Letters: July 14, 2016

Anonymity is granted only at the discretion of the editor, who also reserves the right to edit letters.

Disgusted with Clinton

HAVING switched on the TV the other day I could not believe what I was witnessing as I happened to tune in at a time when the prospective US democratic Presidential candidate Hilary Clinton was being interviewed over the USA role in Libya.

What I witnessed sickened me to the core as she was asked a question concerning the regime change in Libya, and immediately replied with sheer ebullience to the point of being ecstatic, while unbelievably uttering the words, “we came, we saw, he died” in reference to the grisly death of the country’s elected leader President Muammar Gaddafi.

Yes, Gaddafi had his faults and was not very popular at times for standing against western attitudes.

But no human being deserves to be humiliated and killed in such a sickening way.

Then for such a prominent person in a country that brought about the event to show rejoicing.

It leads me to ask what type of human being is Clinton, or is she indeed human at all?

Anyone that witnessed the demise of President Gaddafi on TV would have been appalled by the horrific violence meted out to him.

But what is even more sickening than that is to witness the prospective President of America, Hilary Clinton, finding delight at the death and suffering of a fellow human being that happened to the elected head of sovereign country.

President Muammar Gaddafi prior to his death had made peaceful advances towards the West and the US in particular.

However, this counted for very little in saving him from a grisly fate, as his country was next on the list for invasion and regime change.

Having been in power for very many years he was almost worshipped as being some sort of god by the Libyan people.

And he was affectionately referred to as the ‘great leader who had made the dessert bloom,’ which was in reference to widespread irrigation schemes that he had brought about by the wise use of the country’s oil revenues.

He fully realised the people needed the means to be able to grow their own crops and feed themselves.

Should we be surprised at the sickening attitude of Hilary Clinton?

Not really, as she comes from a country where violence and death is commonplace and seems to be looked upon as being the normal way that rules for the rest of our planet should be formulated.

One has to feel sorry for the people of the USA who are now presented with the Hobson’s choice candidates of either Hilary Clinton or Donald Trump, both of which would seem to have

little in common with the average American.

Back in the UK in recent years we seem to have a similar situation whereby the people that rule us have for a long time have seemed remote.

However, there is a chance that at long last this could change if an honest person of principle, namely Jeremy Corbyn, is fortunate to be elected as Prime Minister.

It has often been said it isn’t so much about person that is elected but rather the policies he represents.

In this case it would be the ending of punitive austerity, zero hours contracts, attacks on disabled benefits, curtailing rip off corporations and banks, and corporate companies that pay little or no tax.

GA WOODWARD

Nelson Street, Swindon

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Concern over libraries

AS THE chief executive of CILIP, the UK’s library association, I am deeply concerned about the proposed cuts to Swindon’s libraries.

I have written to the council leader, David Renard, urging Swindon Council to reconsider the extent of the proposals – which would see 11 out of 15 libraries in Swindon close.

The decision to shut libraries cannot be just a cost-saving, spreadsheet exercise.

We recognise the financial pressures that local authorities are under but these drastic proposals would massively reduce investment in Swindon and have disproportionate social and economic costs to the council and residents.

I urge Coun Renard to consider the following points in the council’s debate:

n Libraries make local areas better – a library is the beating heart of a community.

Investing in local libraries improves the attractiveness of the local area, reduces anti-social behaviour and makes people proud of where they live.

n Libraries boost the local economy – across the country, local authorities are working with their local libraries to support local businesses, start-ups and enterprise.

The hugely successful network of Business and IP Centres has shown how a library can stimulate businesses.

n Libraries increase the reach and cost-effectiveness of council services – while the main purpose of a library is as a place of learning and discovery, their position of trust means that they provide a unique way for people to access a range of services.

As local authorities face increasingly tight budgets and the need to promote adult social care and child protection, cutting libraries means cutting a low-cost means of reaching more people who need these services.

n The council has an opportunity to look beyond short-term cost-cutting and to invest in their town and communities to give the people of Swindon the library service they need and deserve.

I urge them to take that opportunity now to avoid causing permanent damage to Swindon’s future as a great place to live and work.

NICK POOLE

Chief Executive

Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals

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Facing a stark reality

IT seems that Swindon will be keeping its libraries in Highworth, West Swindon, North Swindon and the town centre.

The other 11 libraries in Swindon are to be closed unless volunteers can be persuaded to run them.

This will greatly affect people who need to use the library computers.

This included jobseekers, people wanting to claim benefits, immigrants wanting learn about Britain, parents and toddlers, people who enjoy reading, students and apprentices who need to do research for their homework.

Cameron says the British economy is strong and the fifth largest in the world.

The fact that Britain can no longer afford libraries suggests that British economy is much weaker that Cameron has been telling us.

TERRY HAYWARD

Burnham Road, Swindon

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Let us come together

SINCE the vote, the remain moaners have expressed the desire to have another vote.

Millions did not vote for Cameron at the last election, but they accepted the majority vote.

Among the moans was, youth would not have the chance to work in the EU.

Spain has 40 per cent unemployed, Greece almost 80 per cent – would they like to have British youth getting work instead of themselves?

Hundreds of EU young people arrive here to work on our fruit farms, would it not be a good idea for some of our young people, instead of sitting around and doing nothing, sign on to a fruit farm?

There they might get their hands dirty but they might find comradeship and a community spirit.

Another letter insinuated that we older people were not educated.

We resent that.

May I remind the writer that we were brought up and schooled in the war years, thousand of children had only their mothers to raise them and their sacrifice was immense.

There were no government benefits like today’s single mums receive, only a miserly grant.

My father left home in early 1942 the next time we saw him was the Saturday before Christmas 1945.

Mum had kept and clothed us all that time, often going without herself.

As for university that was for the elite, we all had to do National Service, many lads were posted to Kenya, Cypress, Suez and the Far East, which were still trouble spots and many did not return home.

Last Saturday I read an article in this paper which put all the moaners to shame.

A class of young pupils put their differences behind them and joined up to let their friend Ollie Chambers sign off his primary schooling with a win in the school sports.

And yes, it brought many who watched to tears.

So come on you moaners put your differences behind you and work to make this country great again.

JH PLIER

Brooklands Ave, Swindon

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Fine performance

ANYONE who did not attend the Steam Museum for the performance of The Little Man In The Tall Hat surely missed a Swindon treat.

This Youth And Community Opera was telling the story of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, his vision and his determination to achieve the transport of today.

It was all set to music in the Steam Museum during Saturday and Sunday July 9 and 10.

And what a treat was in store for us.

The 100-strong cast (some children aged four) were magnificent and all singing their hearts out.

The orchestra was superb as were the choirs.

What more can one say?

Congratulations to every single one of you who worked so very hard to make this an outstanding performance for every visitor and for Swindon

Very well done, it was wonderful.

JOYCE HARRISON

Address supplied

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Leave teachers alone

“DAD blasts irony of teacher strikes” reports the Advertiser (July7).

Personally I find it more ironic that he gives away his real reason for concern in the same article: “Do they realise they can seriously inconvenience some parents?”

It seems that some people regard schools as being more about convenient childcare than the education of their children.

Teachers, on the other hand, do care about education, and that is why they are campaigning against real terms cuts in education funding.

No doubt some readers are already composing replies in their heads about teachers’ short hours and long holidays.

When do they imagine lessons are prepared, books are marked, and so on.

In their so-called free time, that’s when.

I have known many teachers, and they all work long hours outside school times.

If you don’t believe it’s a tough job, look at the statistics on how many new teachers don’t last more than a year or so.

Teachers should be left to do their jobs, instead of having constant government interference and policy changes.

HOWARD MARCH

Tudor Crescent, Swindon

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Bird was looked after

IN REPLY to R Marchment’s letter (July 6).

Regarding the photo, sent in by my son, of the Kookaburra being tethered, the bird was one of about a dozen wild birds on show by the RSPB at a festival in Caerphilly.

Normally they are kept in a bird sanctuary where they can fly free and are not tethered.

The reason they were tethered on this particular day was because of the thousands of people who were visiting Caerphilly and the organiser of the birds there, didn’t want them spooked by the crowds and fly off.

So the bird in question wasn’t a “trapped wild bird”, it was a bird that was being cared for properly by experienced people who didn’t want them hurt by thoughtless or clumsy people.

D COTTRELL

Hornbeam Court, Swindon

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Playing long game

I WAS born in the poverty-stricken area of the east end of Glasgow in 1943.

There was no bath or shower in the houses, an outside toilet shared by three families.

We would call it flats today.

The flats were three tiers high, with no central heating and ice on the windows during the harsh Scottish winters.

I had two hard-working parents who I miss dearly.

Now, as they call me an elderly man, I don’t like it but I cannot deny the harsh facts of our irrevocable destiny.

But at least I have reached that stage, while many of my friends and workmates have not.

My point?

I am now, you may say more comfortable through 54 years of hard work than I was in my early days as a father of five children.

To all the young people in Swindon and our island Great Britain, we have all made the same mistakes in youth that you perhaps are making now.

My hand on my heart, we, the older generation, voted to leave the EU in your best interests, as we will be long gone when the true nature of our decision becomes factual.

BILL WILLIAMS

Merlin Way

Covingham, Swindon

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Voters left in dark

IN RESPONSE to Mr Morgan’s letter of July 8 I would like to point out that now the country is on course to exit the EU, it has become apparent that immigration will not fall if we want to continue tariff-free trade with the EU which will demand free movement of labour in return.

Also that the falling value of the pound has made holidays abroad and petrol dearer.

In addition, job-producing overseas investment in British industry is on hold and may well go to the EU.

Also the stock market has fallen and this has already adversely affected pensions as annuity rates drop.

There is also the issue as to whether Scotland will remain in the UK after we leave the EU.

None of this was made clear to the voters before polling day, so I feel many of those who opted to leave might now welcome the opportunity to change their minds.

JOHN LEWIS

Beverstone Grove, Swindon

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Cyclists on the road

WHILE I sympathise with the cyclist knocked off his bike in Oxford Road didn’t the council build a cycle track to Greenbridge roundabout?

But that means they would have to stop at each street and give way to traffic, unheard of these days.

DAVE MAISEY

Queens Drive, S