We have learnt nothing as sins of WWII repeated
From Vladimir Putin’s perspective, war can be seen as “nothing more than the continuation of politics by other means” (“Putin’s rockets kills children in Kharkiv”, March 2). War is not a feasible way to continue politics when your opponent is a ruthless mad man prepared to use his nuclear weapons. The world needs to accelerate the effort to shame and isolate Russia, making it unwelcome socially and economically on any world stage. That is the best way we can support Ukraine in its struggle to survive. Mark Porter, New Lambton
Haven’t we learnt anything in the last 80 years? The headline in Wednesday’s Herald could have read British and German bombers kill many children in London and Hamburg. It’s the same over again, just in different countries. Moire Berman, Manly
The most likely outcome is that the war will end in a “grubby compromise” (“Ukraine’s fortitude has attracted the world’s admiration”, March 2). Despite the gallant fight by Ukraine and the inadequate support of the world, Putin will emerge a winner. Thousands killed, including many innocent civilians, buildings and homes destroyed, and Putin will walk away unscathed with some territorial gains. Surely, he should be at least charged with war crimes? Denis Suttling, Newport Beach
It is a measure of how global life has become that even from the opposite side of the world it is impossible to ignore the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine. I wonder whether Putin’s enemies urged him on to undertake the current madness in order to destroy his power base inside Russia. What possible economic benefit is there to reduce a neighbour to a smoking ruin before taking it over? Putin seems not to understand how radically the world has changed since the Cold War in 1960 and how intolerable and repugnant his actions are to all civilised people. Philip Drew, Annandale
With the awful conflict between Russia and Ukraine at play, I see no reason why a Russian sportsperson, playing for themselves, should be banned from competition (“Sins of the fatherland: Russian athletes will be collateral damage”, March 2). When representing their country, such as at the Olympics, Davis Cup, World Cup, then they should be banned but, when playing as an individual, it is hardly their fault that they have a diminutive despotic lunatic in a rigged political system as their leader. Bill Young, Killcare Heights
While reading about the extraordinary transformation of Volodymyr Zelensky from Dancing with the Stars to dancing with Tsars, I pondered a homegrown option – a man who’s not afraid to ask the hard questions and has a history of using social media for self-promotion (“Zelensky the first wartime hero of the social media age”, March 2). Stand up Tom Gleeson, your country needs you. Janet Argall, Dulwich Hill
Spendathon no help to those who need it
Voters in Queensland and NSW, who have been at the raw end of a disaster of biblical proportions over the last week, would be none too pleased to see any Coalition spendathon that wasn’t directed at assisting those people most affected to get their lives back on track (“Brace for $1b-a-week spendathon”, March 2). Most of us will be happy to see money flow to rebuilding damaged infrastructure and support for those businesses and residents who have lost everything. No more shower sheds for women at men’s sporting clubs with no women members, or commuter car parks where no need exists. Wendy Atkins, Cooks Hill
Could we use the $5 billion to buy thousands of rescue boats for flood evacuations, and with the change buy enough aircraft for a permanent federal bushfire fighting air wing prior to the next horror bushfire season? Evan Bailey, Glebe
There is an expression that it is easy to spend someone else’s money. Perhaps the Prime Minister and Treasurer should be reminded that the spending spree that they plan, leading up to the next election, is no one’s money. It is debt to be paid back by future generations. It is not a cookie jar to be used to improve the Coalition election prospects. Eric Sekula, Turramurra
Public money for public schools
Angelo Gavrielatos says that the economics of supply and demand now compete with altruism in determining the entry into teaching as a profession (“Pay rises could help to ease the teacher crunch: Knox head”, March 2). Could I just say that the way teachers are treated these days has well and truly taken the altruism out of the equation. Phil Armour, Yass
Despite claims to the contrary, there is an obvious and simple way to increase salaries for teachers. Instead of providing public money to private schools that poach teachers from the public sector, let those who can afford to pay for teachers actually pay, and put public money into paying our best teachers to work in public schools. If private school parents don’t like it, they can support a local public school like everybody else. Under our current system they take money from public schools. None of the best-performing countries have our ridiculous, distorted system where the public pay for the wealthier’s private consumption. David McMaster, Mosman
Train blame game
So they managed to find a scapegoat to blame for David Elliott’s being asleep at the wheel (“Transport bureaucrat directed to take leave ahead of hearing”, March 2). Even better, it’s a woman. Jonathan Hornibrook, Newtown
Waiting for light rail
Only five to 10 years to complete the light rail stage two (“Light rail extension could take decade”, March 2)? Many of us have been waiting 20 years for the completion of the Chatswood to Parramatta rail line. Only four kilometres left between Carlingford station and Epping to complete and open up the north/west link. Finbar O’Donoghue, Telopea
Aged care lifeline
It is the role of neoliberal governments, of whatever stripe, to funnel public money to corporate interests (Letters, March 2). Indeed, as the Coalition has demonstrated over the last three decades, this is but one aspect of their claimed economic superiority.
Imagine if the money that was gifted to the aged care profiteers was instead spent on wage and staff increases, implementing quality of life improvements, including productive gardens as suggested by Maggie Beer, and a hundred other things that a properly funded not-for-profit sector could achieve? Michael Thompson, Bexley North
A bitter pill
In the dim past a moment is vivid (“It’s come to this: Lunch box shaming”, March 1). As a 10-year-old at school my lunch container of fresh, diverse salad foods was viewed with disgust by friends consuming Vegemite or jam sandwiches. I longed to be having what they were having. Children need to eat what’s on offer and teachers shouldn’t have to know about it. Let fussy modern children go to boarding school and learn to eat what’s on offer, or not. Surely what children eat either at home or school is a matter for parental resources and nothing to do with any other food police. Susan Webb, Valentine
Contrary to the “lunch box shaming” and “mystical trail to lunch box gold” experiences, my six children had a white-bread vegemite sandwich which was wrapped in greaseproof paper and placed in a brown paper bag with a banana or apple, every day of their school lives, with the occasional Iced VoVo for good behaviour. They never complained or were cautioned by the food police. Helen Moran, Woollahra
A toast to ‘tea’
One evening in a hotel restaurant in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei, we asked for special tea (Letters, March 1). The waiter replied that he would have to ask the manager to unlock the safe.
After some time, a teapot and cups arrived with opened, empty cans of Haji beer – zero alcohol beer. This was in case of a raid. The empty cans were taken away afterwards for the next customer. What we drank certainly wasn’t Haji beer. Ronald Watts, Newcastle
As a Sydneysider posted to Adelaide for work in the ’60s when there were strict 6pm liquor rules, we often went to a coffee shop after 6pm and were served “coffee” in cups, accompanied by a bottle of soda. Joe Veness, Ingleburn
Mahatma Gandhi and I share the same birthday – October 2 – a “dry day” throughout India. In 2006, I spent my birthday in Varanasi with several work colleagues and, unaware of the restriction on the consumption of alcohol, a refreshing ale to mark my birthday had been planned. Equipped with the finest of fine china, our very thoughtful waiter happily agreed to fill our orders. As the evening wore on, it became a case of “I’ll have what he’s having” among diners at the neighbouring tables. Peter Green, Norah Head
Culture vulture
Oh, Col Burns, I know how you feel (Letters, March 2). My wife liked taking her mother and it suited us all; I would be driver and could then wander off to other places of culture such as The Lord Nelson Hotel. I have volunteered others to go instead of me but to no avail. Now I am due to see Otello which lacks an “h” and includes the breaking into song at odd moments. I am very happy to see the original and can easily accept its virtues and faults. We need to form a group. Tony Sullivan, Adamstown Heights
Keep calm and carry on
Scott Morrison is in isolation with COVID-19 but will continue his prime ministerial duties. I suppose he has to, given that the alternative is to let Barnaby Joyce out of the wardrobe (“Prime Minister Scott Morrison tests positive for COVID-19”, smh.com.au, March 2). Gary Stowe, Springwood
Wet and dry
Jenna Price, you’re up against the big guys in eschewing a dryer (“Laundry matters as the world falls apart”, March 2). Recently observed: a truckload of dryers being loaded into one of the many new unit blocks mushrooming in Lane Cove. Multiply this by all the units without outdoor drying facilities in Sydney (never mind nationally), and you’ll see the problem. Wendy Crew, Lane Cove North
The digital view
Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au
‘Fudged’: Has the federal government spent $17b on disaster relief?
From ilma2045: “Oh, look. The Ministry for Announcements is at it again. Action, optional – if ever.”
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Climate change deniers have to face costly truth
Source: Philippines Alive
