agree with your correspondent (Letters, September 15) who says religious freedom isn’t absolute. Ironically, religion is a retreat to an absolute in a world where the only absolute is that there are no absolutes. I struggle to celebrate religious freedom. I would applaud a world where we were free of religion. It has been a barrier to our intellectual development. What is more wondrous than trying to understand the wonder around us, instead of resorting to the shibboleths of an ill-educated patriarchy? Chris McKimm, Karangi

Review this!

As Ben Groundwater has found (“System where staff must beg for good reviews is so wrong”, September 15), the corporate fixation with service reviews is becoming quite obnoxious. Whether it’s supermarkets, insurance companies, hotels or airlines, all are immediately demanding a positive review or a survey for every contact you may have with their company. I refuse to write reviews or complete unsolicited surveys.
Believe me, if a company or service deserves a response, positive or negative, I will have already provided it. Mark Berg, Caringbah South

Just the door, thanks

Your correspondent (Letters, September 15) suggests John Howard and Tony Abbott “need to be shown the door and thanked on their way out”. Thanked for what? John Ure, Mount Hutton

The party is over

A correspondent (Letters, September 15) thinks “The party of Menzies may be dead.” The party of Menzies died with Howard. That’s why Malcolm Fraser resigned from it shortly after Tony Abbott replaced Malcolm Turnbull as Liberal leader, believing the party was becoming too conservative. It moved from the sensible centre (now occupied by Labor) to the far right. Keith Binns, Goulburn

Golden memories

How good it is to remember the Sydney Olympics (Superquiz, September 15). Australia had an overall Olympic medal count of 58, and only the US and Russia had more. Recalling our athletes and all the wonderful volunteers brings back such great memories. Paul Reid, Campsie

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