While abhorring the actions of Hamas, we should also oppose a retaliation that envelops the innocent in Gaza. As Bethan McKernan points out (“Civilians pay the price in biggest challenge to Israel since 1973”, News), Gaza’s inhabitants have endured four wars in the last 16 years.
These have not stopped an escalation of Hamas atrocities and have not secured peace for Israel. Communities are brutalised by violence directed at them, but also by feeling impelled to respond in ways that mirror what they have suffered. Showing restraint, compassion for the innocent and acting according to humanitarian ideals are not weaknesses.
Targeted responses directed at Hamas militants, alongside protection of civilians, may be immensely difficult to achieve but such actions are the only ways to see this tragedy becoming an opportunity for positive change.
Neil Small
Leeds
Embrace our differences
In her brilliant article, Gaia Vince wrote about the need for, and positive impact of, immigration (“A hotter world forcing people on the move needs vision, not Braverman’s rabble-rousing words”, Comment). She illustrated Suella Braverman’s notion that we should all shut ourselves up in our frightened little countries and keep out all undesirables as utterly prehistoric.
As Vince says, mass migration is inevitable, mostly because of the insanity we create. We must stop stoking pointless division and hatred, and start realising that embracing differences and tolerating – indeed, welcoming – freedom of movement is all that will save humanity. How have we come to tolerate the hatefulness of Braverman and this government?
Joe Lacey
Wirral
Starmer can focus on unity
In his interview with the Observer, Keir Starmer said, “Growth is the absolute focus of what we’re doing” (“Starmer: ‘The battle’s hardly begun in this final part of the journey’ ”, News). But vital as it is, growth is only a means, not an end in itself. It can’t be an animating vision of the good society, and that’s what Labour needs to spell out.
There may be a lesson here from Ed Miliband rather than Tony Blair. In his 2012 Labour conference speech, as leader, he promised that Labour could rebuild Britain as “one nation”, a land in which “dedication to the common cause courses through the veins of all, and nobody feels left out”. Unfortunately, it was largely forgotten during the rest of his term as leader. Who can tell what might have happened in the 2015 election if that theme had been persisted with and developed?
Although one nation may not be as popular a focus now as it could have been then, particularly in Scotland, there seems an urgent need to identify a similar idea expressing the aim of bringing people together and making everyone feel included and valued.
Dr Ron Glatter
Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
Salvaging what’s left of HS2
You correctly state that HS2 Manchester services may run slower on conventional lines (“Trains to Manchester using the HS2 line could be slower than existing services”, News, last week) caused by the planned trains not being designed to tilt, as Avanti trains do. This is an inevitable consequence of the original concept of HS2 to build a completely separate network of very straight and very fast trains.
Now that all but the Birmingham to Old Oak Common parts appear to have been cancelled and a question hangs over the continuation to Euston, this lack of connectivity between these HS2 and Network Rail lines can best be resolved by repurposing what is left to operate as part of an overall rail network, with common rolling stock, signalling, station platforms and train lengths, and more conventional speeds.
Rishi Sunak has finally killed off the vanity element of this project; he must now honour his statement to invest in better, more reliable and cost-effective rail services that our regions so desperately need.
Lord Berkeley
House of Lords, London SW1
Ends don’t justify means
As Kenan Malik describes it, most supporters of “effective altruism”, or EA, believe that the rightness or wrongness of an action is defined solely by its consequences – this is the “end justifies the means” argument, which is by no means a universal truth (“Getting rich in order to give to the poor? The jury’s out, but it seems morally shaky”, Comment, last week).
The opposite is more likely the case: that the means employed will determine the end, at least in terms of moral worth. Malik also ascribes to them the idea that moral worth can be scientifically or mathematically quantified, quoting the adherent Peter Singer as saying that “effective altruists are sensitive to numbers and to cost per life saved”.
The trouble with such so-called philosophies as EA is that they start from the answer or conclusion they want and then work backwards, employing whatever sleight-of-mind is required to try to justify it – an approach that is neither scientifically nor mathematically valid, and likewise morally worthless.
Phil Uribe
Llandrindod Wells, Powys
Shaming of ordinary women
“Slut shaming” is not just happening to Monica Lewinsky and Rebecca Loos, who had the extra bad luck of being in the spotlight; it still happens every day to women who are frank and honest about their sexual wants and needs, who may have had a “promiscuous” period in their life or who have had more sexual partners than society deems acceptable (“Once shamed, forever a slut: give up girls, you’re doomed to stay in the internet spotlight”, Comment).
There has been little change in the 20-plus years since those incidents, despite the #MeToo movement. Society is still very much ingrained with the supposition that the female sex should be demure, discerning, even passive when it comes to sexual partners. We have a very long way to go if we want a world where that isn’t the norm.
Lauren Pulsford
Crewkerne, Somerset
Finding joy where you can
Philippa Perry can always be relied upon to proffer the feelgood factor (“Our inner rebel wants a bit of fun”, Magazine). Fortunate enough to have had my dream career on Woman’s Weekly in its heyday I gave it up joyfully when our first longed-for baby was born 50 years ago.
Unexpected satisfaction came later in helping our youngest son acquire language via signs when meningitis robbed him of his hearing at five months, and eventually led to a book about the rewards for us both.
Now, it is grandchildren who provide even more delight as I grow older. Relationships with family and friends are fun and fulfilling, but I am so glad Perry acknowledges that “books, paintings, possessions and ideas” can also bring joy and fulfilment.
Jenny Froude
Beckenham, Kent
