Stuff Digital Edition

TO THE POINT

With the utmost respect to M. Monaghan (letters, Nov 28), I’m not sure that referring to parliamentary representatives as ‘‘the member’’ is more respectful than using the terms ‘‘she’’ and ‘‘her’’, unless the member identifies as gender neutral.

Helen Carver, Dannevirke

One of the pleasures of the football World Cup is listening to the anthems of the various nations. They are both musical and rousing. Some have no words, such as the Spanish anthem. Our anthem is embarrassing by comparison. It sounds like a funeral dirge. We need an anthem that reflects the character of this nation, and one we can sing with pride.

John Whitty, Aro Valley

Beneath his cowboy hat the Māori Party co-leader likes to say he rejects what he calls ‘‘Western values’’. This induces him to say New Zealand should stay out of Russia’s war on Ukraine, an atrocity for which Vladimir Putin offers the same rationale. Jeremy Agar, Lyttelton

Several correspondents support a reduction in voting age because this group has ‘‘more skin’’ in the future game. On the same basis those over, say, 60 years should be excluded because they don’t have enough. Mike Williams, Tawa

I’m assuming those campaigning to reduce the voting age to 16 will be equally enthusiastic about lowering the drinking age to 16. Surely the same arguments apply?

Dan Coffey, Crofton Downs

Even hate speech is free speech, it enables us all to reason with each other and debate openly. If it becomes law it will be used as a battering ram to shut people up. Hate speech laws do not have anything to do with a democratic society.

K Ward, Upper Hutt

If I wanted to operate a small business to serve my community I would not sell tobacco, I would not sell alcohol, and I would encourage cash-less payment. If the business was not viable I would do something else. Stewart Fraser, Te Horo Beach

Opinion

en-nz

2022-12-03T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-12-03T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281943136907120

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