Letters - Tuesday November 3 2020

A scanning of the last 200 letters concerning the pandemic reveals several very interesting things.

Firstly, they demonstrate, unsurprisingly, a very left-wing bias against the government’s handling of the crisis.

Secondly, such letters are, as usual, very negative. They attack and vilify the government’s actions but never say what they or Labour would have done differently. Hindsight is, of course, prominent in these letters. They fail to acknowledge that no government in the world has found a solution to the problem.

Thirdly, there is an overwhelming display of scientific ignorance, scientific methodology and the fact that scientists differ and argue about how to proceed. This is because what matters is not just the computerised data but its analysis and, most importantly, it’s INTERPRETATION. Like the interpretation of intelligence data this involves the human factor, and human judgement is badly flawed.

And, attacks on the government demonstrate that despite the passing of some seven months many writers still do not understand the complexity and gravity of this killer virus. If they did they would cease criticising U-turns.

Lastly, despite the serious consequences of lockdowns they are in a different league to what the nation had to suffer in the Second World War. As an example, in four consecutive nights in 1942 the people of London, Southampton and Plymouth were bombed and suffered over 12,000 dead plus hundreds badly injured. One third of homes were totally destroyed.

Yet the nation showed stoicism and carried on despite being surrounded by death, destruction, disruption to education, work, rationing and destroyed homes. They had no television, smart phones, laptops or, Xboxes for solace.

We need to follow their example and fight this crisis together without rancour and misplaced criticism of those battling in the firing line to control and eventually eradicate a virus that is fiendishly clever and very dangerous.

Dr Barry Clayton

Thornton Cleveleys

Remembrance

Paying respect in Garstang

On behalf of Garstang Town Council and Garstang Royal British Legion, we would like to inform you of how you may be able to remember the fallen at this year’s Remembrance Sunday. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there will not be a Remembrance Sunday parade, church service or laying of wreaths at the war memorial this year.

There has been much discussion, heartache and thought gone into this decision. However, we have to take the safety, health and welfare of our residents and visitors very seriously.

The mayor, youth mayor, and representatives of the legion will informally lay wreaths at the war memorial on behalf of the town, during the course of the day.Any members of the public or other organisations may lay wreaths, but we would request that this be subject to the following guidelines:

. If you do wish to lay a wreath, we would ask that it is done throughout the entire day, or even over a few days and not to attend at the traditional time of 11am.

. No more than six people to gather at the war memorial.

. Many people across the country will be joining together by standing outside their houses at 11am for a collective remembrance.

We invite you to make this small but important and poignant gesture.

We hope that you have a peaceful Remembrancetide.

Garstang Town Council and Garstang Royal British Legion

Society

We are obsessed with people’s race

In olden times people lived in dire poverty with millions of others. And it was out of this environment that my brother was plucked out and went on to grammar school in England. He went to university and then on to teaching in secondary schools in London.

He never saw young people as black or white. I suppose then there was colour blindness and integration, not the diversity and differences of today.

On retiring my brother heard the youth and community centre was closing for lack of funds. He got together the community and they renovated an old church. He became director and ran the centre on shoestring.

Sadly after 10 years he passed away.

Everyone was welcome in the centre even drug addicts (people) and refugees. He never forgot his roots but there were no awards in those days for people doing good work.

If my brother was alive today he would not agree with teachers downloading educational resources that are steeped in ‘critical race theory’. It seems every modern institution is racist, educating children about concepts such as ‘white privilege’. It is damaging to teach pupils they have been racist all their lives and have to apologise for their colour - especially if they are from disadvantaged families.

I have been volunteer in the community for the past 32 years, and have studied criminology and Victimology.

I would agree we are becoming obsessed with race in politics, Tv, sport, reality programmes and adverts.

As one expert stated we are all British and all in it together if not it will be Britain’s white children who will suffer.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED