Bradford & District | Archive | 2005 | November | 28
From the archive, first published Monday 28th Nov 2005.
SIR - Now the CRE leader Trevor Phillips has acknowledged the myths of multiculturalism in this country it is time for honest debate.
I'm old enough to remember going to school with Polish, Ukrainian and Estonian children whose parents fled the German occupation or early post-war Communist influence.
These people took the rock-bottom jobs with anti-social hours and saved to better themselves. There was no family credit bonanza to be sought out for those people, or grants gained by political expediency. It was hard work, but they didn't squeal. Instead they reared a generation of young people who were a credit to Bradford.
This was genuine integration and fulfilled the purest multiculturalism one can have. They paid for their own Saturday morning schools, financed their own community clubs and sponsored their own social activities.
Not for them the screams of perceived racism or pleas of poverty. These Eastern Europeans have melted effortlessly into our society. Has it been a success because the numbers were carefully controlled? Or was it the result of a people who were prepared to work to help themselves?
Food for thought but doubtless never considered by the career politicians.
Peter Jones, All Alone Road, Idle.
SIR - Further to your report on the inquest into the death of my son Stephen Wainwright (November 2). It would appear that it was insinuated that he risked his life cleaning a window that the owner of the flat had allegedly asked him not to do.
As his mother, I feel I need to put his case forward.
My son was someone who would help anyone who asked for help, but in this case he would not have put his life at risk unnecessarily, cleaning a window he didn't have to.
We were happy with the narrative verdict arrived at by the jury but were unhappy that no recommendations had been made to prevent a similar accident happening in the future.
Pat MacPherson, Norwood Terrace, Burley-in-Wharfedale.
SIR - How good it was to see Rawson Market in use once again, even if it was for only two days.
And how good that it was being used to host the Peace Market, the climax to Bradford's first Peace Festival, which brought people of all creeds and beliefs together in a common purpose.
Congratulations to whoever in authority sanctioned this use of the premises which have lain idle for too long. And praise, too, for Brenda Thompson and her band of volunteer workers who had the bright idea of organising this event, which I hope will now become an annual pre-Christmas festival.
Perhaps someone will now realise that in these unused premises, Bradford has a valuable resource, which could be used for small-to-medium-size exhibitions, record fairs, and so on.
It could play a vital role in the regeneration of the area around Oastler (or as I prefer to continue to call it, John Street) market.
Karl Dallas, Church Green, Bradford.
SIR - As a regular visitor to the New Victoria, when it was so named, and now a supporter of the "Save the Odeon " campaign, I was so pleased to read the letter of Jean Walker (T&A, November 14) and her suggestions. It was the best yet.
The city is in desperate need of a new concert hall and like many others I am disappointed with our local councillors and MPs.
As Jean says, the time is right for an afternoon meeting where people can express their feelings in public and put some pressure on Yorkshire Forward and Maud Marshall, who don't seem fully aware of how the majority feel on this matter.
Isn't it sad that there is nobody in authority at City Hall who will speak their mind and give public support to this worthy campaign.
Mick Crossley, Flower Haven, Bradford.
SIR - Will New Labour councillor Vanda Greenwood ever come to terms with former MP for Shipley Chris Leslie losing his seat to the Conservative Philip Davies? In her latest attack on Mr Davies she condemns his "ridiculous" initiative to expose the insidious role of the politically-correct brigade, calling on him to "get some real work done" looking after the interests of his constituents in Shipley (T&A, November 15).
It's no wonder she dislikes those who fight back against the merchants of political correctness, many of whom are to be found among the ranks of New Labour in town and city halls around the UK. These nonentities have once again targeted Christmas, arguing that it should be toned down so as not to offend ethnic minorities with different faith beliefs.
Since Christmas is a festive period of sharing and goodwill to all peoples, I refuse to believe ethnic minorities are in any way offended by our Christian traditions.
Coming from a member of a political party that is perfectly happy to wage an illegal war against Iraq, undermining the United Nations in the process, I think it highly hypocritical that Councillor Greenwood should target Philip Davies as she has. This says much about her priorities.
Alan O'Day Scott, Chancery Court, Graythorne Road, West Bowling.
SIR - Brian Holmans (T&A, November 16) regrets Mr Blair not returning to the path of true socialism. He conveniently chooses to ignore the last time, in the late 1970s, that true socialism held sway.
In the hands of the militant trade union barons led by Arthur Scargill and Derek ("Red Robbo") Robinson the streets were blocked with uncollected rubbish, the dead were left unburied and hospital porters were deciding who should be operated on, until Margaret Thatcher restored sanity to this country.
True socialism is fine as a theory, but it falls at the first hurdle once human beings are introduced into the system. Those of us who lived through the first dose in the 1970s do not want union militants with power without responsibility even being allowed to wreak their havoc again.
Geoffrey Holmes, The Grove, Idle.
SIR - Following last Friday's tragic events in Morley Street, I'm appalled that a senior member of the Government or a member of the Royal Family has not visited Bradford to pay their respects to WPC Beshenivsky or visit WPC Milburn.
At a time of such a national tragedy, the families of these two heroic WPCs, their colleagues and the people of Bradford deserve the support and respect from our elected leaders and our monarchy.
Surely, people who serve our community and pay the ultimate sacrifice deserve more respect from our so called leaders, who should have travelled to Bradford to lead the nation's grief to these two remarkable women.
Mike Catterall, Moorland Avenue, Baildon.
SIR - In response to Florence Dunn's letter (T&A, November 19) some of us did try to fit in with the British Legion.
We joined but it seems we didn't fit in - most of our branch were from the older generations and did not seem to have any interest in what we had to say to the point where both my wife and I left.
I have the greatest respect for all veterans. I served my country during the Falklands but cannot imagine what those older people went through to defend our country.
I even carried the legion standard in the Bradford remembrance parade 1989.
Peter Green, Wensley Bank, Thornton, Bradford.
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